What Disappeared Without You Noticing?
For months now, I've had this quiet pull to cook more, to clean more, to read for pleasure again. And every time it surfaced, I told myself the same thing: I'm too busy right now. When things slow down, I'll get back to it.
That story felt true. And in many ways, it was. But here's what I didn't recognize in the moment: that quiet pull wasn't a scheduling problem. It was a red flag. My body was telling me it was time to rest and retreat, and I kept negotiating with it instead of listening.
So this month, I’m giving myself something different. Not five quiet minutes. Not a weekend. An actual, intentional stretch of slower pace.
And almost like clockwork, everything I'd pushed aside came back on its own.
I'm cooking again. And not just to get food on the table, but with the kind of creativity that turns leftover fruit into agua fresca. I've read three books this month. Books that sat on my shelf for months (with the library emailing me reminders), suddenly impossible to put down. I've even started deep-cleaning corners of my home; clearing out, reorganizing, making space.
None of this was forced. It just returned, the moment I gave it room to.
WHAT HAVE YOU QUIETLY STOPPED HAVING TIME FOR?
I was so quick to dismiss the absence of those small joys. I filed it under "busy season" instead of listening to what it was actually telling me, that I needed more steady pause and play in my life, not just a distant someday.
What have you quietly stopped having time for?
I'm not talking about the big, obvious signs of burnout. I'm talking about the small joys; the hobby you used to make time for, the meal you used to cook just because you wanted to, the book by your bed that's been on page 12 for a month. Assessing your well-being isn't a one-time checkup. It's an ongoing practice of noticing what's disappeared.
We tend to treat small joys as a reward we'll get to later, after the deadline, after the busy season, after things calm down. But rest, relaxation, and joy aren't indulgences we earn. They calm our nervous system and kickstart our creativity, the exact resource we need most when we're navigating complex decisions and leading through uncertainty. We can't afford to keep pushing them to the back of the line. They're not separate from our sustainability. They're part of the system.
So I'll leave you with the same question I asked myself: What small joy could you awaken this week, just by creating a little more intentional pause?
In solidarity,
Tamisha 🫶🏾
Upcoming Events + A Resource
I'm one of over 30 contributing authors in this powerful 52-week women's journal, compiled by Dr. Valarie W. Harris.
It's a sacred space to reflect, heal, and keep stepping, even when you're still mid-journey. Paperback $25, hardback $35, shipping included.
Gain the tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity, manage
growth effectively, and build a stronger business future at the Next Level Business Seminar, taking place on August 1 in Richmond, Va.
I’m excited to lead a session titled, ‘Creating Capacity: Integrating Wellness as a Sustainable Leadership Strategy.’ Hosted by the Henrico Economic Development Authority and the Richmond Office of Minority Business Development.
I'm co-facilitating this two-day symposium with my dear friends Lori Cohen and Kawai Lai in Natick, MA. This is for department chairs, deans, instructional coaches, and academic leaders.
We’ll be doing practical, grounded work that centers your well-being, helps you assess the conditions of your professional ecosystem, and prepares you to meet the moment for whatever challenges may present themselves next school year.
