To the SLP reading this with weary eyes and a heart that's been running on fumes—
This isn’t just another blog post. Think of it as an arm around your shoulder, the kind of comfort only a fellow traveler can offer. You do so much for others—every articulation goal, every parent email, every report written on your own time. You are the keeper of breakthroughs, the encourager, the advocate.
But let me ask you something you might not have heard in a while:
Who are you beyond the therapy room?
Not your title. Not your credentials. Not the checklist you’ve mastered or the degrees you’ve earned.
You.
I ask this not as a challenge, but as a gentle invitation to remember. Because somewhere along the way, many of us trade pieces of our identity for productivity. We tuck away the dancer, the dreamer, the gardener, the poet—telling ourselves there will be time for her later.
But later keeps getting rescheduled, doesn’t it?
Amy's Garden: A Story About Knowing Who You Are
Let me introduce you to Amy. She’s an SLP, yes—but she’s also an artist, a grandmother, and a woman whose home feels like a blooming love letter to herself.
Years ago, Amy invited me to her home outside Williamsburg. The drive alone was enough to shift your spirit—winding roads framed with wildflowers and sunlight. Her house sat like a secret, nestled among gardens she planted herself. Tulips, lilies, roses. Everywhere you looked, something was in bloom.
And when I asked her about it, she said simply:
“This feeds me.”
That’s when it clicked. Amy wasn’t just maintaining a garden. She was cultivating herself. Her love of florals, of natural beauty, of quiet—she made space for it. Just like she made space in her week to spend Wednesdays with her grandchildren. No compromises. No apologies.
Amy knew that being a brilliant SLP didn’t require her to forget the rest of who she was. In fact, she was a better clinician because she remembered.
Journal Prompts to Guide Your Rediscovery
This isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about returning to someone you’ve always been.
Here are a few gentle questions to sit with:
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What’s one activity that lights me up outside of work?
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What did I love doing before I became an SLP?
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If I had 30 minutes to myself, unplugged and uninterrupted, how would I spend it?
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What small rituals help me feel like me again?
Take a deep breath. Pour a warm drink. Let these questions be a doorway back to yourself.
Reclaiming Joy is Not a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline
Here’s the truth: when you only measure your worth by your productivity, you will always come up short. You are not a machine. You are a human being with a heart, with longings, with a soul that craves rest and resonance.
You are allowed to:
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Block off time in your calendar just for you.
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Try something new just because it sounds fun.
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Say no without guilt and yes without explanation.
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Be more than your email signature.
Let joy find you again—in the pages of a book, in the soil of your garden, in the quiet satisfaction of doing something for no other reason than that it delights your spirit.
You’re Not Alone in This
At Speech Dreamers, we see you. We are you. And we created this space not just to dress your body in comfort, but to clothe your heart in gentleness. This isn’t just a brand. It’s a soft place to land.
So if you needed permission to stop chasing and start being, here it is.
We’re walking this rediscovery journey right beside you.
With love, always.
—Kim 💙
We’d love to see the beautiful ways you’re reconnecting with yourself. Tag us on Instagram @speechdreamers and share your “beyond the badge” moments. And if you’re ready to slip into something that reminds you to rest, our Weekend Dreams 2-Piece Pajama Set is waiting for you—soft, soothing, and just for you. Free shipping always.
