I flew to Bombay for FOAID for all of 36 hours. 4am flights. In, out, back again.

I went because I wanted to. Because I was curious. Because sometimes you say yes to things that feel important before you fully clock how much energy they’ll take. I went because I know this could lead to FOAID Dubai in 2026.

The event was incredible. Massive. Humbled me instantly. Walking into rooms where you don’t know anyone, in an industry that operates at a completely different scale, is…grounding. And uncomfortable. In a good way. Mostly.

I’m glad I went. Truly.
I’m also very, very tired.

There were moments I felt sharp and switched on. There were moments I felt like an intern again, clutching my coffee and pretending I knew where I was going. And I’m very aware that I can’t — and don’t want to — keep doing these trips for 36 hours. Not because I can’t hack it. But because I don’t need to prove that anymore.

What I’m learning (slowly, imperfectly) is to stop shaming that moment. In myself and in others. Being tired doesn’t mean you’re not ambitious. Needing recovery doesn’t cancel out the courage it took to show up in the first place. I hope my ‘Alpha’ friends reading this, read it again 🙂

(And this isn’t a December thing, by the way. Fatigue doesn’t wait for year-end memes or festive slowdowns. It shows up whenever it wants. After a big push. During a good run. Right in the middle of things REALLY going well.)

You can be proud of yourself and still admit you’re wiped. You can respect someone’s hustle without assuming it’s the only right way. You can grow and still choose to grow differently next time.

Sometimes the win is knowing when you’ve shown up enough.

So, my lovely readers - a quiet reminder that growth doesn’t always feel energising; sometimes it just feels… heavy.

And that’s okay too.

M.

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xx

Manuja

Not for everyone. Never was.