The morning light was gentle, spilling across the tiled floor in a way that slowed everything down. A warm cup rested between my palms, and in the distance, the chorus of traffic sounded both near and far — present, yet detached. It was the first time in so long that I had allowed myself to pause, to realize that stillness itself could be a kind of medicine. For years, my days had been shaped by deadlines, late nights, and the relentless push to do more, until I had almost forgotten what it felt like to simply be.
The Burnout
I spent years moving from company to company, each new role promising a higher title and a bigger pay check — but with it came heavier demands and rising expectations. It’s a familiar chase many of us know well: from grades in school to promotions and salaries in our careers, there always seems to be a next step to run after. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with ambition, I had no grounding rituals to steady me. Without those small practices of wellness to reconnect my mind and body, I tipped into burnout. For me, it showed up as sleepless nights spent checking emails, a nervous system that was always on edge, fraying patience, and relationships pushed quietly to the background — life on constant overdrive.
A Turning Point
In December 2022, I finally stepped away and spent a month in Bali — my first real break in years. And a break it truly was. For the first time, I slowed down: lingering over breakfast instead of rushing out the door with a bar in hand, spending unhurried hours in cafés or stretched out on a beanbag by the beach, simply noticing. Without a phone or laptop demanding my attention, I began to really see the world around me — the people, the details, the rhythm of life. I moved my body, savored meals, and even finished a book I had abandoned months earlier. Slowly, I realized that life isn’t only about chasing what’s next — it’s also about learning to live fully in the present.
The Birth of Forme
During my time in Bali, I was touched by the immense warmth and hospitality of the locals. One encounter in particular stayed with me — a family who crafted ceramics in their backyard. Each piece was patiently shaped, dried, trimmed, glazed, and fired — a long and laborious process, yet one that yielded objects of quiet beauty. It was here that the seed for Forme was planted: the idea of creating pieces that could ground our days in meaningful moments. I don’t believe we need to abandon the chase entirely, but I do believe in carving out pockets of pause — moments to turn inward, to breathe, to recharge. In these small rituals, we refill our own cups and remind ourselves that while we may keep running, it is the journey that deserves to be savored.
From Burnout to Balance
Looking back, burnout taught me what balance truly means. It isn’t about doing less or giving up ambition, but about finding the gentle rhythm between striving and slowing down. Balance is in the everyday rituals that restore us — whisking matcha in the quiet of morning, lighting a scent that softens the edges of a long day, or holding your favorite mug as you sip coffee. These small, intentional acts are more than habits; they are wellness in practice, ways of caring for both mind and body.
To be able to slow down long enough to enjoy them is, in itself, a quiet kind of luxury — one that doesn’t come from grand gestures, but from choosing to make space for yourself. These moments anchor us, reminding us that life is not only about the next milestone but also about the beauty of the in-between.
Forme was born as a reflection of this belief: that beauty, balance, and wellness can live in the everyday, if only we pause long enough to notice.
Closing Note
As I share the beginning of Forme, I’m reminded that this journey is not mine alone. So many of us are learning how to navigate the delicate balance between movement and stillness, ambition and rest. My hope is that Forme, and this space here in Kindred Notes, becomes a gentle reminder to pause, to create room for the rituals that restore you, and to embrace the quiet luxury of making time for yourself.
With stillness & warmth,
Calista