unsubscribing from the hustle
Ruby Beach, Olympic Nat’l Park, WA.
“...to have existed without fully participating in life -that is the deepest personal tragedy.”
living life in misalignment
I used to think “success” meant making everyone proud.
Choosing a career that my family approved of. Trying to climb the societal ladder by working harder, picking up more hours, saying yes when I wanted to say no. Getting paid only to consume more. This cycle became my entire identity.
But here’s the truth: I was empty. Not just exhausted, but feeling a hopeless sort of burn out. I was living for the weekend, numbing myself, and measuring my worth by excessive productivity and approval.
Sometime in the last few years, after hitting rock bottom and learning to accept some difficult truths, something clicked. It was then that I began to realize that I was denying my own worth by subscribing to a lifestyle that I didn’t align with.
a turning point
Of course, the shift didn’t happen all at once. There was always a quieter part of me questioning if there was more to life than this.
Ah, but the ambitious, overachiever didn’t have the time or energy to explore thoughts of that caliber. So, like clockwork I brushed it off, told myself I was lucky, shamed myself for even thinking it, and pushed through.
This continued for awhile, the chronic comparison, deepening insecurities, and worsening burnout. The turning point was a breaking point, a necessity for the changes I needed to make. Shifting perspectives allowed me to understand that societal acceptance is a pointless pursuit. In order to find contentment, I needed to shift my focus inward, not outward.
redefining success
Standing up against the rat race isn’t about quitting your job or moving to a cabin in an old-growth forest (though, let’s be honest, I’ve dreamed about both). It’s about rewriting the rules for your own life:
Choosing presence over hustle.
Valuing your health, peace, and relationships more than your tangibles and income.
Saying no to the pressure to keep up, consume more, and look perfect doing it.
For me, that’s looked like slowing down and getting to know myself on a deeper level. Things like prioritizing my needs, focusing on my health, and establishing boundaries. Reconnecting with the things that make life feel full — mother nature, meaningful conversations, and caring for my body and mind.
an ongoing fight
I am not here to pretend as if I have it all figured out. Hustle culture is still glorified. The pull to “do more” is strong and I have to hold myself accountable regularly. However, every time I choose depth over speed, every time I stop comparing my life to someone else’s, I find my way back.
This space is my way of sharing that journey.
Not the highlight reel. Not the polished, perfected version. Just an honest space to talk about what it means to step out of the hustle and live a life that feels lighter, slower, and profoundly human.
If you’ve ever felt stuck or out of touch, I hope you find something here that makes you stop, breathe, and remember that you are not alone. Know that a different path is possible.
