The Master Reset, Day 4: Lost, Late and Still Choosing Me

Day 4, and your girl is still standing. A little windswept, a little behind schedule, but standing.

Today was one of those mornings. I had to be somewhere new, and yes, I had the coordinates. I had them. But you know how it is with new places. The map says “turn left” and the road says “which left, madam?” So I got lost a bit, found my way, did what I had to do, and finally came back home.

By the time I sat down to eat, it was half past two.

What was on my plate

My first meal was a plate of air-fried broccoli and carrots, crispy at the edges and tender in the middle. Simple, honest, and exactly what my body needed after the morning I’d had.

Then I spotted one lonely mango left in the fruit bowl, and I thought, let’s experiment. I sliced it up with red onion, cherry tomatoes and a bit of lettuce, then seasoned it with salt, black pepper, a sprinkle of parsley and a pinch of chilli flakes. I had planned to add avocado, but it was far too ripe and would have turned the whole thing to mush. Sometimes knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to put in.

Ladies, that mango salad was surprisingly lovely. Sweet, sharp, peppery, with a little kick of heat, and so refreshing. I’ll be making it again.

For supper I kept it simple with a warm bowl of mushroom soup. I have a lot on my plate right now, with work and a project I’m busy getting ready to launch, so tonight wasn’t the night for anything elaborate. Comforting, quick and still in line with the promise. That’ll do.

The busy days are the real test

Here’s what I keep thinking about. Where I was this morning, there was food. Plenty of it. Just not the kind I’ve committed to eating. And on a busy, stressful, I-got-lost-and-I’m-hungry kind of day, it would have been so easy to grab whatever was nearest and tell myself I’d start again tomorrow.

But I didn’t. Not because I’m some kind of saint, but because I’d already decided. And I’m learning that it’s the deciding beforehand that carries you, because in the moment, when you’re tired and hungry, you’re not making decisions. You’re just reaching.

The busy days aren’t a break from the commitment. They’re where the commitment actually lives.

I’ll be honest though: next time I’m packing something. A banana, a handful of nuts, anything. Waiting until half past two wasn’t the plan, and I don’t want anyone reading this to think going hungry is the goal. It isn’t. Being intentional means planning for the chaos too, not just white-knuckling through it.

So if you’re a busy woman juggling everything and everyone, here’s my little encouragement: you don’t have to get it perfect. Just decide ahead of time what you’ll reach for, and throw a little something in your bag. Your future hungry self will thank you.

Four days down. I’m not here to preach, just to keep showing up.

One mango at a time, ladies. We move.

About the author

Pat Ricia is a Zimbabwean writer and entrepreneur based in the UK, writing about faith, purpose, womanhood and intentional living. Read her story.