Why I’m Taking a Break: A Year-End Reflection

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Why I’m Taking a Break: A Year-End Reflection

Episode Description:

After a full year of showing up every week, Jama sits down for an unedited, voice-memo-style message to share what’s been on her heart. This episode is a personal update, a thank you to every listener who has been part of this journey, and an honest reflection on a year filled with change, growth, and realignment.

For the first time in a long time, Jama is giving herself permission to step back without knowing exactly what comes next. And instead of forcing clarity or direction, she’s choosing to trust the space this season is creating.

If you’ve ever reached a point in your life or business where you needed to pause, breathe, or rethink your next steps, this episode will remind you that stepping back isn’t failure. It’s preparation for what’s ahead.

In this short, heartfelt episode, Jama shares:

• Why this year brought more change than she expected
• What a full year of podcasting taught her
• Why she’s choosing rest over forcing the next chapter
• How uncertainty can actually be the most peaceful place to land
• A sincere thank you to the listeners who stayed with her all year

This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a pause. And a reminder that sometimes stepping back is exactly what helps you move forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Stepping back isn’t quitting; it’s creating space for clarity.
• A year of podcasting can teach you more about yourself than you expect.
• Growth often comes through rest, not constant momentum.
• It’s okay not to know what’s next — uncertainty can be grounding.
• Gratitude and honesty are powerful ways to close a chapter.

https://www.jamapantel.com

Episode Transcript

Jama Pantel (00:00):
Hey y'all, it's your podcast, Bestie Jama, and I
wanted this drop today to besomething a little bit
different.
Just me talking to you the wayI would if we were sitting
across the table having a matchalatte, which is my choice and
preference or coffee for you.
Um I've been thinking a lotabout the past year, what it's

(00:20):
meant, what it's taught me, andhonestly, what it's changed in
me.
Because if you've beenlistening for a while, you've
probably felt and heard thechange in me throughout this
year.
This has been a huge year ofshifts in so many ways in my
business, in my body, how I showup, and what I want the next
season of my life to look like.

(00:42):
And I'm still trying to figureit out.
When I recorded the very firstepisode of this podcast last
year, I had no idea what thenext twelve months would hold,
but I kind of had an idea inmind because I'd been on track
for many years doing the samething.
I didn't know how much I wasgoing to grow or how much I was
going to let go of this pastyear.

(01:03):
I didn't know how many timesI'd have to pause, reset,
rethink, and choose a differentdirection than the one I thought
I'd be walking now where I'm atthis year.
And I definitely didn't knowhow much this podcast would be a
place of healing and become apart of that journey and
allowing me to share my thoughtsin a way that's more than the

(01:25):
clickbait of social media.
And here's the thing.
For the first time in a longtime, I really don't know what
next year is going to look like,and I'm actually finally okay
with that.
Old me would have not have beenthat way.
There's a kind of peace thathas come over me for not forcing
any kind of clarity into nextyear, with not looking for

(01:48):
answers, with allowing things tounfold instead of trying to
control the entire path like Ihave done for pretty much my
whole life.
And that's where I'm at rightnow.
Open, curious, a little bitvulnerable, and finally starting
to be more aligned with where Iam and what I need.
This podcast, Living the WholePicture, was my way of sharing

(02:12):
that that's what we do.
We live the whole picture.
It's not just what you seeonline on social media or what
you share.
It really is everything thatencompasses us and has been such
a grounding part of my lifethis year recording this for you
guys, showing up every week,even when I didn't feel like
myself, and I was going throughall kinds of shifts and changes

(02:35):
in my body and talking them outloud with you guys, talking
through the things I waslearning in real time, letting
myself be honest about change,about burnout, about rebuilding,
and about becoming a differentversion of myself, because that
is where I'm at.
And so many of you have told methat these episodes have helped
you feel seen and helped you insome way, and that has meant

(02:58):
the world to me that y'all haveresponded in the way y'all have,
and that I have been able tohelp you through your own
transitions and get throughsomething or put up put out
something that you didn't thinkyou would be able to do.
And then I just want to sayfrom the bottom of my heart,
thank you.
Thank you for listening, thankyou for staying with me, thank
you for giving me the space togrow in public, even as I

(03:20):
figured out things on my ownbehind the scenes, and thank you
for allowing me into yourjourney and sharing with me
where you're at.
That in and of itself made allof this priceless to me.
Next week will be my finalwrap-up episode and a look back
on what the year of podcastinghas taught me, and after that,
I'll be taking a real break.

(03:40):
I'm wrapping up this podcast ina way that feels gentle and
honest to me.
Not because I'm done forever,but because I know I need space
to step back before I stepforward into whatever's next.
And who knows, I may startanother podcast in the future.
Maybe it'll be about wellnessand fitness or midlife or
confidence or something entirelydifferent.

(04:02):
I don't know.
I just know that I'm not donewith my voice, and not even by a
long shot sharing with y'all.
I just feel like this chapterneeds an ending, and so so a new
one can begin.
Again, I'm not really editingthis or you know, making it
polished.
I'm just showing up for youguys.

(04:23):
So as we wrap up December andstart heading into the new year,
again, I just want to say thankyou truly.
Thank you for listening.
Thank you for walking with me.
Thank you for showing up hereweek after week, staying
committed to this podcast for anentire year is something I'm
really proud of.
And having you on the otherside of these episodes made all

(04:44):
of this possible.
I hope you'll join me in thefinal episode next week.
Um, and who knows what's gonnacome next.
Until next week, thanks y'allfor tuning in and living the
whole picture with me.