The morning light filtering through the bedroom curtains isn’t what rouses her from sleep. It’s the boisterous sounds of her kids arguing and tossing toys in the living room. “I can’t believe this,” she mutters to the cat, pulling the blankets over her head as she gathers the motivation to leave her cozy cocoon. Some days, she struggles due to depression; other days, it’s from the sleepless hours spent caring for a sick child. Then there are those nights when she stays up late enjoying intimacy and laughter with her partner. Regardless, mornings aren’t her strong suit.
As she drifts off each night, she promises herself that tomorrow will be different—she’ll sleep earlier and drink more water. In those fleeting moments before sleep, her mind races with a mental to-do list, one filled with aspirations of who she wishes to be. Yet, in her quest to catch up with the idealized version of herself—one often pinned on her dream board—she forgets to appreciate the person she truly is.
At times, she feels indifferent about her body; at others, she is hyper-aware of it. There are days she embraces it, feeling empowered, and then there are moments she scrutinizes herself in the mirror, searching for something—anything—to love. Scrolling through old photos from her youth, she grapples with guilt for not having the willpower to transform her post-baby body back to that of an eighteen-year-old who still held onto childhood’s innocence.
Shopping becomes a frustrating endeavor, as she finds herself disheartened by the lack of clothes that fit. She attributes this to her love for homemade cheesecake during the holidays and those late-night Doritos. In her mind, indulging in these treats is wrong. She occupies the ambiguous space between body types, not quite fitting into the plus-size or slim categories. As she stands in fluorescent-lit fitting rooms, she notices every dimple and curve, puzzled by why a size 8 at one store won’t fit past her thighs while a size 6 at another feels oversized.
Deep down, she knows it’s not her body to blame; it’s the inconsistent sizing of clothing brands. But in the moment, the shame overwhelms her, especially when she quietly asks a young sales associate for a larger size. “Two sizes up, I think,” she whispers.
This woman embodies the in-betweener. She participates in fitness groups, enjoying weeks where she exercises four times and drinks plenty of water. Yet, there are also weeks where she realizes it’s been days since her last workout. Unbeknownst to her, she possesses more stamina than she acknowledges, derived from chasing her kids around the park or juggling multiple errands and responsibilities.
Crafting skills might not be her forte; she’s passionate, but often exhausted after a single session. Her wardrobe mainly consists of finds from Target—she feels guilty for not decorating her home like the stylish inspirations on Pinterest, but budget constraints mean her rooms evolve slowly over time. The light-switch covers remain off in her bedroom, remnants of a hastily executed paint job she undertook in a moment of spontaneity.
She strives for a “crunchy” lifestyle, but the allure of Costco’s bulk granola bars often wins out, and her kids inevitably take Goldfish crackers to school. While she tries to be mindful of where her clothes come from, the temptation of a sale at Old Navy is hard to resist, especially with two kids needing back-to-school outfits.
She’s aware of the chemicals in her deodorant but finds that natural alternatives don’t cut it. And while she knows her dish soap isn’t the cleanest, it effectively cleans her dishes, which is a priority.
This woman loves her family and works tirelessly, yet often feels inadequate because her contributions are not financially measurable. Scrolling through social media, she sees women exuding perfection with their well-dressed children, igniting feelings of loss and regret for not striving harder to emulate them. When she catches glimpses of outdoor adventures, she promises to take her kids out for similar experiences. Sometimes she follows through, and those moments are magical. But when bedtime turns chaotic due to overtired children, she remembers why those outings don’t happen more often.
She might be a single mother, or perhaps she’s just someone who works excessively and struggles to find time to meal prep. She might identify as bisexual and battle for acknowledgment in a world that feels exclusive, or she might express herself through a masculine style, drawing inspiration from figures like Janelle Monáe. Regardless of her identity—be it single, gay, transgender, or married—this woman often feels disconnected from mainstream representations because she doesn’t fit neatly into one category.
Her life is a blend of experiences, and committing to fewer may feel like missing out on life’s richness. Or maybe she’s just too worn out to choose.
This isn’t a tale of a woman unable to reach her potential; rather, it is about recognizing that “potential” is subjective and that it’s impossible for anyone to fully meet theirs. Growth would cease if they did, which contradicts the essence of success. This is a woman who sets goals and sometimes achieves them, while other times she falls short.
She could be any number of women: perhaps a talented artist creating stunning cross-stitch pieces, a bank employee, a coach for other women, or a passionate essential oil seller. She might have an incredible singing voice but is held back by crippling stage fright.
She is multifaceted and has internalized the notion that she should be doing more because others appear to be doing so. She is the woman who hides in the bathroom for a moment of solitude or takes a break from work, not out of frustration, but because the pressure to meet societal expectations has become unbearable. She feels that every misstep away from her aspirations equates to failure. This leads her to confuse her humanity with wrongdoing, and when she does falter, she rarely grants herself the grace to forgive. Often, it takes an external nudge for her to recognize her worth.
Meet Lydia, who openly states, “I cherish the notion of holistic living. I adore the simplicity of small-town life, but I’m also a busy mom, an entrepreneur, and I live with a chronic illness. So I opt for convenience, even if it means using products that aren’t clean.”
She is Ava, who relishes surprising friends with thoughtful gifts. She is Mia, who feels like she’s got it mostly together but still wrestles with her inner critic. She is Zoe, who’s “gluten-conscious” as she navigates her son’s dietary needs. She is Clara, who defied the odds to be where she is today.
Perhaps she’s Maya, a plus-sized queer woman who loves her comfy sweatpants but feels pressure to dress in a way that aligns with societal expectations of plus-size fashion. She’s also Taylor, who unapologetically identifies as a “100% not crunchy, unhealthy couch potato.” She’s also Emma, a brilliant problem solver who struggles with her relationship with food, and Sophia, an “overweight triathlete—not quite on the podium, but not at the back of the pack either.”
She is living proof that weight is not an accurate measure of health. This woman is Olivia, who proudly calls herself a “squishy hourglass” and runs a thriving coaching business. She is Rebecca, a mom of “very active boys” who excels in her role.
She is almost every woman you know, someone you might compare yourself to but ultimately cannot. For all these in-between habits and attributes that defy extremes, she is not just average or ordinary. Such a notion is a myth. These women are extraordinary and unique, yet they share struggles that resonate deeply with each other.
They may feel alienated from mainstream narratives, yet they are the lifeblood that nourishes our lives. They are the friends baking pies, the baristas who remember your name, the mothers sharing wine while enjoying heartfelt conversations. This woman lacks a formal representative, yet she embodies the essence of countless others. She is a mosaic of humanity, a living testament to what it means to be alive.
She is a woman who pursues her ambitions but yearns for acceptance of her present self. She deserves grace and recognition. She is you, and she is me. She is a woman in-between.
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