Carrying the Load
Finding the Direction
This past week turned into one of those stretches where work quietly takes over everything. It started with three hours on Sunday and rolled straight into long days that flirted with burnout by the end of the week. Martin Luther King Jr. Day came at the perfect time, both as a reminder of what he stood for and as a much-needed pause to reset. I came back from India knowing a demanding stretch was ahead, but knowing doesn’t always make it easier when you’re in the middle of it.
The week also threw my routine off physically. Between travel recovery and some tough atmospheric changes, I missed a few workouts and definitely felt it. Thankfully, I’m starting to feel better. I managed to get some cardio in on Saturday and spent Monday cleaning the house, which turned out to be more humbling than expected.
That cleaning session really opened my eyes. With my partner still overseas with Jasper, I’ve been handling both work and home, and I gained a whole new level of appreciation for what she does. In many places overseas, it’s common for women to manage the home while men focus on work. My partner has never fit into that box. She’s built a successful career and still somehow keeps our home running smoothly. Even without Jasper here, I can’t match her level of detail or consistency. She continues to amaze me in ways I probably didn’t fully recognize before.
I also spent some time outside doing snow removal, battling brutal winds that made winter feel extra long. Spring can’t come soon enough.
Being without my partner for this extended stretch has given me a lot of quiet time to think. About decisions, about direction, and about what’s next. I don’t have all the answers, and honestly, none of us really do. But with 39 not far off and 40 closer than it feels, I know change is coming, and it will start before that next decade arrives. I hope you’ll stick around, follow along, and join me for wherever this road leads next.