When Life Hits the Pause Button

Hey Beyonders! 👋

You know what's wild? Life has this funny way of teaching you lessons when you least expect it.

Last week, I celebrated my birthday in a Goa hospital with a 103° fever. Yeah, September 3rd, my birthday and I'm lying there thinking, "This is definitely not how I imagined turning another year older."

But here's the crazy part: even though I felt terrible, there was absolutely no way I was missing my seniors' wedding. They’re more than just friends, they mean a lot to me. Missing their big day was simply not an option.

So despite my body basically staging a revolt, I dragged myself back home on September 4th evening. Sometimes you just have to show up for the people who matter, even when everything else is falling apart.

When Your Body Becomes Your Teacher

The moment I landed, there was a prayer function happening. Obviously, I went, but my temperature had other plans. Another hospital trip, another blood test, more medication. My fever was still sitting pretty at 103°.

But you know what? At least I was home. At least I could eat actual homemade food instead of whatever they call food in hospitals.

This whole experience got me thinking about something we rarely talk about: your body will force you to rest when you refuse to do it voluntarily. Maybe I needed this break more than I realized. Maybe this was life's way of hitting the pause button for me.

While I was recovering, basically doing nothing but eating good food and sleeping, my mind started working overtime. And that's when some interesting things began to happen.

The Power of Forced Reflection

Being stuck in bed gives you a lot of time to think. And I found myself obsessing over one question: How do we tap into the real power of a team?

Not just people working in the same company, but people moving unanimously toward one single goal. That kind of collective energy? It's insane when it happens.

So I made a decision: TownScholar needs some structural changes. We're allocating more capital for hiring, but this time we're being ruthless about who we bring in. Only people who will give their absolute everything to the company.

The applications we've received? Incredible. We've already hired one person, and honestly, I'm getting excited about what this team could become. From September 15th, we're moving into our new office space, a small place, but it's ours.

It's funny how being forced to slow down can actually speed up your clarity about what needs to happen next.

But then something happened that I definitely didn't see coming.

The Gift That Opened a New World

My team surprised me with something I never would've bought for myself: a mechanical watch.

If I ever thought about watches again, I always imagined getting a smartwatch - Apple, Samsung, something with notifications and apps.

But a mechanical watch? That wasn't even on my radar.

The moment I put it on, everything changed. It completely transforms how you carry yourself. There's something about the weight of it, the craftsmanship, the fact that it's powered by these tiny, intricate mechanisms working together perfectly.

This gift didn't just give me a new accessory, it opened up an entirely new world. I've been diving deep into how mechanical watches work, the innovations behind them, the history. It's like discovering a hobby I didn't know I needed.

And here's what's beautiful about it: my teammates knew me well enough to push me into something I never would've tried on my own. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that expand your world in ways you didn't expect.

The Recovery Paradox

So here I am, treating this as my recovery phase, both physically and mentally. Getting my health back, planning the next moves, settling into new routines.

But there's this weird paradox happening: I'm resting more than I have in months, yet I feel more energized about the future than I have in ages. Maybe that's what real recovery looks like, not just healing your body, but getting clarity on where you're headed.

The hospital birthday, the forced rest, the team changes, the unexpected gift, it all feels connected somehow. Like life was orchestrating this whole sequence to teach me something about slowing down to speed up.

Once I'm fully back in Chennai with my health sorted, I have this feeling there's going to be no stopping what comes next. But for now, I'm learning to appreciate this pause. This weird, uncomfortable, enlightening pause.

Your Turn, Beyonders

I'm curious

Hit reply and tell me your story. Seriously, your emails are often the best part of my week, and I read every single one.

And hey, if you're pushing yourself too hard right now, maybe take this as a gentle reminder to listen to what your body's trying to tell you. Mine had to stage a full rebellion to get my attention, but hopefully, yours is more diplomatic than mine!

Take care of yourselves, eat good food, and remember, sometimes the best things happen when we're forced to slow down.

Cheers,
Epaphra

P.S. Note to self: Next birthday, pick literally anywhere except a hospital! 😄