Last month, I had the profound honor of giving my oldest son, Femi, life for the second time. I became his living kidney donor.
It was one of the most powerful, emotional experiences of my life. The surgery was successful, and his body began healing almost immediately. Seeing him stand taller, stronger, and pain-free was a miracle I will never forget.
But my own healing? That’s been a more complicated journey.
Exactly one week after surgery, I felt "well enough" and dove right back into work. From my bed, I answered emails, edited presentations, and made decisions for the business. I thought I was taking it easy. I wasn’t. By the end of the day, I was completely drained—physically and emotionally.
That was my wake-up call.
What I needed wasn’t productivity—it was permission to rest.
As women—especially women who lead and nurture others—we often carry an invisible pressure to keep going. We feel guilty resting, even when our bodies are begging for it. But I’ve come to believe this: Rest isn’t optional. It’s sacred.
Rest is recovery.
Rest is strength.
Rest is leadership.
When we deny ourselves rest, we eventually pay for it—in our health, our relationships, and in the very work we care so deeply about.
This journey has shown me that rest is not a reward we earn. It’s a rhythm we must reclaim.
