Last week, on the final day of our Mother’s Day weekend in the Keys, the whole crew, even our dog Callie, got out on the paddleboards and kayaks to soak up one last adventure on the ocean. As we were getting ready, I thought to myself, “How often do we get to do something like this? This could be a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”

Naturally, I decided to bring my phone to capture the memories. But the moment I grabbed it, a quiet voice in the back of my mind said, “Maybe this isn’t the best idea.” I knew the risk: salt water, splashes, and the fact that phones don’t typically survive these conditions. But I ignored that little voice. I didn’t want to miss the chance to freeze the moment.

Sure enough, I wasn’t as careful as I should’ve been. My phone got waterlogged, and now it’s literally… dead in the water.

I’ve been completely without a phone for the past four days. At first, I was frustrated. No texts. No immediate communication with others. And I knew things were piling up while I was off the grid. But as the days passed, I was forced to spend more time thinking. More time praying. More time being present. And I realized that, while losing my phone was inconvenient, it also gave me more time to ponder on important matters.

Was it an inconvenience? Definitely. Was it a total loss? Not at all.

This experience reminded me that we’re always just one distraction away from missing what truly matters. In a hyper-connected world, presence doesn’t happen by accident, it’s a discipline. And like any discipline that leads to growth, it takes intention, awareness, and yes, sacrifice.

That quiet voice warning me about the phone? That wasn’t fear, it was wisdom.
It was the still, small voice we so often override with urgency, pressure, or convenience.

And here’s the thing: we do the same thing with our health all the time.

We feel that tightness in our back... but push through the workout.
We notice the fatigue... but convince ourselves we don’t have time to slow down.
We hear the whisper. “Don’t eat that.” “Go for that walk.” “Breathe. Rest. Reconnect.”
And we ignore it... until the consequence demands our attention.

But what if we stopped seeing these whispers as interruptions and started seeing them as invitations?

Opportunities to check in, slow down, and live out what we say we value most: our relationships, our ability to function at our best, and the calling to be good stewards while we’re here on this earth.

You don’t need a waterlogged phone to wake up.
You don’t need a diagnosis to start making better choices.
You just need to be intentional.
To listen.
To respond…before you're forced to react.

Your mind is talking. Your body is signaling. Your spirit is nudging.

And the reward for listening is always greater than the cost of ignoring it.

So take the walk. Make the appointment. Skip the extra set. Say no to the temporary. Say yes to the significant.

Life isn’t found in the rush of daily activities, it’s found in the rhythm of wise choices.

Take time today to pause.

Because it’s in the pause where the noise fades… and the voice of wisdom becomes clear.

Have a terrific Thursday!
Dr. Derek ‘Kayak casualty’ Taylor
www.drderektaylor.com
(561) 867-1020