Showing Up

There are days when showing up feels easy. You wake up with energy. The weather looks good. You feel like being around people. Those days are great.

But a lot of days aren’t like that.

Some days, the couch feels safer. Silence feels comfortable. The drive feels too long. The idea of making small talk or learning something new feels heavy. You tell yourself you’ll go next time. That’s human. We’ve all been there.

The fact is, though, something important happens when people show up anyway.

Not perfectly. Not enthusiastically. Just… showing up.

It might look like walking into a fly-tying night and sitting quietly at first. It might mean standing on the edge of the water and just watching before you ever pick up a rod. It might mean saying very little, it might even mean hyping yourself up in the car beforehand. Honestly, there’s no right way to do it.

What matters is that you came.

When you show up, even on a tough day, your body and brain get a message: “I’m safe enough to be here, I’m welcome here,” and what’s more, “I’m wanted here.” That matters more than we often realize. Being around people who understand, doing something with your hands, and having a shared purpose helps the nervous system settle. Over time, those small moments add up.

Showing up also gives others permission to do the same. Your presence might be the quiet encouragement someone else needed that night. You don’t have to teach, lead, or say the perfect thing. Just being there counts.

Connecting doesn’t usually happen all at once. More often, it happens in small steps. One evening. One outing. One decision to walk through the door instead of staying home. Those steps matter, even when they feel ordinary.

If you’ve been away for a while, know this: you’re still welcome. If you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone. And if today feels like a good day to come back, we’d love to see you.

Why it works: Showing up helps build routine, connection, and trust. These are all key parts of whole health and resilience. Even brief social contact and gentle activity can reduce stress and improve mood. Over time, consistently showing up helps the brain relearn that connection is safe and meaningful.

Call to action: Attend one Project Healing Waters activity this month or reach out to your Program Lead to reconnect. Remember this: One step is enough.