This Sunday Slow Diary is a little late. I wasn’t able to type because of the pain in my wrist, shoulder, and neck—but perhaps that delay was part of the lesson itself. Rest sometimes arrives not as a choice, but as a demand.

In those short days, my searches online looked different. Instead of story prompts or travel inspiration, I found myself looking up “effective methods to lessen carpal tunnel pain,” “warm compress,” “ergonomic support,” and “gentle stretches for wrist injury.” It was humbling to realize how much my body holds me together, and how easily I take that for granted—until it aches.

And so, this week’s Sunday Slow Diary carries the reminder that even silence and slowness can be a kind of productivity.

HOW DID I SURVIVE THIS WEEK?
With pain medications, warm baths, and warm patches to soothe my wrist and shoulder. I leaned into the basics of comfort and routine, letting small things carry me through the heaviness of each day.

WHAT DID I DO WELL THIS WEEK?
Yes—I did well. Work was better, not as heavy as the previous weeks, and I managed to get through it. I showed up, even when I didn’t feel my strongest, and honored the balance between responsibility and rest.

WAS IT A PRODUCTIVE WEEK?
Yes. Not because I finished everything on a list, but because I survived four night shifts while in pain. That in itself felt like an accomplishment—choosing to endure and come out the other side still standing.

DID I SLOW DOWN AT ALL?
Yes—because of the pain, I had no choice but to slow down. But maybe that was the hidden gift. I learned to take things one task at a time, to breathe, and to listen closely to what my body was telling me.

WHAT AM I GRATEFUL FOR TODAY?
For my partner, who has been a quiet strength at home, offering support in ways big and small. In the middle of my exhaustion, his presence reminded me I wasn’t alone.

WHAT DID THIS WEEK TEACH ME?
That listening to your body is not a weakness—it’s wisdom. Pushing past pain only delays healing. This week taught me that sometimes survival is not about how much you do, but about how gently you care for yourself while doing it.

So here I am, a little late but still showing up—with a diary entry written slowly, carefully, and with the same gentleness I hope to carry into the week ahead.