The Foundation for Every Dream

A little over a week ago, I got sick.

Not the kind of sick where you can push through with some lemon ginger tea and an extra-strength Tylenol. The kind where your body quietly, but firmly, says, "Not today."

My body gave me such a clear message that there was no choice but to stop. My mind couldn't think, and my body didn't want to move. I didn't even feel guilty for lying on the couch watching episode after episode of a series or for leaving my laptop closed. Rest wasn't a distraction from my work; it was the work.

Over the past few weeks, I've also watched several people in my family and circle of friends face significant health challenges. It's impossible not to be reminded how quickly life can change, and how easily we take good health for granted until something interrupts it.

As someone with a multi-path career, it isn't unusual for me to have five or six different things on the go at once. I genuinely love that and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Each one serves a different purpose, but together they create a life that feels meaningful to me. The challenge, though, is that when you're passionate about your work, it's easy to convince yourself that taking care of your own health can wait until tomorrow.

But this week reminded me of something I've always known, even if I don't always live it well. None of those things are possible if I don't take care of the person doing them.

I spend time every day challenging my mind. I read, learn, and stretch my thinking because I know how important it is to take care of my brain health, and I believe growth matters. Yet somehow my physical health is often the first thing to take a back seat when life gets busy. Somehow, it can become easier to keep investing in our work than in the person doing the work.

The more I thought about that this week between naps and episodes, the more I realized how backwards it is. The body carrying us through our purpose deserves at least as much attention as the goals we're chasing. Rest isn't laziness, movement isn't optional, and caring for our bodies isn't a luxury. They're the foundation that allows us to keep showing up for the people, causes, and dreams that matter most.

This morning, for the first time in over a week, I woke up feeling more like myself again. I noticed the beauty of the world around me in a way I hadn't while I was sick, and I found myself appreciating something I rarely stop to think about: simply being healthy. What a gift that is, and one that so many people are longing for right now.

If you're reading this today and your body is serving you well, I hope you'll pause for just a moment to appreciate it. And if your health isn't where you wish it was, I hope you'll give yourself the same grace you so readily offer everyone else. Sometimes our bodies aren't working against us; they're telling us to slow down, pay attention, and care for ourselves in ways we've been putting off.

So this week, instead of encouraging you to accomplish one more thing, I'd rather leave you with a simple question: What is one small thing you can do today to care for the person who is carrying all of your dreams?

Because your purpose needs you. The work you're here to do is important, but so are you. The greatest investment you can make in your purpose is to care for the person who is living it.

Taking care,

Tamara