Kind of a Wreck, Kind of a Leader

I woke up at 3 a.m. with a pounding headache and a heart that felt heavier than usual. My mind was racing. There’s been a lot swirling around in my head and my heart lately, and restful sleep hasn’t exactly been on my side.

As the clock inched closer to the time I was supposed to get up for work, I felt that familiar pull, the version of me that would’ve powered through. Gotten up. Pushed past the headache. Shown up at 8 a.m. like nothing was wrong.

But I didn’t do that today. Today, I chose me.

I let my boss know I’d be a couple of hours late. I stayed in bed. I didn’t make excuses. I just gave myself a little more care than I normally would.

And yes, I had to move a few things on my calendar. Yes, I still felt that little flicker of discomfort from the headache and from the guilt. But I also felt proud.

Because the truth is, I’ve worn burnout like a badge for most of my life. I’ve treated exhaustion like a trophy, and then wondered why I feel so depleted.

Today, I did something different. I created a boundary, not because I had to, but because I needed to. Because my well-being mattered more than proving I could push through.

This wasn’t me being lazy. It was choosing myself, on purpose.

And that counts, too.