There's something incredibly satisfying about pouring yourself into something you believe in, reaching the finish line, and finally giving yourself permission to pause. Pausing is hard for Andrew and me, but we're working on it every day.

Big goals have a way of consuming your thoughts. Writing this book required more sacrifice than we expected and a whole lot of showing up for each other. It reminded us that commitment isn't just about reaching the finish line. It's about choosing each other over and over again throughout the process.

We actually talked a lot about that in one of our recent podcast episodes. We shared what the last six months specifically looked like behind the scenes, what this project taught us about ourselves, and how we're learning to embrace this slower season now that the book is out in the world.

The pressure is off, the goals have been reached... so what do we do with the in-between?

But once those goals are complete, there's something beautiful about stepping back and simply appreciating the journey before rushing to the next thing.

If you live in the South, or honestly just about anywhere from what we've been hearing, you know it is HOT. We were filming outside this week, and within five minutes Andrew, our team, and I were completely melting. We kept running inside every ten minutes just to cool off before heading back out.

As we've settled back into normal life after the book launch, those little breaks have felt oddly familiar. After months of pouring ourselves into something we care so deeply about, we've finally had a chance to slow down, look back, and appreciate where the journey led us.

Maybe that's why there's nothing quite like a summer rain after a stretch of relentless heat, or curling up with your favorite blanket after finally cooling off. Neither is really about the rain or the blanket. It's about the relief. It's about giving yourself permission to rest before what's next.

That's exactly what we're hoping to embrace right now.

We've been embracing slower mornings, movie nights, and little moments at home this week, usually wrapped up in our favorite blankets from Lola Blankets. They've become one of our favorite parts of slowing down, and if you're looking to make your home a little cozier, we couldn't recommend them more.

This week, while we were outside filming, Drew started challenging herself to see how long she could hang from our backyard ninja course. It was unbelievably hot. Her hands were sweaty, the bars were practically slippery from condensation, and every attempt got harder.

But she never got frustrated.

She'd hop down, blow on her hands, stretch them out for a second, catch her breath, and then try again.

Watching her felt oddly familiar.

So much of life is deciding what to do when the conditions aren't perfect. We can convince ourselves something is too hard, too inconvenient, or just not worth it anymore. Or we can adjust, take a breath, and keep showing up.

As simple as it was, watching her reminded me that the little things add up. Progress usually isn't made in one perfect moment. It's made by showing up again and again.

Right now, we don't have one massive mountain we're climbing. Instead, we're rediscovering the joy of ordinary life again. Filming silly videos, recording podcasts we genuinely laugh through, spending time with our kids, and reconnecting with all of you outside of a book launch.

Summer has a funny way of changing our rhythms, especially with kids home from school. The routines are different. The days feel longer. Things aren't quite as structured.

But maybe that's not something to fight.

Maybe it's an invitation to slow down, enjoy the moment you're in, and trust that the next big goal will come when it's time.

For now, we're trying to be fully present in this one.

We hope you're finding little moments of joy in your own in-between season, too.

— Shawn Johnson and Andrew East

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