Having a bad day...

How we show up when the day just isn’t going our way

Take a min to breathe please….

We’ve all said it before: “Can I not just have a bad day?”
Usually it comes out after we’ve snapped at someone, raised our voice, or sighed our way through a conversation that didn’t deserve our attitude. It’s our go-to line to justify being short, angry, or distant. A plea for understanding. A way to say “I’m human” without really taking responsibility for the fallout.

But the truth is, that excuse expires.

At some point in adulthood—somewhere between learning patience and realizing people aren’t mind readers—we have to start owning how we move through bad days. Because they’re going to happen. The traffic, the long days, the heavy thoughts, the exhaustion. The “nothing went right” days. The “I don’t have the capacity” days. They’re part of being human.

But so is accountability.

It’s one thing to feel irritable or drained. It’s another to make other people feel small for simply existing in your orbit while you’re in that state. The world doesn’t stop because we’re off our game. There’s no flashing sign over our heads saying “I’m struggling, proceed with caution.” People don’t know. They just show up, ask a question, or try to connect. And when we snap, they’re left carrying something that wasn’t theirs to hold.

That’s where maturity comes in—the ability to pause and say,
“Today’s not my day. I feel more likely to lash out, so I need space.”
It’s uncomfortable to admit, but it’s honest. It prevents collateral damage. It keeps the bad day from spreading like a ripple.

We talk a lot about self-care, but this is part of it too—protecting others from the storm that’s brewing inside us. Taking ownership instead of hiding behind “I was just having a bad day.” Because bad days don’t give us permission to be cruel, dismissive, or cold. They give us an opportunity to practice restraint, empathy, and self-awareness.

We can have bad days. We should. But we don’t get to weaponize them.

And maybe that’s what growing up really is—not becoming immune to bad days, but learning to carry them without dropping them on someone else.

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Just a quick journal entry I wanted to share — a reminder for anyone who needs it. No shame, I’ve been there too. We’re all figuring it out, one day at a time. Love you guys. Thanks for reading — more coming soon.