Why Slowing Down Was the Hardest (and Best) Thing I’ve Ever Done
I grew up in a small town in Northern California. My whole childhood, I couldn’t wait to leave. I’d talk constantly about getting out and moving to a new, different city. And just two months after I turned 18, I did exactly that.
I chased bigger, faster, louder.
First stop: Bend, Oregon. Then Eugene. Then Reno, Nevada.
After six years in Reno, we made our biggest move yet, Phoenix, Arizona.
The big city dream.
I was addicted to the fast pace.
I said yes to every opportunity, side hustles, promotions, new projects, networking events. I craved growth, movement, and momentum. The bigger the city, the more chances to succeed... or so I thought.
And in many ways, it was everything I imagined.
Phoenix had the energy, the opportunity, the hustle.
But it also had something I didn’t expect:
Speed limits that matched the lifestyle — 100mph, all the time.
Quick dinners. Short conversations. Constant motion.
So many people, and yet... so little connection.
Eventually, I realized I wasn’t living — I was racing.
Everything I did felt rushed. Even the things I loved lost their joy in the chaos.
So we made a decision:
Let’s go back to our roots.
We moved back to Northern Nevada: slower, smaller, quieter.
And almost immediately, life shifted.
The literal speed limits dropped.
Strangers waved. Neighbors said hello.
Dinner lasted longer. Coffee dates happened in mugs instead of to-go cups.
We took walks. We chatted with people on the sidewalk. We ate meals outside, without screens.
It felt like a dream. And, honestly, it is the dream.
But embracing it hasn’t been easy.
Sometimes I still ask myself:
Am I doing enough?
Am I falling behind?
Should I be pushing harder?
Here’s what I’ve come to know:
Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up.
It means choosing alignment over urgency.
It means trading burnout for peace.
It means finally hearing yourself again.
And here’s what’s changed since I slowed down:
My anxiety has quieted.
I’m sleeping through the night.
My headaches are gone.
My soul feels lighter.
I feel connected — to myself, to others, to life.
For the first time in years, I’m not rushing.
I’m rooted.
I’m fulfilled.
And I’m finally, truly, happy.
