This is a photograph of personal victory, taken 1 year ago. The journey that led me to create this online retreat, 10 Days of Rest, all started a little over a year ago when I captured this moment. This evening I took the last train home, something that was physically impossible after 1,5 months of battling exhaustion. The diagnosis I received in November prior demanded a break from all my social activities, and on this day, for the first time, I felt a gentle return of life-force. That November I underestimated the toll of prolonged stress on my body. A warning signal manifested, compelling me to listen. Grateful for a month of challenges—bad sleep, tears, and work struggles—because it reconnected me with the wisdom of my body. When I started hearing and holding her, my body slowly allowed me to work with her again. Throughout that period, I spoke openly about my exhaustion to my surroundings, and it revealed a common thread. Almost everyone I spoke to had experienced simil...