I Did Something Scary… and I Didn’t Do It Alone 💛

Dear Lovely ,

Desert Hiking

I want to share something with you — a moment that felt both terrifying and exhilarating.

Recently, I stepped way outside my comfort zone and decided to be a guest on a podcast, tomorrow. For someone like me, who is used to staying behind the scenes, this was a huge deal. When I made my decision to do it, my heart was pounding, anxiety filled my body, and yet… I am not running away. I am honoring a new calling — the voice inside me that’s been nudging me toward becoming a public speaker/presenter.

In the midst of all that nervous energy, I paused and asked myself:“What support would benefit me right now?”

And the answer was so clear — community support.

So I reached out to the incredible people in my life. I told them what I was doing. And then, something even bigger happened — I asked for help.

That might sound simple, but for me, it’s been revolutionary. I’m someone who, for much of my life, thought I had to do the hard things alone. When I was hurting or overwhelmed, I’d disappear. But not this time. Not anymore.

Now, I’m learning how to lean into the beauty of community care.

A few weeks ago, I was talking with a dear friend who introduced me to that very phrase — community care. I realized I’ve been living it without naming it. But there’s something powerful that happens when we put words to our lived experience — it deepens our awareness and invites reflection.

It brought up memories from my past — times when I didn’t reach out, when I felt I had to survive the hard stuff on my own. And how often the greatest barrier to receiving care was simply this: asking.

Being vulnerable enough to say,“I can’t do this alone.”“I need support.”“Can you hold space for me?”

In a culture that glorifies individualism, we often admire those who "go it alone." But what I’m discovering is that going it alone can rob us of the love, connection, and healing we could receive if we just reached out.

So here I am, reaching out. Not because I’m in crisis, but because I want to share this win with you. Because your presence in my life matters. And because I want to celebrate this shift — from self-care in solitude to self-care rooted in community.

Thank you for being part of my journey.

Have you ever had a moment where asking for support changed everything? I’d love to know what that looked like for you. Email me, catherine@catstouch.com, and let me know.

With a full heart and so much gratitude,

Catherine