Parenthood has been exhausting for me. It’s incredibly rewarding, but our baby had a lot work through and adjust to this world. He cried A LOT and needed constant comforting.
That’s been hard on my energy. Not only has the time in the day for other projects, and events, and commitments vanished, but more-so the energy to keep us has.
But it’s taught me something special about radical prioritization. Which is a theme my life is constantly circling.
It’s a transformation that feels both like loss and liberation, a dismantling that carries within it the seeds of reconstruction.
The Great Surrender
There’s a particular kind of surrender that comes with becoming a parent – one that no amount of preparation can truly ready you for.
I’ve given up more than I thought I had the capacity to give, watching as my carefully constructed systems of productivity and connection dissolved into the beautiful chaos of early parenthood.
The endless networking events, the coffee meet-ups, the constant motion that once defined my professional identity – all of it has been stripped away, leaving me raw and reconstructed in ways I’m only beginning to understand.
Finding Wisdom in Withdrawal
What initially felt like retreat has revealed itself as a form of sacred recalibration.
I’ve withdrawn from many visible outlets, watching as my professional landscape shifted from broad networking to focused community service.
This wasn’t a planned transition, but rather an organic response to the new rhythms of my life. In this withdrawal, I’ve discovered something precious: the space to hear my own quiet passions speaking.
The quality-over-quantity mantra that once felt like a productivity hack has transformed into a spiritual practice. Each moment of attention I can give – to my child, to my work, to my inner development – must now carry more weight, more intention, more presence. It’s no longer about maximizing output but about maximizing meaning.
The New Architecture of Priority
Through this journey, three clear priorities have emerged, standing like pillars in the temple of my reconstructed life:
- Being a present, loving parent and partner – not just physically present, but emotionally available, spiritually engaged
- Spiritual and personal development – recognizing that my growth serves not just me, but ripples out to nurture those I love
- Providing for my family through meaningful work that aligns with these core values
This isn’t the neat, efficient priority list I might have created in my pre-parent life. Instead, it’s a living framework, one that breathes and shifts with the seasons of family life. It acknowledges that sometimes the most productive thing we can do is simply be there, holding space for the messy, beautiful unfolding of our shared lives.
The Art of Selective Service
I’m learning to serve differently now. Rather than spreading myself thin across countless connections and projects, I’m focusing on depth over breadth.
This means sharing wisdom, resources, and connections in ways that don’t deplete my limited energy reserves. It means recognizing that sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer is not our time or presence, but our carefully curated knowledge and networks.
Resistance as Practice
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of this transformation has been learning to resist – resist the pull of ongoing projects that don’t serve my core priorities, resist the seductive whisper of new ventures that would fragment my already divided attention. This resistance isn’t about saying no to growth or opportunity; it’s about saying yes to depth and intention.
Looking Forward
As I navigate this new landscape of parenthood and purpose, I’m beginning to understand that this season of life isn’t about loss at all – it’s about recalibration. Every boundary I set, every engagement I decline, every moment I choose presence over productivity is actually an investment in a more meaningful way of being.
The todo lists haven’t disappeared, but they’ve been transformed. They can’t be brute-forced with working more hours anymore. They’re no longer monuments to productivity but rather gentle reminders of the path I’m choosing to walk – one that honors the profound work of nurturing both family and purpose, understanding that these are not competing priorities but interconnected aspects of a life well-lived.
In the end, perhaps this is what growth really looks like – not an endless expansion outward, but a thoughtful cultivation of what matters most. Like pruning a growing shrub or tree. And in this season of my life, what matters most is clear: being present, being intentional, and allowing the rest to fall away with grace.

Writing a bio is always hard. What to pin down in a life well lived? My background is a blend of many things, always finding the intersection of creative and analytical. Mostly I’ve made indie films, organized many community events, more recently worked in tech startups. I also spend a lot of time learning new skills as well as deeply connecting with people through conversation and shared experiences.
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