Hello, my beautiful Lounge family!
It’s been a little quiet here the past two weeks. I’ve been offline; partly by circumstance, partly by necessity. My daughter is writing her matric finals, which means the energy in our home has been one of focus, late-night tea, lunches and dinners brought to her desk, pep talks, and many reminders to breathe.
And somewhere in the middle of all that… I caught a summer cold. Two words that don’t quite fit together, right? But when is it ever a good time to catch a cold? I’m sure a few of you can relate to that “why now?” feeling when your body decides to slow you down just as life ramps up.
Even though I felt a little under the weather, I still had to carry on. Be the mom, the supporter, the cheerleader. And as much as I tried to rest, I also felt that familiar feeling of guilt. The “I haven’t shown up in The Lounge” voice tugging in the back of my mind.
But here’s what I’ve come to realise again (because these lessons always circle back):
Sometimes not showing up is precisely how we show up for ourselves.
Resting, recalibrating, letting your body decide what’s best for you. It took me many years to realise that’s not failure; it’s wisdom in disguise. And that feeling of guilt? It simply adds more pressure to an already fragile immune system and does not aid in the recovery process.
So, I made myself a big mug of tea every day, with fresh ginger, lemon, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and a generous drizzle of honey, and permitted myself to pause. To heal. To just be.
The Lounge has always been about honest conversations about everything, from life and healing to all those in-between moments. And today, that’s where I am… somewhere between a sniffle and a sigh, learning to ease into the pace my body and life are asking for right now.
So if you’re reading this and feeling a little behind, or guilty for not “doing enough,” please know you’re in good company. In the end, we are human beings and not human doings, right?
Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is stop trying to be productive.
Now, tell me… how have you been holding up over the past two weeks? What has life been teaching you lately?
Until next time,
SUZ
P.S. I’ll be back next week with a new facial blog, sharing some favourite product picks and an update on my next BBL treatment (number four already!). Stay tuned!
The Lounge Philosopher 