21/07/2026
Sometimes life has a way of reminding us to slow down—even if we're not very good at it.
Last week, I found myself back in the emergency room for the third time in two years because of gallbladder attacks. This time, the answer wasn't another round of pain medication. It was emergency surgery.
If I'm being honest, this is probably the first time in more than 20 years that my body has forced me to slow down. My mind, however, clearly didn't get the memo.
Like many people, I've never been very good at listening to my body. There's always one more meeting, one more phone call, one more flight, one more deadline. You convince yourself you'll deal with it tomorrow... until tomorrow eventually catches up with you.
The reality is that none of us is invincible—no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise. As much as I'd like to believe I'm still 30, life has a funny way of reminding me I'm not.
Anyone who knows me also knows I'm not very good at sitting still. In fact, while recovering, what started as an idea for a simple thank-you gift quickly turned into the launch of an entirely new online business venture with Chelle. That's just how my mind works. I love building things, solving problems, and creating new ideas.
But this experience also reminded me that creating, leading, and working hard are only sustainable if you're willing to listen when your body tells you it's time to pause.
I'm incredibly grateful to the doctors, nurses, and staff at VCU Medical Center for the exceptional care they provided. Their professionalism, compassion, and kindness made a difficult week much easier.
I'm also incredibly thankful for Chelle, who spent every night with me in the hospital and has been by my side throughout my recovery. And, of course, Nixon has taken his role as my recovery supervisor very seriously and has rarely left my side.
For decades, I've believed that if I just worked a little harder, I could outwork almost any problem. Last week reminded me that some things simply require you to stop, recover, and heal. Because if you don't take care of yourself, eventually your body will make that decision for you.
I'm grateful to be on the mend, grateful for the outstanding care I received, and looking forward to getting back to doing what I love... perhaps just a little wiser than before.
