Strong Enough To Step Back

Let’s talk about something most of us never think to pencil into the calendar.

A break.

Life piles on. Deadlines, bills, soccer practice, dance recitals, tee times, date nights. The constant buzz of bad news and headlines. We tell ourselves to keep grinding and we usually do, until the wheels start to fall off.

That’s why we’re hitting pause for Mental Health Week. No emails, no meetings, no overflowing notifications with “urgent” subject lines. Just space and time to breathe. Some of us will play some golf. Others will hike, fish, hang with the kids or finally take that nap in the hammock we hung up last summer.

Some will do nothing at all. And that’s the point.

You wouldn’t run your car for years without an oil change (unless you’re 18-year-old me). You wouldn’t take out a set of clubs caked in mud and expect to break 80. You, yeah, you, deserve the same time and attention.

Stick with me. If you think we’re “goin’ soft,” allow me to throw you some examples. Wyndham Clark, previous U.S. Open champ, opened up about his battles that nearly ended his career after losing his mom. Therapy and sports psychology are why he’s still on Tour or even playing at all. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian alive, went public about his fight with depression and treatment. Kevin Love, five-time NBA all-star, has made mental health a permanent part of his platform. They are but a few examples of competitors at the highest level facing mental challenges.

They didn’t lose their edge by talking about what set them back. They found a way it use it to their advantage.

For most of us, the pressure isn’t winning a major or Game 7. It’s the everyday.

Think about the last time nothing was “clicking.” You worked longer, stayed up later, skipped lunch and told yourself to “push through.” Did it fix anything? In the moment, maybe. The reset never comes in those frantic hours. Ignoring your mental health doesn’t make you tougher, friends. It just delays the crash.

Change comes from taking a step back. A long walk with your favorite podcast, a quiet morning coffee, an honest chat with someone you trust.

Many of us just bottle it up. We’ll swap jokes about our bad backs, a chunked wedge—but stress, anxiety and grief? Forget about it. I’ve been there.

What I’m here to tell you, friends, is there is nothing heroic about carrying a load until something snaps.

Mental Health Week is our way of drawing a line in the sand. We’re telling ourselves, and our 20 million readers, that rest isn’t a reward for reaching your breaking point. It’s a tool for keeping yourself in check in the first place.

If you’re dealing with something that goes beyond a long weekend of peace and quiet, there’s help out there. No shame, no lectures, just real ears to listen and help guide you. Headspace has been a solid option for us lately. It lets you connect with licensed therapists (this is crucial) wherever you are.

On your phone, on your own schedule.

Headspace gave me a place to work through the heavy stuff with someone who knows what they’re doing, without having to flip through an old Golf Digest (IYKYK).

You’d take a lesson to fix your swing. This is no different.

So here’s the ask.

Join us. Give yourself some time. Take a walk without your phone or maybe use it to call a friend. Sit on the porch until the sun goes down. Or, if the weight feels bigger, start a conversation this week with a pro.

Our content is still here for your viewing pleasure. You may see posts, receive our newsletter or even see a reel or two on Instagram. The beauty of the modern world? These are all scheduled in advance.

Don’t worry. We’ll be back in just a week.

Life isn’t about white-knuckling the day. It’s about showing up and feeling like you have the bandwidth to do exactly that: show up. That means knowing when to pause.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here are some resources you can lean on:

Headspace

988lifeline.org

SAMHSA Hotline: (1-800) 662 – HELP

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