The Hour That Brought Me Back to Life

The last few weeks have been brutal. Not just busy, overwhelming. The kind of stress that sits heavy on your chest, that makes your brain feel foggy even after a full night's sleep (not that I was getting much of that). Between my 9-5 job, running an online shop, and trying to launch a software business, I felt like I was constantly running but never getting anywhere.

I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. I had no energy left for the things that used to bring me joy. Then, out of nowhere, I did something I hadn't done in over a year. I pushed my laptop aside, stood up, and walked over to the closet. Buried in the back, covered in dust, was my old guitar (I have a few, but I went for one that I've had for over 30 years and probably knows my life's worries better than I do). The strings were rusty and stiff, my fingers soft and uncalloused, but I tuned it up and started playing anyway.

And just like that, I felt something shift.

I got lost in it, just like I used to. When I was a kid and throughout my life, music was my escape. It was how I blocked out the noise, how I reset when life felt too big. But somewhere along the way, I forgot. I let work, responsibilities, and stress take over. I told myself I didn't have time.

But in that one hour, I felt more like myself than I had in months.

It gave me a bigger boost than a full week of sleep and an entire pot of coffee. The weight I'd been carrying? Gone. The exhaustion? Faded. I finished playing, sat there in silence for a minute, and just breathed.

It made me realize something, how easy it is to put ourselves last. To let the things we love slip away in the name of productivity. But the truth is, we need those things. They're not extras or luxuries. They're what keep us human.

So, if you're feeling drained, if life has been nonstop, if you can't remember the last time you did something just for you, then this is your sign. Step away. Pick up the thing that makes you feel alive. Even if it's just for an hour.

The work will still be there when you come back. But you'll be different. You'll be better. And you deserve that.