Rebel Talk: Are you OK?

In the midst of chasing goals, balancing businesses, and keeping up with kids' sports schedules, life can quickly become a blur. It’s like being swept into a whirlwind where every moment is accounted for, every hour marked by something that demands our attention. Yet, with that constant go-go-go, it’s easy to fall into autopilot, unaware of how the relentless pace is altering our connections and communication with the people we care about most.

I was recently reminded of this in a conversation with someone close to Relentless Rebel. They reached out with a simple question: *“Is everything okay?”* The question came out of nowhere to me and made me stop and question where it came from. Everything was technically “okay” in my world—business was moving, the family was fine, and projects were on track. But that question made me pause. In my mind, I had been doing everything right, pushing forward, keeping everything on schedule. But in reality, I’d been moving so fast that my responses to people, especially those closest to me, had turned cold, even mechanical.

When they asked me if I was okay, I realized they weren’t inquiring about my workload or success. They were asking about *me*, the person behind it all. And I saw, maybe for the first time in a while, how my busyness had bled into the way I communicated, especially in rushed, short responses that sounded dismissive and detached. In my own head, I was just being efficient, keeping up with everything as best as I could. But to them, it seemed like I was distant, like I had lost sight of the bigger picture.

We often forget that the people who care about us can pick up on these subtleties. They feel the weight of our hurried replies and the lack of warmth in our words. And sometimes, we’re so locked into “doing it all” that we don’t even realize we’re sending these signals.

This experience reminded me that life doesn’t happen only in the milestones or the achievements; it’s lived in those small, everyday exchanges. The look in a friend’s eye, the tone in your partner’s voice, or the concern in a close colleague’s question—these moments are the threads that hold together the fabric of our relationships. But if we’re not paying attention, those threads start to fray.

What I learned—and am still learning—is that awareness is everything. We have to make a conscious effort to slow down, to look up from the grind, and see the people standing beside us. Sure, goals are important, and building a business takes relentless energy. But if we become blind to what’s happening around us, we risk building something at the expense of our most valuable connections.

So, here’s my challenge to all the fellow relentless souls out there: don’t let the rhythm of life turn you into a stranger to your own world. It’s okay to hustle, but it’s also okay—essential, even—to pause, to check in, to listen with intention. Life is loud, and the noise can be overwhelming, but if you pay close attention, you’ll hear the quieter, important voices asking, *“Are you okay?”*

Stay Relentless,

Ryan