The Shift I Didn’t Expect

During our last days in Portugal, I felt something stirring in my body that I couldn’t quite name. It was an uneasy heaviness.

Maybe it was the anticipation of returning home, or the thought of both girls starting at a new middle school. Maybe it was my lack of sleep. Or perhaps it was the quiet worry about following through on promises I had made to myself — like creating more structured workdays that truly end.

It was a lot.

Instead of pushing the feeling away, I stayed curious with it. I shared it with friends. But as the days passed, it began to drain me — leaving me mentally foggy and even a little sad.

Then we returned home this past Sunday.

> The girls had a beautiful start to their school year.

> Mark and I built — and honored — a real work schedule for me this week.

> I returned to recording fun workouts.

> I was reunited with our sweet dog.

And suddenly, that feeling was gone. The heaviness dissipated. In its place? Lightness, hope, and happiness.

Almost as if I was letting go of something I didn’t even realize I was holding.

And with that release, a shift happened. Ideas that had been seeds for months began sprouting. New projects came forward. Inspiration returned. And I cannot wait to share my new stress work at our upcoming retreat at Miraval Berkshires.

So if you find yourself in that strange, heavy, unexplainable space — stay curious. Stay present. I believe it’s often the sign that a shift is already on its way.

Sending love,
Ali