Slow Down to Move Forward: My Journey of Showing Up?for?Today

Five years ago, on the 15th of September, I was playing basketball when everything changed in the blink of an eye. I collapsed on the court and was rushed to the hospital with a heart attack (thankfully, just in time to avoid muscle damage), Four stents later I was discharged on the 18th of September, walking out of the hospital feeling completely bewildered.

Before the incident, life was full throttle. Working in the exhibition industry meant that every day was a fast-paced blur of client calls, vendor coordination, site visits, and worries about whether the delegates would actually show up. But now, it felt as if someone had slammed on the brakes. Suddenly, I had an overwhelming amount of free time and no idea what to do with it. The hustle and bustle that once dominated my life had vanished.

I decided to quit my second job. At the time, the Fast Food & Cafe Convention was still small, and juggling two jobs was a necessity. But after the heart attack, it all seemed so... inconsequential. I had been running myself ragged, and for what?

Suddenly, life became about getting through the day—literally. There was this strange uncertainty hanging in the air, and for a while, I didn’t know how to deal with it. But here’s the thing: when you’re forced to slow down, you start to notice things differently. That constant urgency I once lived with? It faded. And instead, I started to focus on something that had always been right in front of me: TODAY!!

At first, it felt uncomfortable, almost alien. I wasn’t used to having so much time and space, and I wasn’t sure how to fill it. But slowly, I began to realize that it was okay not to be rushing. It was okay to focus on the present moment and let the future take care of itself. It wasn’t easy, but I learned, bit by bit, that showing up for today was enough. The rest would fall into place in time.

One of the biggest lessons I learned came from running. After the heart attack, I decided to take up running as a way to regain my health and clear my mind. The first time I managed to run 1 kilometre, I felt like I could conquer the world. That small victory was monumental to me. Fast forward to today, and I’m training for a 50Km, the longest distance I’ve ever run.

But here’s the funny thing—whether it was 1K, 5K, or 10K, every mile I ran taught me something: it’s not about the end goal, it’s about showing up. Some days I ran faster than others, some days I struggled, but as long as I showed up, I was moving forward. And that’s what's important.

We all set goals—big, ambitious goals that keep us motivated. And that’s great! But if you constantly measure yourself against that distant finish line without acknowledging the small wins along the way, you’re setting yourself up for frustration. It’s easy to look at that massive goal and feel like you’re not making enough progress, but progress is progress. Whether you’re taking baby steps or giant leaps, the important thing is that you’re moving forward.

For me, it became clear that setting a goal is essential—it gives you a sense of direction, a North Star to aim for. But it’s just as important to show up every day and do the work. Some days will be harder than others, and that’s okay. The key is to give yourself credit for the small wins along the way. Those little victories add up, and over time, they turn into something bigger.

So, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of this, it’s that life isn’t about rushing towards the future. It’s about dealing with today. Set your goals, sure, but don’t forget to focus on the journey. Show up, do the work, and take it one day at a time. You’ll get there, and when you do, you’ll be amazed at how far?you’ve?come.