Stepping Away

I write this to you after hearing some news about a dear writer friend. She just recently had to step away from her role to tend to her wellness. While I am a bit saddened by her decision, she reminded me of a choice that we forget we possess. Sometimes, we have to step away.

I know I’ve been sharing a bit about hustle culture and trying to balance (I prefer the idea of being in harmony) all that we commit ourselves to complete. But, there’s nothing wrong with recognizing that you’re at your breaking point and truly, need to unburden yourself.

I find myself thinking about the phrase “if the plane is going down, put the mask on yourself first before assisting others.”

Too often, at least from what I see in Western Culture, we place pressure on being of assistance for everyone before we are of assistance to ourselves. The notion of taking care of oneself first is often seen as being selfish, but is it really? In the ever increasing fast paced nature of life and the exposure of our pursuits, thanks to social media, why are we not resting? Why are we not stepping away from the things that deplete our energies?

There’s a difference between dedication and fear. It’s one thing to be dedicated to accomplishing something. And, it’s another to stay out of fear for the unknown and because of how it will look to “quit.”’ By all means, if you cannot give your best, if you are stressing out because the to-do list is never ending, if you are panicking that you can’t remember the last time you truly had a genuine moment to yourself, then please, for your health, step away. What others say about you is none of your business and if they cannot provide you with compassion during this transition and important decision, then maybe you should reconsider having them in your life.

My mother always said “People will be in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime” and the older I get, the more I find myself clinging to that phrase. Sometimes, I revamp it a little bit, Instead of “people” insert “job” or “idea.” Maybe it’s your home or an unused coat that you continue to keep in your closet that hasn’t been worn in years. Why are you continuing to hang on to these “things” that stress you out further?

The longer we hold on to things that are burdening us, the more guilt we feel. It's okay to say no, even if you're scared. It’s okay to walk away because of how big your life is. You, in turn, are valuable, and we need more people that are healthy in this world than the stressed-out zombies that seem carefree and popular.