collaboCo 2026: Anchoring Truths ⚓

collaboCo 2026 was basically: come to the Keys, tell the truth, be quiet when you need to, eat well, rest or move your body as needed, learn something about yourself, create something, and stop accepting that burnout is a permanent character flaw.

Very SANE of us.

We had space to express, space to sit in silence, space to nourish ourselves, and space to remember that sometimes the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing for a minute.

And baby, the metaphors were everywhere.

We had arguably the unexpectedly best sunset dinner of the trip at Papa Joe’s and also possibly the worst vegan breakfast ever.

Lesson?

Everything labeled “good for you” is not necessarily nourishing.

That includes food, jobs, relationships, professional opportunities, and advice from people with impressive letters behind their names.

Discernment, sis.

Then there was the water.

Crystal clear. Gorgeous. Caribbean-postcard energy.

And also… a little sargassum.

Because apparently even paradise said, “You still gotta deal with some stuff.”

Which honestly is self-actualization in a nutshell.

The goal is not to become so evolved that no seaweed ever touches your ankle.

The goal is to stop letting a little seaweed convince you the whole ocean is ruined.

And then came the 7 Mile Bridge to Key West.

Vertigo.

Panic.

Water on both sides.

Nowhere to pull over.

Just us, the bridge, my nervous system, and slow breathing.

And there it was again:

Sometimes the path is correct and your body is still screaming, “ABSOLUTELY NOT.”

Growth can feel destabilizing.

Expansion can feel unsafe before it feels freeing.

You can know where you are going and still be scared halfway there.

That is where anchoring truth matters ⚓.

Who are you when your doubts and fear are loud?

What do you know for sure about your values, your work, your purpose, your limits?

We left collaboCo 2026 with more than memories.

We left with anchors.

Less proving.

Less performing.

More clarity.

More self-trust.

And a deeper understanding that before we shift, we may need to shift what we are anchored to.

Because sometimes the bridge is long.

The water is deep.

And you still keep driving.