Dear reader,
This past week has been intense; a lot has been going on at the same time. And even though I don’t want to admit it, I haven’t been giving everything my best.
My calendar is almost entirely full, and I haven’t been able to keep up with tasks, family, or friends. I haven’t been able to wake up as early as I normally would, and neither have I been able to go to the gym every day.
Often, on such days (or weeks), I’d try to just grind through it even though I knew I was not feeling good. But this time, I’ve decided to slow down just a little. By that, I don’t mean that I won’t do the things that I’m supposed to do. I will still complete my assignments, attend the meetings that I must, or write this newsletter, which is important to me.
What I mean is during the times when I am low and not actively doing something, I will let myself take some rest. The most important detail for this period of rest is to let myself be, i.e., give myself time to just breathe, think, look outside, or take a walk, not “rest” using my phone or laptop.
While procrastinating to write this issue, I was using my phone, and then I thought, “Maybe, just maybe, if I don’t use my phone right now, I might be able to come up with an idea for this week’s issue.”
The first thing I thought was that I could not fail to deliver some value in this newsletter, and I cannot appear weak or struggling either. The second thing I thought was, “Why not? This is the reality. I am not perfect, I don’t have all the answers, and I, like everyone else, struggle.”
If I don’t admit that I don’t know why the sky is blue, how will I ever learn? If I don’t accept that I’m struggling, how will I allow myself to slow down to recharge?
So that’s what I’m doing right now. There’s a very good chance that when you receive this email, I’ll be on a walk. I’m about to head out for a while. I won’t use my phone or put on my AirPods.
I will just be.
I hope this will prompt you to give yourself some time when you need it. Slowing down is not stopping.
I’ll see you next week.
Take care, my friend!
Warmly,
Suraj
