Don’t Forget to Come Up for Air

Have you ever watched a sea turtle?

They spend most of their lives beneath the surface, navigating vast oceans, swimming through currents, and traveling incredible distances. Earlier this year, I had the chance to swim with the sea turtles, and from above, they make it seem effortless. But even the strongest sea turtle can’t stay underwater forever.

Eventually, they have to come up for air.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about that memory.

Like many of you, the past several months have felt like swimming through the depths of the sea. Between client projects, strategic planning sessions, community initiatives, family activities, graduation, ball games, business growth, and all of the day-to-day responsibilities that come with life, I found myself immersed in the current (focused on simply keeping up and juggling all the balls).

Sometimes that’s exactly what a season requires. There are seasons when we’re called to put our heads down and do the work. Stay focused. Keep moving forward. And trust that the direction we’re heading in is the right one.

But I’ve been reminded recently that even in those busy seasons, we still need moments to come up for air.

A couple weeks ago, I intentionally stepped away for a day. Not because everything was finished. Not because there wasn’t more work to do. Not because the to-do list suddenly disappeared.

I stepped away because I needed to breathe.

And something amazing happened.

I gained perspective.

I found clarity.

I reconnected with what mattered most.

I was reminded that the work will still be there tomorrow, but our ability to lead well, serve others, and show up as our best selves depends on our willingness to pause long enough to refill our tank.

Just like that salty sea turtle, sometimes we need to surface, take a deep breath, soak in the sunshine, and remember why we’re swimming in the first place.

Then we can dive back in with renewed energy and purpose.

As leaders, entrepreneurs, parents, volunteers, and community champions, we often wear our busyness like a badge of honor. We convince ourselves that slowing down means falling behind.

But I’ve learned that the opposite is often true.

The moments when we step back are often the moments when we move forward the fastest.

So if you find yourself in the thick of it right now, I want to encourage you to do two things:

1. Enjoy the journey.
2. Don’t forget to come up for air.

Take the walk. Sit by the water. Read the book. Spend time with your family. Pray. Reflect. Breathe.

Then keep on swimming.

Speaking of sea turtles…

Many of you know that one of the projects closest to my heart right now is a children’s book that I have been writing while my niece has been illustrating. I’m excited to share that it’s coming along beautifully! In fact, the first draft was printed and gifted to my daughter for graduation.

Over the next month, we’ll be putting the finishing touches on the story and preparing for publication.

And yes, it features a sea turtle and this very message of perseverance, resilience, and continuing forward even when life feels challenging.

So be on the lookout for pre-order information coming soon!

I hope the story becomes a reminder for children (and adults alike) that no matter what challenges they face, they can keep moving forward if they trust the journey.

After all, sometimes success isn’t about swimming faster. Sometimes it’s simply about remembering to come up for air, take a breath, and enjoy the journey.