Finding Your Zen

I can’t stress enough how important it is to find balance between your 9-to-5, or whatever your daily grind looks like, and spending time in nature. We tend to overcomplicate our lives when, honestly, keeping things simple is usually the better route.

When you’re in work mode, go all in. Give it 100%. But when it’s time to step away, really step away. Breathe, reset, and surround yourself with nature. It makes a difference.

I’m lucky to live close to O’Hare Airport in Chicago where I can travel anywhere in the world within 15 minutes of leaving my house. Right now, I’m writing this from Carefree, Arizona (yes, it’s called carefree, ha!) with a clear mind, surrounded by open sky, wildlife, and quiet. My daughter counted 20 rabbits today, and we spotted lizards and a bunch of roadrunners too.

But the thing is, you don’t need a plane ticket or a big budget to reconnect. Go to a local park. Garden. Mow the lawn. Do something outside where your brain can just pause for a bit and stop spinning on work and responsibilities. That space is where real clarity happens.

I’m keeping it simple here until Saturday. Then it’s back to Chicago, back to family, work, and prepping for my ARE architectural exams. But even at home, I’ve done my best to cut out the clutter and focus on what really matters: family first, then the rest.

Grand Canyon “South Rim”, Arizona, USA

Carefree, Arizona, USA