Διακοπές – A Pause That Matters

In Greek, the word for vacation is “Διακοπές.”
A word that literally means pause.

A pause from work, from routine, from meetings and endless to-do lists.
But also, maybe, a pause from rushing. From being constantly available.
A pause to reconnect with ourselves and those around us.
To sleep in. To laugh more. To notice the sea breeze.
To feel like ourselves again.

But why wait for July or August or plane tickets to press pause?

Why not claim small “διακοπές” during the week?
A walk without the phone.
A coffee enjoyed in silence.
A message to someone we haven’t spoken to in a while.
A moment in the mirror to remind ourselves:
We owe it to us — no one else — to show up each morning with intention.

Because if we never pause, if we never shift gears,
then real vacations may never happen — not even when we’re on the beach.

Take the pause.
You deserve it.

Even for five minutes today... almost the same time it took during my pause to write this small note for everyone — including myself.