There was a moment this past year where life asked me to pause… and not gently.

What started as “just not feeling like myself” turned into something deeper—unexpected circumstances that forced me to slow down in ways I had been avoiding for a long time. At the same time, I had to make a few difficult decisions: like postponing something so close to my heart… my retreat. I was off tract in many parts of my life

And if I’m honest, that moment felt like failure. But it wasn’t. It was alignment.

When Life Forces You to Sit Still

I’m used to showing up.
For my work.
For my guests.
For my community.

But this time, I didn’t have the capacity to pour into anyone else the way I wanted to. My cup wasn’t just low—it was empty.

And the truth is…
You cannot serve from an empty place and expect it to feel genuine.

So I did something that didn’t come easy to me. I disconnected.

The Kind of Disconnect That Heals You

Disconnecting didn’t mean I stopped caring.
It meant I started choosing myself.

I stepped back.
I got quiet.
I allowed myself to feel everything I had been pushing aside.

Even the things I told myself “not right now” a million times… like fully processing my mother’s passing.

For the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to go there.

And that’s when I realized—healing doesn’t happen in noise.
It happens in stillness.

The Power of Being Held (Even in Silence)

During my time away—from work, from events, from constantly being “on”—I also stepped away from people.

Not because I didn’t love them… but because I needed space.

And what meant the most?

My friends understood.

They didn’t pressure me.
They didn’t question me.
They simply allowed me to be… while still loving and supporting me from a distance.

That kind of love is rare.
And it reminded me that real connection doesn’t require constant presence.

Reconnecting… Slowly, Intentionally

Now, I’m in a different space.

A softer space.
A more grounded space. This year, I feel something I can’t fully explain…
Peace.

Not because everything is perfect.
But because I trust where I am.

I’m reconnecting—with myself, with my friends, with my purpose. And I’m showing up differently.

With faith.
With gratitude.
With confidence.