Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

All month long, I've been talking about balance, balance between work and life, balance between health and enjoyment, balance between planning and flexibility. Usually, I do a pretty good job of managing those things. At least, I like to think I do.

This time, however, life reminded me that balance isn't something you achieve once and then check off a list. It's something you continually practice, and sometimes it teaches you the same lesson more than once.

Over the last few weeks, I was traveling through Portugal and Spain, enjoying incredible experiences, beautiful scenery, wonderful food, and precious time with my son. It was everything I had hoped it would be. Somewhere along the way, though, I picked up a cold.

At first, it seemed manageable. A little congestion, a little fatigue, nothing I couldn't push through. And that's exactly what I did. I didn't want to miss any of the activities. I didn't want to stay back at the hotel while everyone else was exploring. I didn't want to give up experiences I had traveled thousands of miles to enjoy.

The problem was that my body was sending me signals, and I wasn't listening.

As the days went on, instead of slowing down and making adjustments, I kept trying to maintain the pace I had originally planned. Looking back, it's a little ironic because this is exactly the advice I give my clients all the time. When circumstances change, adjust. When life throws a wrench into the plan, create a new plan. When your body asks for something different, pay attention.

I didn't do that.

By the time I got home, my body had made the decision for me. Instead of jumping right back into work and my normal routine, I spent several days on the couch resting, recovering, visiting the doctor, and doing all the things I probably should have done sooner.

Thankfully, I'm feeling much better now. Not quite 100%, but certainly moving in the right direction. More importantly, I'm finally listening. Instead of pushing harder, I'm giving myself permission to recover fully. That means more rest, fewer obligations, and accepting that the balance I need right now looks different than it did a few weeks ago.

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about balance is that it means everything gets equal attention all the time. It doesn't. Real balance shifts. Sometimes your business needs more attention. Sometimes your family needs more attention. Sometimes adventure and travel take center stage. And sometimes recovery becomes the priority.

This was one of those times.

One of my favorite moments during this whole experience happened at the doctor's office. I mentioned that I had canceled a massage appointment to come in for treatment. She laughed and said, "Well, if you canceled a massage, then you must really not be feeling well." She wasn't wrong. If you know me, you know that is not a decision I make lightly.

The whole experience got me thinking about how often life gives us lessons we've already learned before. We like to believe that once we understand something intellectually, we've mastered it. But that's rarely how growth works. Sometimes life circles back around and asks, "Are you sure you learned this lesson?" And then gives us another opportunity to practice.

I would love to tell you this is the last time I'll ever push too hard because I'm excited about something. Realistically, it probably won't be. I love travel. I love adventure. I love saying yes to experiences. But each time I encounter this lesson, I get a little better at recognizing it and hopefully a little quicker at making adjustments.

So that's my challenge for you this week.

What lesson keeps showing up in your life? What is life trying to teach you right now? More importantly, what adjustment do you know you need to make, even if it's not the adjustment you want to make?

Maybe it's getting more rest. Maybe it's setting stronger boundaries. Maybe it's asking for help. Maybe it's saying no more often. Or maybe it's simply listening when your body, your business, or your life is telling you something needs to change.

The lesson tends to get louder when we ignore it.

For me, the lesson this time was simple: rest isn't optional. Recovery isn't something you earn after you've exhausted yourself. It's part of the process. And sometimes balance doesn't mean doing more, it means stopping long enough to heal.

As always, what I hope for you is that you live a life you love without giving up the things that bring you joy.