This is an ad-free premiere of a vlog that will be posted tomorrow on YouTube. If you prefer, you can watch it on my YouTube channel (with ad interruptions) here.
Some weeks come dressed in plans and sunshine, others wear surprise rain and shifting rhythms. This one was a bit of both—and exactly what I needed.
It started with a Monday that felt hopeful. Not because anything grand happened, but because I see Mondays like a little New Year’s Eve—full of quiet chances. A day for setting the tone: choosing proteins for the week, prepping our go-to homemade pizza and those delightful protein bars we treat like dessert. It’s these small rituals that create stability. That tell my body and mind, “We’ve got this.”
I ran 12K on Tuesday in weather that finally whispered spring. And while the streets were familiar, my thoughts wandered to my goals. To how easy it is to turn something we love—like running—into a pressure point. But then, at the gym, I got a surprise: I had gained a kilo of muscle. Proof that trusting the process, even through doubt, really works.
Midweek brought a strawberry protein cake. It didn’t rise much, but it delivered. Sweet enough, nourishing enough, and just right for our kind of lifestyle. I’m tweaking the recipe, of course—because life is about progress, not perfection.
And then there was the soccer game. Our team didn’t win, but that didn’t matter. Because it’s never just about the scoreboard. It’s about walking to the stadium hand-in-hand, cheering with strangers, and feeling like part of something bigger. It’s joy stitched into the everyday.
By Friday, I was bundled up on the balcony, laptop on my knees, dreaming up a book I’ve been meaning to write. The cold wasn’t ideal, but the stillness made up for it. I even had time to read, to bake another batch of energy balls, and to simply breathe. That kind of spaciousness is rare—and precious.
Saturday was for rest, yoga, and a spontaneous dinner out. We landed in an English restaurant with a four-course tasting menu that surprised us at every turn. Scallops with strawberry and ginger. Lamb with scalloped potatoes. Rhubarb custard and pistachio layers that made us feel like kids with grown-up palates. Every bite was discovery, every sip of wine a celebration.
And maybe that’s the real lesson here: live your week deeply. Cook, plan, pivot. Move your body, listen to it. Document the mundane. Love the people near you. Say yes to dessert—even if it’s imperfect. Especially if it’s imperfect.
Because when you do that, even the rainy days taste a little sweeter.
What was the most beautiful “ordinary” moment in your week?
Listen to this episode with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Luciana Couto to listen to this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.
