The Power of Pausing

What I Observed at the Spa Today

Today I sat quietly at the spa, no title, no roles, no expectations. Just a woman. A human. Present.

Around me were women from all walks of life. Different expressions. Different energies. Different needs. I didn’t come to study anyone, but I couldn’t help but observe something powerful: we were all there for one common reason to be and to enjoy services.

There was the woman who smiled softly, soaking in the gentle music and sweet scented air. She leaned over and said, “This is my first time here. I’ve lived nearby for over a year and finally made it in.” She said she planned to visit the farmers market next, cook herself something fresh, and enjoy a slow, joy-filled day. Her energy was light and full of intention.

Then, there was me. I came because I needed a break, I wanted to just be. Free from being a wife, a sister, a mother, a friend, a ANYTHING!!!. I just wanted to close my eyes and breathe. Not think, not act, and definitely not talk. Just be. But even in that quiet, I was interrupted by a woman who softly said, “I’m sorry to bother you but…” She didn’t know I was clinging to that moment of peace, she didn’t realize that I needed just the peace, Still, I smiled. Because sometimes, being seen is part of being real.

There was another woman who took pictures, angles, poses, smiles. She said things like, “Yes, this is cute!” Maybe for her, this was about capturing a moment of confidence. She said, yess!!! I am going to post this!

Then came the short shorts, head held high. She ordered a drink, flicked her fingers as she sipped, and texted with confidence. She knew she was cute and didn’t mind if anyone else noticed too. She was in her own rhythm.

Another woman entered unsure, her body language guarded. But once seated, her thumbs moved rapidly. Her face tensed. Her head shook in silent frustration. Whatever was happening on that screen, it was pulling at her peace. And still, she stayed. Maybe she needed this more than she knew.

Others were quiet. Eyes closed. Heads bowed. Phones in hand. Thoughts unknown.

And then, there was the woman with a medical device on her arm. She never spoke, never scrolled. She simply closed her eyes and melted into the moment. When it was time to go, her only words were, “Thank you.”

That’s when I realized something: we all came for different reasons—but we shared the same need. To pause. To reset. To be cared for. To return to ourselves.

So often as women, we carry the weight of many titles and the silent pressure to perform. But spaces like this remind us: you are still you, even when you are doing nothing at all. And that is enough.

Whether you’re cooking something nourishing, snapping selfies to remind yourself you’re beautiful, holding back tears behind a screen, or just sitting silently with yourself—every version of you deserves care.

Here’s the truth:

You don’t need a reason to rest.

You don’t need permission to pause.

You don’t need to explain your silence, your joy, your confidence, or your stillness.

As women, we need more spaces to breathe. To be seen without speaking. To feel without fixing. To sit without explaining.

And maybe that’s the gift of places like the spa it’s not about luxury. It’s about liberation.

A quiet, simple reminder:

You deserve to love on you too!!!!