Didn’t Know I Needed This
I recently led a retreat for one of my group programs at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a place that, from its humble beginnings, has blossomed into something extraordinary. We spent time in service, tending to the animals and connecting with the profound magic of the place. To balance the hard work, we wrapped up in Las Vegas—where we traded in shovels for spa treatments, beautiful dinners, and a deep, transformational workshop.
As we transitioned from service to celebration, one thing came up for every single attendee:
“I didn't know how much I needed this.”
It's easy to get stuck in the grind—managing the endless to-do list, balancing responsibilities, and never feeling caught up. So often, we think that stepping away is a luxury we can't afford, worrying that too many things will fall apart if we're not constantly "on."
But here's the truth I keep learning: the illusion of "do more, push harder, move faster" keeps us in a cycle of exhaustion and scarcity. We feel we don't have time to slow down, when really, that's the very thing we need to recalibrate.
There's a saying I love: “On the days you think you don't have time to meditate, meditate for an hour.”
It points to the heart of the matter. The antidote to overwhelm isn't doing more—it's slowing down. Stepping away. Taking a moment to reset not just our minds, but our bodies, too. That's what this retreat offered: a full system reboot.
For many of the women in the group, that reset felt long overdue. They unplugged from their routines, let go of the false urgency, and reconnected to themselves, their hearts, and the bond we share as a community of like-minded women. Each person experienced a letting go of the need to control and a deeper connection to their wholeness.
We all need this from time to time. We are human beings, not machines. But in the fast pace of life, it's easy to forget this simple truth.
Maybe this message is the reminder you need to unplug—to do the thing you've been telling yourself you can't do because it doesn't make sense right now. Whether it's a retreat, a moment to breathe, an hour to yourself, or brunch with your besties, giving yourself space can be the most powerful reset.
If you want support in this, my upcoming program, Exhale: A Four-Week Journey Through Breath, is designed to help you connect with your wholeness. Over four weeks, we'll explore what it feels like to drop out of the monkey mind/mental grind and into your true nature. We start Tuesday, and I'd love for you to join us if you feel called. You can learn more here.
A Closing Thought
Since coming back from the retreat, I feel more spacious inside and out. That, to me, is priceless. When I'm in this space, I can truly see and receive the beauty of my life. That's the gift of slowing down—it helps us live more fully in the present.
And to give you a glimpse of how impactful this can be, I wanted to share part of a reflection from one of the women on the trip. She faced her own inner challenges leading up to the retreat, and what she experienced speaks to the heart of why we need time away. Here's what she said:
"This was a really important trip for me, because it is the longest I have ever been away from my kids… Not because I didn't want to go on the trip, it was because of all the fears, stories, and assumptions I was telling myself for why I shouldn't go… But if I had let these assumptions win, I would have been letting fear and worry run my life. Instead, I challenged them, set myself up for success, and had an incredible trip filled with joy, inspiration, and nourishment."
(Her entire post is valuable. You can read it in full here.)
Her story reminds me how our fears and assumptions will always try to hold us back, but when we step beyond them, the reward is often far greater than we imagined. So, if you're feeling the tug to slow down and reset, consider this your invitation to give yourself that space.
With loving,
Amber
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