What a Skunk Taught Me About Lasting Change
It's amazing what we can learn to live with.
Sometimes, little by little, something becomes our normal before we even realize it's there.
The other day, our dog, Kinje, got sprayed by a skunk.
Oddly enough, we didn't realize it right away. It wasn't a direct hit, so the smell was subtle at first. Then, as the evening went on—and even into the next day—it became stronger...and stronger.
At first, we questioned where it was coming from.
Was it outside?
Until eventually, it clicked.
It was Kinje.
The moment we identified the source of the smell, we had a choice.
We could try to ignore it and hope it went away.
Or we could deal with it.
Neither option sounded particularly appealing. Treating a skunked dog isn't exactly how we wanted to spend our evening. It meant trips to multiple stores for supplies, giving Kinje several special baths, treating the carpets and furniture, cleaning the house, and trying to get the lingering smell out of every corner.
It was inconvenient.
It took time.
It wasn't fun.
But living with the smell wasn't the life we wanted either.
What We Learn to Live With
As we worked to get rid of the smell, I couldn't help but think about how often this happens in our own lives.
We don't usually choose unhealthy patterns intentionally. Life gets busy. Responsibilities pile up. We adapt. And before we know it, what once felt temporary has quietly become our normal.
Maybe it's constantly feeling exhausted.
Skipping meals because you're busy.
Living with stress that never really goes away.
Feeling disconnected from your body.
Or believing that taking care of yourself can always wait until next week...or next month.
The need for change isn't always dramatic. Often, it builds so gradually that we stop noticing it altogether, until one day we think,
“This isn't how I want to keep living.”
And once you reach that moment, you're faced with a choice.
You can continue living with what no longer serves you because change feels hard.
Or you can choose to address it.
Not because it's easy—but because it's worth it.
The Courage to Address What's Not Working
One of the biggest myths about creating lasting change is that you have to transform your life overnight.
You don't.
Just like cleaning up after the skunk happened one step at a time, lasting wellness is built through small, consistent choices.
You don't have to overhaul your entire life.
You simply have to acknowledge what's no longer working—and take one small step forward.
Maybe that's drinking a glass of water before your afternoon coffee.
Going for a ten-minute walk.
Scheduling the appointment you've been putting off.
Taking five quiet minutes to check in with yourself instead of pushing through on autopilot.
In the moment those actions may seem small and insignificant, but over time those small choices become healthy habits. And eventually it becomes your new normal.
Awareness Changes Everything
So I'll leave you with this question:
What "skunk smell" have you slowly gotten used to?
What part of your life have you convinced yourself is "just the way it is"?
What have you been tolerating simply because change feels uncomfortable?
Awareness is often the hardest part of any wellness journey.
Once you notice what’s been there all along, you have a choice.
You don't have to fix everything today.
You just have to stop pretending the smell isn't there.
Because lasting change doesn't begin with a perfect plan.
It begins with the courage to notice—and the willingness to take one small step forward.
If you're realizing there's a "skunk smell" in your own life, know that you don't have to figure it out alone. Sometimes the hardest part isn't changing your life. It's simply noticing what you've been tolerating.
That's exactly where coaching can help.
Together, we create the space to notice what's no longer serving you, identify what's getting in the way, and take one small step toward a healthier, more connected life.
I’d love to chat and support you in whatever season you find yourself in. Book your *free* discovery call here