09/15/2026
This weekend, a severe diverticulitis flare-up forced me to stop.
I spent Saturday on the couch with a heating pad. I didn’t exercise, complete the chores, or try to make the day productive. That was harder for me than it sounds.
When you are responsible for a career, household, caregiving, animals, appointments, and a growing business, productivity can become more than a habit. It can become the standard you use to determine whether you are allowed to rest. I could see the chores waiting.
This time, I left them there.
Rest wasn’t a reward for completing the list. It was the most responsible decision available to me.
We often celebrate people who push through discomfort. But good judgment also means recognizing when continuing will make things worse.
The work remained... I rested anyway.
