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Life feels like a race. Between work, family, and endless to-do lists, we get caught up in moving from one task to the next without ever pausing. But then, life happens—it’s a sick child needing a late-night emergency room visit, a parent in the hospital, or just the sheer weight of managing everything at once. It is these times that remind us that we can’t always keep up with the pace.

We need to slow down.

Slowing down doesn’t mean stopping, and it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It’s about giving yourself the space to recover, reflect, and breathe. When you’re constantly moving, it’s easy to miss the small moments and easy to miss the people around you.

Sometimes, when you slow down, without even realising it, you see you have found a new village.

Recently – I found one. Without even realising it, the people I saw every day at work stopped only being just colleagues—they became part of my village.

At first, it was subtle. I worked alongside them, exchanged small talk, went for lunch walks and handle strategies together.

Now, they know what schools my children go to, what sports team I (don't) follow and when my next marathon is. They also know the hard stuff. The stuff that keeps me up at night.

They know when my office door is closed, they understand that I need space. When I’m running late on an email response or have to reschedule a meeting last minute, they don’t need an explanation. They just get it. They see the unspoken signs of when I’m overwhelmed, when life is hitting hard, and they just step in.

They don’t just know these things casually—they care.

You may have a few different villages—the family, the mums, the school friends, the running group, the originals—but if you’re lucky enough to find a village at work, hold on to them. You will see them a lot. They will be the ones who help you through the hard days, the ones who understand without explanation, and the ones who make work more than just a place to be. They make it a place where you can be yourself. They will help you meet the deadlines, sure, but they also help you carry the weight of everything else

For a moment, think about slowing down. Take a breath and look around. You might find that your work village has been there all along. 

I thought I was just going to work to get things done.

It turns out, that was only part of it.