I recognized that my ancestors knew how to lean into joy and prioritized balance, including deep, intentional rest. Even those who were traditional healers were given the time and space to rest. Today we have to carve out this space for ourselves, but it is no less crucial.

I realized, I'm worthy just because I exist. I don't have to perform & it was okay to take a nap to restart. I sat in silence for five minutes just breathing & then once I centered I visualized where I wanted to be. That's when the steps to get there just magically showed up!

Leading with integrity and trusting myself allowed me to slow down when needed, without losing direction or confidence. I've learned that honoring the small details is what makes the bigger picture truly successful.

I stopped seeing rest as the opposite of ambition, but part of it. Work hard, and play hard. Both are part of forward motion.

Growth seasons come to make us change. We are to learn a lesson from them and grow into a better version of our ourselves. Take time to pause, reflect, maintain self care, pray, and get up the next day believing you will get through this.

I found that rest was not a pause on becoming. I looked at it as a quiet rhythm that allowed me to keep moving forward; stronger, WISER, and did it on my own.

Rest wasn't me falling behind; it was me sharpening the tools I needed to go further. When I learned to pause with intention instead of guilt, my progress finally felt sustainable.

I learned to rest while moving forward because life didn't give me the option to stop. As an immigrant, a mother, and a leader, pausing never meant quitting—it meant surviving wisely. What helped me was learning to listen to my body and my spirit. I rested in small moments: quiet mornings before the world woke up, deep breaths between responsibilities, choosing peace over perfection. I stopped feeling guilty for slowing down and trusted that consistency matters more than speed. Rest became my way of honoring how far I'd already come while still walking toward what's next.