There are a few times in life that no matter what you have on your plate, everything must come to a stop. It\u2019s an abrupt, jolting, whiplash-like experience where you surrender to things that are out of your control. For most of us, those instances are the death of a loved one and illness. <\/strong><\/p>\n During those experiences when we\u2019re forced to pump the breaks, we naturally reflect on how lucky we are. Taking life for granted is easy.\u00a0And taking our health for granted is a natural runner-up. It\u2019s often only in times of pain or loss that we count our blessings and acknowledge how much we have to be grateful for.<\/p>\n Out of nowhere, I had two rounds of serious allergic reactions to my eyes, lips, elbows, feet, forearms and armpits. Those inflammations were sandwiched in between the death of my stepfather\u2019s 25-year-old son. It was the ultimate screeching halt. Once my body had healed, my heart broke. Then once my heart started to slightly feel intact, my body gave in again.<\/p>\n This all happened when I needed to deliver a 24-page report, finalize 2 proposals and launch a new phase of my business. And I just had to stop. Both my body and my heart needed it. In the moment, \u201cstopping\u201d was sleeping a few extra hours when I was on my steroids and not working on the weekend. Hopefully, that\u2019s not what most people define as slowing down because it\u2019s not, no matter which way you squint your eyes and tilt your head.<\/p>\n But I didn\u2019t give myself nearly enough time to reflect on everything because I had to \u201cget on with it\u201d. I had to pull myself out of my funk and move forward. Like most people, that doesn\u2019t typically work out for the best and it didn’t for me.<\/p>\n The rules of society tell us it\u2019s easier to show up, regardless of our personal circumstances, in the way others expect us to be.<\/p>\n While I didn\u2019t ever sugar-coat my reality to my colleagues, clients or otherwise, I also didn\u2019t take them up on their offers to push our work further out, reschedule meetings or help with daily needs. In my mind, I would be too far behind. However, I did make a firm decision that I needed to go away.<\/p>\n With my ever-caring husband\u2019s reinforcement, I booked a 3-day getaway to a small studio loft on the water that was about an hour away from our home in the city. I\u2019m writing this from a quaint little desk that is perfectly aligned with a window to the Chesapeake Bay.<\/p>\n This is my time to make the space for mind, body, and spirit that I didn\u2019t allow myself when everything came to a stop. This is my planned stop — to reflect on the amazing people whom I love and fill my life with joy, the business I\u2019ve built that creates meaningful connections for individuals and teams, and the body that I\u2019m able to take care of and give it the rest and nurturing it needs to keep me going.<\/p>\n Some may think this is luxurious or even frivolous, but I assure you – this time is some of the most powerful and needed I\u2019ve ever had.<\/p>\n The next time your world comes to a screeching halt, remember to make the space to reflect. For it\u2019s only with life’s pain that we can experience true joy. Without each side, we wouldn’t truly understand the value it plays in our lives in making us whole as humans.<\/p>\nIn the past month, I\u2019ve had both of these experiences jolt my life.<\/h4>\n
When we mask our inner stories, we are living an external front to please others.<\/h4>\n