Episode 31: A confession

So... I have a confession to make. 

If you've been following me for a while, you probably know I’m all about health, nutrition, and wellness. It’s my passion, my work, my obsession—and yes, I genuinely do try to walk the talk. I eat well. I move my body. I prioritize sleep. I even meditate, which, let’s be honest, used to feel like sitting in silence wondering if I left the oven on. 

But there’s one piece of the wellness puzzle I thought I had handled… and it turns out, I didn’t. 

Stress management. 

I mean, I thought I was doing fine. I wasn't screaming into pillows or rage-cleaning the kitchen (at least not regularly). I kept things organized. I handled deadlines. I even penciled in “downtime” like a responsible adult with a color-coded planner. 

But then something happened that gently—and not so gently—reminded me I was not okay in the way I thought I was. 

My husband is from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus—sunny, beautiful, slow-paced Cyprus. If you’ve ever been, you know it’s the kind of place where people savor their coffee for hours. Where meals are events. Where “hurry” is not part of the cultural vocabulary. Most of his family still lives there, and we were invited to a wedding. He suggested we make it a two-week vacation. 

TWO. WHOLE. WEEKS. 

My initial reaction was a hard no. Two weeks away from work? From clients, projects, emails, routines? I literally said, “That’s impossible.” Like I was being asked to live on Mars for a month. 

But I sat with it. I talked to my boss. I rearranged some things. And eventually, I said yes. 

And let me tell you... 

Wow. 

I had no idea how stressed I actually was until I wasn’t. Until I was lying on a beach with zero agenda. Until I had conversations that weren’t about work or productivity or deadlines. Until I stopped checking the time every five minutes. 

That trip cracked something open in me. For the first time in a very long time, I felt peacefully unproductive. I didn’t feel guilty for resting. I didn’t feel anxious about the next thing. I just... existed. 

Okay, I’ve shared my confession… now I want to hear yours. 

What’s one thing you know is good for you—but you just haven’t been able to follow through on yet? Or maybe something you used to do really well, but life got messy and it fell by the wayside? 

It could be something as simple as skipping lunch breaks, avoiding movement because you’re “too busy,” or saying yes to things you’re secretly resentful about. We all have something. And honestly? Saying it out loud is the first tiny act of rebellion against burnout culture. 

So here’s what I’d love: Shoot me a DM. Drop a voice note. Share your story—big or small. And if you’re comfortable, let me share it anonymously in a future episode. Because this is how we unlearn hustle culture—together. 

Let’s make this a space where confessions lead to compassion, not shame. A space where self-awareness becomes collective momentum. And a space where you’re reminded that you're not alone—ever. 

So... what’s your confession? 

I’m listening. 

www.facebook.com/DeliberateAging