Somewhere between back-to-back calls, hiring plans, investor decks, and solving “urgent but not important” things, I forgot. I forgot that I’m not just a founder.I’m a human being.And humans need outlets.
This weekend, I painted.Not for an event. Not for content.Not even for the sake of getting better at it.I painted just to breathe.I spent the afternoon with my sister, surrounded by kind people and colors I didn’t overthink. There was no pressure to produce. Just to be. To laugh. To play. To let go. And in the middle of all that… I felt something crack open. A softness. A stillness. A remembering.This is not a post about art.It’s a post about reclaiming parts of yourself that your calendar doesn’t budget for.
⚙️ Founders Are Machines. Until We’re Not
We optimize. We plan. We automate. We scale.And sometimes, we forget that healing doesn’t happen in sprint cycles.Sometimes, we need non-performative time.Moments that don’t serve an objective.I didn’t need ROI from this day.I just needed to feel like myself again.
💡 A Note to You (and to Myself)
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I don’t have time for this,”That’s exactly when you need it.Call a friend. Paint something messy. Cook something slow.Sit still.You’re allowed to pause.You’re allowed to protect your joy.And no, it doesn’t mean you’re losing your edge. It means you’re keeping your soul.
With grit and gratitude, The Gritter
