In the hustle and bustle of life, often times we forget why we're doing what we're doing and why we're working so hard on whatever it is in front of us. For me, I get so busy and overwhelmed with projects and assignments and friends and commitments that I disconnect from it and do it on autopilot, forgetting why I'm doing these things in the first place.

This ends in me getting super burnt out, losing the fire in my eyes, and honestly, being short to and distant from the people in my life and the people I'm working with. Moments of reflection like this are part of what help me to recenter and remind myself why I'm doing all of this.

I create content because I want to use my voice and my experience on things that don't get talked about enough and try to reach and help someone. I'm Editor-in-Chief because I enjoy the puzzle of editing and I care about helping people use their voices and their stories in the most effective way they can. I go to school for social work because I want to help people help themselves through some of the hardest parts of life and find their own fire. I'm in student leadership positions because I like contributing to positive change in my community (and staying busy) and I truly believe in the heart of every organization I'm a part of.

Everything I do, I do for a reason. Forgetting and losing that reason can be so easy. Taking the time to recenter on why we do what we do is vital to staying present and staying in line with our purpose and our goals.

Maybe the key to all of this is balance and self-care. The more I take the time to breathe and reflect and write and meditate and create, the clearer it all becomes.

May we all take a little time to return to our roots while we hustle.