You’re Not Late, You’re Between | The Sunday Reset, Vol. 8

Reia Chapman, LCSW, LISW-CP
Aug 31
2 min read

Editors Note

Related: Missed Vol. 2? You’re Not Behind. You’re Tired. →

Welcome back. If your brain is saying, I’m late, here’s another truth: most of us aren’t late, we’re between. Between energy levels. Between seasons. Between what emptied us and what will refill us.

“Between” is a real place. It’s not failure. It’s a crossing.

A gentle reflection

When we label everything “late,” we borrow shame and call it motivation. Shame speeds you up and burns you out. “Between” slows you down just enough to re-enter with intention.

Try these reframes:

Late → Between. I’m transitioning, not failing.
Perfection → Presence. What got one notch lighter today?
Catch-up → Warm start. I’m staging tomorrow, not earning relief.

You don’t have to sprint to deserve steadiness. You can re-enter at the speed of care.

One simple practice (10–12 minutes) - The One-Tray Re-Entry

Pick your lane (1 min). Say it out loud: Stabilize, Clear, Create, or Connect. One lane only.
Set the tray (2 min). Make a tiny “stage” (a literal tray, a desk corner, a section of your phone home screen). Put only lane items there.
- Stabilize: water, meds, snack, today’s first step.
- Clear: recycle bin, timer, one inbox label.
- Create: notebook, single doc, headphones.
- Connect: one card/contact, short script.
Three touches (6 min).
- Sweep (2 min): quick tidy or filter—just once.
- Micro (2 min): finish one doable task.
- Body (2 min): sip, stretch, step outside.
Warm start (1–3 min). Write tomorrow’s first tiny step on a sticky and leave it on the tray. You’re staging care for future-you.

Completion becomes felt, not theoretical.

Why it works: You narrow the field, create a felt sense of completion, and convert urgency into momentum that your nervous system can actually hold.

If “between” carries weight

If you’re navigating grief, illness, trauma, or lack of support, you’re not “behind”—you’re carrying more. Capacity is shaped by history and access. Ask for one concrete assist this week. That is skill, not weakness.

You’re not late. You’re between. And that’s enough to begin again.

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