The Drafts That Reminded Me I’m Doing Okay

I’ve been thinking a lot about how creativity shows up for me. When inspiration hits, I move fast, hyperfocus, create, and build because that’s what I’ve trained myself to do over the years. I feel it, make it, and then neatly put it aside.

That’s exactly what happened with my blog. Last year, I poured myself into writing. I found freedom in expressing my voice, and it gave me purpose in ways I didn’t even know I needed. However, somewhere along the way, I wrote and wrote…and never released anything.

Recently, though, I had the chance to say yes to myself in a new way. Shout out to Rhonda, better known as Rho, the incredible creator of the Hold My Purse podcast. She invited me to share my heart on self-love and self-care, which have been essential parts of my ADHD journey and personal growth. Please do yourself a favor and join the Hold My Purse family.

It was such a beautiful opportunity. Afterward, however, in true Topeka fashion, my brain spiraled. Did I make sense? Did I do a good job of expressing my points clearly? Did I answer the questions fully? Did I ramble? Would her listeners even understand me? All the insecurities came rushing in.

Thankfully, I’ve worked myself back from that spiral. Somewhere in that not so gentle climb back up, I found inspiration to write about my feelings post recording. I logged into my site, ready to post something new…and to my surprise, I found eight fully written blogs sitting in my drafts. Eight.

I had completely forgotten about them, but in that moment, I smiled. Seeing those drafts reminded me of something I forget too often: I have been doing the work. Even when my ADHD brain convinces me I’m not enough or not doing enough, the proof is right there. Those drafts were a little reminder that I am showing up for myself, even if my systems need to shift or my progress doesn’t look like everyone else’s.

This discovery was such a simple but powerful moment of grace, a reminder that I’m still learning, growing, and figuring it out as I go.

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing enough, I hope this reminds you that:

You are doing enough.

You care.

You’re putting forth effort.

Even if you forget for a while, even a very long while, it doesn’t erase the work you’ve already done.

Sometimes we need those little hidden drafts, those quiet reminders, to say: You’re okay. You’re doing better than you think.