Zora Neale Hurston once wrote that her mother always exhorted her to “jump at de sun.” It’s an inspiring reminder to dream big and reach for greatness, but as I reflect on my own mother’s wisdom, I realize she often gave me a very different exhortation: “Don’t get well too fast.”

In her later years, my mother became acutely aware of how much she had neglected her own body. She admitted that years of self-medicating and pushing herself beyond her physical limits had taken a toll on her health, slowly and silently damaging her kidneys. By the time she started dialysis, her body had already endured more than it should have because she had ignored its signals to slow down. She told me, “Women get well too fast,” meaning we often rush to push past pain or illness without giving our bodies the rest and care they need.

This wisdom came to me vividly this past week when I felt my own body weakening. It wasn’t the flu, but something flu-like, and in the past, I might have just pushed through. I’ve done it before—ignored the signs, kept going, and paid the price when my body eventually forced me to stop. But this time, I listened. I consulted with my doctor, and the prescription was simple but firm: rest.

So, I gave myself permission to stop. I took the time to care for my body with intentional TLC—taking medicine on schedule, resting around the clock, and letting my body recover. Now, while there’s still a lingering cough or two, I feel 10 times better and ready to ease back into the flow of life. But more importantly, I’ve been reminded of the lesson my mother tried to teach me: our bodies are temples, and they deserve to be treated with care, not neglect.

As women, we’re often praised for our resilience, our ability to “keep going no matter what.” But that resilience can become a double-edged sword if we don’t balance it with wisdom. We can’t pour from an empty cup. We can’t give our best to the world if we’re not giving our best to ourselves.

So, I want to encourage every woman reading this: listen to your body. Don’t rush back into life after illness or exhaustion just because you feel like you have to. Slowing down is not weakness; it’s wisdom. Caring for your body isn’t selfish; it’s essential.

Let’s stop wearing exhaustion as a badge of honor. Let’s honor our bodies instead.

Bloom boldly.
Rest intentionally.
Heal fully.

In love and charity,

Giselle (aka) Blooming-lillie