> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hello-self.fr/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Mood journal – Check-ins from inside the journey - URL: https://www.hello-self.fr/mood-journal-en/ - Published: 2025-11-08T20:37:23.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-23T13:19:53.000Z - Description: Just me, checking in with myself on the journey, writing freely and sharing stuff. - Author: Alice - Tags: All posts, #english, My journey [🇫🇷 Lire en français](https://www.hello-self.fr/mood-journal-fr) This post is not a resource or advice. This is me, checking in with myself on the journey. 📅 ****23 July 2026** Here's a tiny update. Today I did something I used to dream about all the time when I was still very sick. **I drove myself to IKEA**... and bought myself a little recovery gift: meet **Blåhaj**, the shark. 🦈 I'm so happy to be slowly reconnecting with life and the simple things I love doing. It's not easy every day, but I'm definitely moving in the right direction. ![A picture of an IKEA Blåhaj shark plush toy sitting on a car dashboard, with an IKEA store visible through the windshield.](https://www.hello-self.fr/content/images/2026/07/blahaj.png) 📅 ****11 May 2026** As I've shared my story and my blog a lot on social media, I regularly get messages asking me **how I'm doing at the moment**. My answer is always the same: *"A little bit better each month, but not 100% yet. It's such a slow process for me."* I've been improving slowly for almost a year and a half now, but I've been **plateauing** for a few months after going through a couple of **stressful events**. They didn't set me back, but they definitely **slowed things down**. This comes with a lot of **frustration**. I still deeply **believe recovery is possible**. But my trajectory is not one of the quick and easy ones. ![Pink and yellow flowers in the sunshine.](https://www.hello-self.fr/content/images/2026/05/Image-3.png) 📅 ****25 December 2025** Exactly one year ago, I was stuck in a dark room, barely able to sit up and eat the meal my Mom prepared for Christmas. This year, I was able to go outside and play in the snow, to talk and laugh, to watch a movie and to enjoy good food with people I love. I am for ever grateful. ![A picture of me smiling in Winter clothing on the left, and a picture of a small snowman on the right.](https://www.hello-self.fr/content/images/2026/05/Image.png) Me and my tiny snowman, Bob. 📅 ****11 November 2025** Today I felt strong enough to **build my Christmas tree**. I know, it's early, but last year I was bedbound and couldn't decorate at all... So I want to enjoy my tree as much as possible this year! ![Picture one : A plastic Christmas tree without any decorations. Picture two : A cat hanging in the Christmas tree.](https://www.hello-self.fr/content/images/2026/05/Image-2.png) I've been trying to figure out how to keep my cat out of the tree, so I only set up the top part... As you can see... it's not working. 🥲 After building the tree, I felt like my body needed a break, so I stopped. I'll add the ornaments another time. I'm really happy because I did this very calmly, laughing with my cat, taking my time, and enjoying every second. A few months before I got sick, 2 years ago, I remember building this very same tree. I was in a huge rush all the time, annoyed and stressed, and I remember bursting into tears just because some decoration was broken... My system was under so much pressure and dysregulated back then. 😭 The difference between old ***Me*** and new ***Me*** is huge, even if I'm not fully recovered yet. And I measure it with the state I'm in during simple activities like this one. I guess that's what healing is truly about. 📅 ****8 November 2025** Today, I was in a dip. My mood is low, and my energy is low. *For now.* I've been unlocking a lot of new understandings lately. Through therapy, talking openly with my loved ones, and being honest with myself... I know this is a lot to take in for my nervous system. Dips are like small earthquakes. They make our inner world shake to realign. To keep your balance when the ground is trembling, you have to stop moving forward and focus on standing firmly on your feet, until it passes. Today, my system needed a break to test my new foundations. Growth → plateau & consolidation → new growth. *🎵 Background music of today:* [*Alexandra Stréliski - Plus tôt*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmYE4MGH96M) 📅 ****2 October 2025** Today I would like to share my victory, because it means a lot to me. I was finally able to get back on my bike and ride around the block. It's an electric bike, which helps! I used to ride my bike everywhere, all the time. It was an important part of my life. The last time I rode my bike was to go for a Covid test... you know what happened next. I'm getting back on my bike for the first time in almost two years. I imagined this scene a million times in my head when I was bedridden in a dark room. I'm so happy! ![A picture of me on my electric bike, with my arms up in the air in a victory pose.](https://www.hello-self.fr/content/images/2026/05/Image-1.png) [Back to homepage](https://www.hello-self.fr/) ## 👋 Hello Self newsletter Sign up to receive an email when a new post is online Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, no ads. Unsubscribe anytime.