To the Ones Who Feel Like They’re Falling Behind
Aparna A
A Gentle Exhale: To the Ones Who Feel Like They’re Falling Behind.
This is your reminder that rest is not a weakness, and a slower life is still a worthy one.
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2 min read
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Just now
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You wake up, look around, and see people investing in their lives—building, growing, chasing something bigger. You tried that too. But now, you’re tired. Lonely. It feels like you’re the only one moving in slow motion, not getting anywhere. All the sparkle and shine you see on others makes you want to shut your eyes and disappear for a while. I see you. I see myself in you.
There’s a quote I come back to often: “If you’re tired, learn to rest, not quit.”
It’s simple, but it reminds me of something I often forget—rest isn’t shameful. It’s essential.
There isn’t just one way to live. You don’t need to earn your worth by being busy all the time. A simple, gentle life is just as valuable as a hustle-driven one. But when you get too caught up in the grind, it’s easy to lose sight of who you are and what you actually want. Hustling itself isn’t the problem—it’s not knowing when to pause that wears you down. Rest isn’t laziness; it’s how we recover, reconnect, and realign. And the truth is, life doesn’t have to revolve around some grand, lofty purpose. Letting go of that pressure gives you space to breathe. From there, contentment grows—and that’s often where clarity begins.
One way to start feeling calmer? Intentionally slowing down.
That could mean walking just a little slower instead of rushing. Eating slower, actually tasting your food. Taking a deep breath before replying to a message, and letting go of the fake urgency of immediate reply.
It can look like sitting quietly with your morning tea or coffee, without checking your phone. Or stretching gently before bed. Listening to the sounds around you—birds, wind, the hum of life—instead of drowning them out with constant noise. Looking at the sky, even if just for 10 seconds. Or just lying on the floor, feel the cool floor pressing back.
These small acts aren’t useless or indulgent—they’re regulating. They send powerful signals of safety to the brain. Your nervous system, which may be stuck in a low-level fight-or-flight mode from constant hustle, begins to shift. You start to move into rest-and-digest, a safer space.
So to anyone rushing through life just because you're afraid of falling behind—let’s slow down a bit, shall we? Take a breath. Then another. You’re allowed to live at a gentler pace. You’re allowed to step out of the race altogether if it’s not for you. You don’t have to catch up. You’re allowed to breathe. That’s where everything begins.
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Posted Apr 17, 2025
A reflective piece on the importance of rest and living a slower life.
