Peaceful Warriors

In my case, both personally and professionally, I had pretty much been surrounded by people who tended to celebrate being stressed-out. Overworked was the new sexy, and simply setting up a coffee date was a huge undertaking, because we were all just so busy! Working, hustling, taking care of our families, finding the next big client or challenge and trying to make it seem fun in the process.

And then, once we re-emerged from Covid lockdowns and cancelled plans, blinking in the bright summer sun… we were changed. All those sourdough starters and deserted knitting projects set aside, a courageous few started denouncing stress culture. The first signs were subtle: I still remember the first time I got a reply to a work email after 10 days of silence, with a simple ‘I was taking some time off.’ No apologies, no further explanations. A quick check-in on their Instagram account confirmed: this person went offline and simply sat in the sunset somewhere warm. And all while I was working my butt off till 9 PM? Who do these newly minted ‘illuminated hearts’ think they are?

It felt like they were doing it just to spite me: my physical therapist took off to Costa Rica for ‘an indefinite leave of absence’. Not one, but TWO of my copywriting clients shuttered their businesses to ‘regroup’. And my local, go-to dry cleaner just up and sold the business to a huge chain and retired to Italy. How dare they!

Well, it turns out that the more my indignation grew, the worse my sleep got. And somewhere between my ‘oh-so-busy’ meetings, deadlines and last-minute trips, my sense of outrage at all these quiet quitters slowly turned into something else. With every person I’ve spoken to starting to prioritise self-care and spiritual growth over moneymaking and social shaking, my resentment of all these so-called ‘inner peace protectors’ turned into a grudging sense of admiration. And that tiny kernel of self-doubt in my own life plan has proven to be a blessing in disguise, because I’m discovering that I can, indeed, take a step back sometimes. That it’s okay to close my laptop at 2 PM on a Friday and go for a walk by the lakeside. And that my retirement provisions will probably be able to handle me declining a job offer that would have paid for my whole family’s summer vacation – but would have required me to work remotely during all of it.

Don’t worry, I haven’t taken up reformer Pilates just yet, but it’s honestly been quite refreshing to witness the end of the ‘cult of busy’ first-hand. I’m not quite sure what’s taking its place right now, but at least I’m armed with the appropriate breathing exercises, meditation apps, and warm-yet-unstylish fleece jacket for all upcoming adventures in doing a tiny bit less. So, if you happen to see me this summer, sitting in an outdoor café on a Monday at 10 AM, just know that I’m training for my local Spiritual Warriors group, and I’ll try not to apologise for it. You might even join me!