The other night, I sat down to reply to a text. That was it. Simple mission. Within minutes, Instagram was open. I was scrolling. And I hadn’t even responded yet. You know the story. You pick up your phone to check the weather, send a quick reply, maybe glance at your calendar… and 30 minutes later, you’ve watched two reels, checked three comments, and somehow ended up deep in the art of making pickle dip. IYKYK.

A chunky, cropped sweater with large buttons.  A How to Embroider People book. (This may not even be a thing!) A Blythe Leonard bag, the larger size, so it actually fits my laptop. And the list goes on. It’s my want list. A running list on my phone where I dump everything I think I “must have” in the moment.

I’ve never loved New Year goals or resolutions. They’ve always felt forced, like trying to sprint, you hate running. Honestly, my birthday feels more like the start of my year anyway. Instead of resolutions, I choose a word. One word to carry, sit with, wrestle through. This year, it’s a word I’ve already been living with for a while now: Intentional.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to do more, be more, or check one more thing off the list before you let yourself breathe, this is for you. This story explores hurry sickness, the search for real peace, and what happens when God invites you to take a holy pause. Consider this a reminder that stepping back might actually be the bravest step forward.