It all began on a chilly January morning when my coffee machine decided it had had enough. After years of loyal service, brewing countless cups of liquid sanity, it sputtered, groaned, and displayed an error message that simply read, “Nope.” Much like my team at work, which was suddenly downsized in January, leaving me gutted and questioning how to move forward. The once-bustling office now felt eerily quiet, like a coffee machine that had lost its purpose.
As if that wasn’t enough, February brought another blow. My sister’s boyfriend dumped her out of the blue, leaving her devastated. She moved in with us for a while, and it felt like my coffee machine had started brewing decaf—offering support but never quite filling the void. We spent late nights talking, trying to make sense of it all, while the coffee machine sat silently, mocking us with its refusal to function.
By March, the weight of it all had taken its toll. Going to work felt like staring at an empty coffee pot—anxiety brewing but no energy to pour. The thought of facing the day felt insurmountable, and my will to do anything productive had all but evaporated. 2025 may have just begun, but it has already earned its place as one of the most challenging years of my life. Here’s to hoping the rest of the year doesn’t follow suit.