Doing

sometimes doing nothing is doing everything

Always doing. Something. Going somewhere, doing something. Always. And for all aspects of our lives—work, personal, family, social, all of it. These past few weeks have felt like a blur in so many ways. And yet, very distinct moments stand out, sweet memories to hang on to. These past few weeks have reminded me that when part of life is busy, its okay to slow down other parts of your life.

I was born into a generation that needed to hustle. To grind. To do everything at all time to guarantee success in life. Don’t we remember the books—Grit, Outliers, Drive, Mindset. I read them all. Thats’s what I thought I was supposed to do, right? I distinctly remember conversations in my 20s…after working 12-13 hour days, coming home and thinking, there is still more that can be done, if I really want to do things for myself.

All of these things aren’t wrong. I genuinely believe in working hard. I genuinely believe there is value to pushing past your boundaries of comfort. I genuinely believe that growth often lies 10 feet ahead of where your mind tells you it is. I genuinely believe that more can be done because often we’ve squandered away time for meaningless and worthless things like scrolling. I genuinely believe there is a time to grind.

And, I genuinely believe that grit and rest can coexist in the same moment of time. I genuinely believe that finding softness can happen at the same time of pure hard work. This is the beauty of how our life arcs. This is the beauty in which living with the natural seasons of our life works.

Our teens and 20s and 30s are meant for just that. The stamina, the drive, the creation—these are the natural patterns and qualities of this time of life. Be a fully functioning adult. Make something of yourself. Do something great. Create something you’re proud of. And while doing so, enjoy what life is giving you. The moments she is trying to bring to your awareness to put a smile on your face.

Laugh. Cry. Dance. Sleep. Do all of it.

I turned 35 one month ago today. In those moments of what seems like a real transition into the next part of my life, I realized there is still so much I want to do. So much I have left to give. So much I want to learn. So much left to be accomplished. And all of that requires sincere and real effort. It requires a few late nights. It requires organizing my days better. Doing a little more. Working hard. But I also realized more than anything that in all of that, life doesn’t have to teeter on one end of the spectrum only. When one part of my life is busting at the seams, maybe another part of my life can take a few moments to rest.

I realized that life isn’t about this so-called work-life balance. That is a construct that was made up by some human to market to people entering the work force. Life is about allowing 2 opposites to co-exist in each and every moment of time. I cannot understand hot without having experienced cold. I cannot understand grind without experiencing rest.

And in all of this, sometimes doing nothing is doing everything.

Life isn’t made in the moments of burning to the ground. Life is made in the moments where we took a pause to smile, dance, laugh, shed a tear. Don’t get lost in the extremes. Get lost in the in-betweens that knock us off our balance just enough to force us back into a steady foundation.

xx, n