Episode 26 - bonus

Daily Dump #21: The One Where Life Feels Heavy

Published on: 21st November, 2025

Today was long—not in hours, but in emotional weight. I talk through the heaviness of caregiving, a FedEx package still held hostage in Chicago, feeling unexpectedly down before a vendor event I normally love, and the weird burnout that comes from a life season that just… won’t let up.

I also share updates on our Total Money Makeover journey, a pivot we had to make for today’s Scentsy event, why remote roles feel like the only viable path forward, and how cautiously optimistic I am about finding a job that aligns with my reality.

Quiet day. Heavy heart. Still grateful. Still here.

🧭 In This Episode

  • Froggy voice returns… again 😑
  • Package STILL stuck in Chicago
  • First night of the vendor event + scrambling
  • Emotional heaviness and lack of excitement this year
  • Caregiving exhaustion + the mental toll
  • Total Money Makeover revelations
  • Starting to find new job leads
  • Remote roles vs. downtown office chaos
  • Feeling cautiously optimistic (but also nervous)

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Some seasons feel heavy for no specific reason — that’s still valid.
  • Caregiving fatigue can quietly drain excitement from even your favorite traditions.
  • Financial stress + job loss + caretaking is a uniquely brutal combo.
  • Small progress (like applying for jobs or budgeting wins) still counts.
  • You can feel grateful and exhausted at the same time.

⚠️ Content Note

This entry includes discussion of caregiver fatigue, emotional heaviness, financial stress, low mood, and job-search anxiety. Nothing graphic. Just tender, honest, end-of-November tired vibes.

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🪶 Keywords

daily dump, bariatric community, Life in the Bari Lane, caregiver fatigue, emotional heaviness, burnout, Scentsy vendor event, shipping delays, FedEx Chicago delay, financial stress, total money makeover, budgeting journey, EveryDollar app, remote job search, project manager roles, introvert office fatigue, open office stress, job loss recovery, emotional resilience, vulnerable storytelling

👉 Make sure you’re subscribed to Life in the Bari Lane so you don’t miss my next dump.

📌 Standard Disclaimer

This podcast is based on personal experience and is intended for information, education, and entertainment purposes only. I am not a medical professional, therapist, or financial advisor. Always seek the guidance of your qualified health, wellness, or financial professional regarding any medical condition, treatment, or decision. Listener discretion is advised. 💜

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About the Podcast

Life in the Bari Lane
Come along for the ride — it's no fun going alone.
Life in the Bari Lane is your 30-minute dose of real talk about life after bariatric surgery — the good, the hard, the weird, and the “nobody warned me about this” moments. No fluff, no “just follow the plan” nonsense — just honest conversations about what it’s like to change your body, your habits, and your whole damn life.

This podcast is a space for the highs and lows of the weight loss journey. Because here’s the truth: bariatric surgery is a tool — not a magic fix. It’s still work. It’s still messy. And it’s still life — with a different GPS.

Whether you’re pre-op and researching, post-op and thriving, or somewhere in the “what the hell did I just do?” stage, you’re in the right lane. This show is about building community — the kind that gets it, supports you, and doesn’t sugarcoat the process.

I’m Sacha — a real-life bariatric patient navigating this wild ride — and I’m here to keep it honest, funny, and deeply human.

You’ll hear:
💥 Unfiltered talk about the hard days
🥗 Nutrition talk that’s actually realistic
🧠 Mental health, body image, and identity shifts
👯‍♀️ Support systems and “friendship fallout”
💪 Motivation that doesn’t suck
🙃 Oops moments, progress wins, and honest reflections

New episodes drop weekly — short enough to fit into your day, but packed with the good stuff to keep you going.

About your host

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Sacha Holder

Sacha Holder is a project manager, podcast host, and bariatric patient who’s not here to pretend it’s all perfect. With over a decade of professional experience and a whole lot of lived experience, she creates podcasts that tell the truth about what it means to live, heal, and grow — through chaos, and curveballs, while keeping it together (mostly).

She’s the voice behind Life in the Bari Lane, a bite-sized bariatric podcast for real people navigating post-op life, and The High-Functioning Disaster, a show about showing up even when everything feels like too much. Through humor, honesty, and zero judgment, Sacha builds community through conversation — because no one should have to figure it out alone.