Why Is It So Hard for High Achievers to Admit They’re Tired?

Dear Lovely Human,

A few weeks ago, someone asked me the simplest question: “How are you, really?”

My mouth moved before my heart could check in. “I’m good,” I said, flashing the smile I’ve perfected over decades. “Just busy.”

But later that evening, when the noise of the day finally stopped, the truth caught up with me. I wasn’t “good.” I was exhausted. And the scariest part? I realized I didn’t know how to put the burden down.

If you are anything like me, you have spent your life being the one people count on. You are the engine, the anchor, the fixer. Somewhere along the way, we taught ourselves that fatigue is a private shame—that admitting we are tired is a crack in the armor. So we hide it behind competence. We hide it behind “I’ve got this.”

But here is the quiet truth I am sitting with this week: We don’t hide our tiredness because we are strong. We hide it because we are terrified of who we might be if we actually stopped running.

This is for every capable human who is carrying more than they let on, and is finally wondering if their strength has become a trap.

What is the latest news in AI & Emerging Tech?

1. Code Red at OpenAI: Sam Altman’s "Gemini Nightmare" 
Rumors are swirling that Sam Altman has declared an internal "Code Red" as Google’s Gemini 3.0 rapidly closes the gap.

2. Sovereignty is the New Infrastructure 
Governments are no longer viewing AI as just "software"—they are treating it like physical infrastructure.

3. The Rise of the "Agent Store" 
We are witnessing the "App Store" moment for Artificial Intelligence.

4. McKinsey State of AI 2025: The "Pilot" Phase is Over 
The latest report from McKinsey draws a hard line in the sand: the experimentation era is finished.

5. "Vibe Coding" & The End of the Technical Co-Founder 
A massive trend for Gen Z leaders: You no longer need to know how to code; you just need to know how to describe the "vibe."

How can I stay ahead in Learning and Development?

1. Great Innovators Create the Future (HBR)
A powerful reminder that innovation is as much about unlearning as it is about creating.

2. The Advanced Business Strategy No One Talks About
A strategy that top entrepreneurs use to create life-changing wealth. It’s rarely talked about, and it’s usually hidden inside expensive masterminds.

3. Your Path to REACH Forgiveness (Harvard Workbook)
A beautifully structured, research-backed workbook that guides you through becoming more forgiving in just a few hours.

4. The Global Forgiveness Movement
Who knew there was an entire movement behind the science of letting go?

 How do I broaden my Global Worldview? This month we explore Turkey ( Part 1)

Shadows in the Valley of Fairies

Elira woke before dawn, the air in her stone room cool and still. She wasn't in a hotel tower, but inside the mountain itself—a cave suite carved into the soft volcanic tuff of Göreme. Wrapping herself in a thick wool blanket, she stepped onto the terrace just as the first burner hissed in the distance.

One by one, they rose. Hundreds of hot air balloons drifted silently upward, painting the pale morning sky with bursts of amber, teal, and crimson. Below them lay a landscape that looked less like Earth and more like the surface of the moon: honeycomb hills, towering stone pillars known as "fairy chimneys," and valleys rippling in shades of rose and ochre.

Later that morning, she hiked through the Love Valley, dusting her hands on the white powdery rock. She stopped to drink fresh pomegranate juice squeezed by a local farmer sitting by the trail. "Here," the farmer said, pointing to a small opening in a cliff face high above. "My grandfather used to store pigeons there. Before that, monks prayed there. We don't just live on this land; we live inside it."

Elira realized that Cappadocia wasn't just a scenic backdrop; it was a testament to human resilience—a place where nature built the walls, and people carved out the life within.

Here are some common myths about Cappadocia — with the truth behind them and the best places to visit to experience the reality:

1. Myth: The "Fairy Chimneys" were carved by ancient sculptors. Truth: These surreal pillars are entirely natural, formed by millions of years of volcanic eruptions and wind erosion. Humans only carved into them later to create homes and churches.

• Place to Visit: Pasabag (Monks Valley). Here you can see some of the most striking, multi-headed fairy chimneys and the hermit cells carved high up in the stems.

2. Myth: The underground cities were just small hiding holes. Truth: They were massive, sophisticated subterranean metropolises capable of housing up to 20,000 people along with their livestock, wine presses, and chapels for months at a time.

• Place to Visit: Derinkuyu Underground City. Descend 85 meters (280 ft) into the earth to walk through the ventilation shafts, schoolrooms, and defense tunnels of the deepest excavated city in the region.

3. Myth: Cappadocia is just about nature and landscapes. Truth: It holds some of the most significant early Christian history in the world, with vibrant frescoes that rival those in Europe, hidden inside unassuming caves.

• Place to Visit: Göreme Open Air Museum. Visit the Dark Church (Karanlık Kilise); because it has very few windows, the colorful biblical frescoes from the 11th century are incredibly well-preserved.

4. Myth: There is nothing to do but look at rocks. Truth: The region has a 4,000-year-old tradition of craftsmanship, particularly pottery made from the red clay of the local river.

• Place to Visit: Avanos. Visit a family-run pottery workshop where you can watch masters use a kick-wheel (a technique dating back to the Hittites) and try throwing your own clay.

5. Myth: You have to visit in Summer. Truth: Summer can be scorching hot and crowded. Many travelers argue the region is most magical in winter, when snow caps the red rocks and the stone fireplaces in the hotels are lit.

• Place to Visit: Uçhisar Castle. The highest point in Cappadocia. Climb to the top for a panoramic sunset view that looks spectacular whether the valley is green in spring or white with snow in winter.

Busyness is often just a socially acceptable place to hide from the fear of stillness.

Stillness is facing the thoughts that surface when the noise finally stops

Hyper-independence is often a refusal to trust anyone else with the weight.

And finally…..

🎯 What can I do to Impact, Live Sustainably and Make the World a Better Place?

1. Slim Shady is Back?
Slim Shady showed up in the most unexpected way by quietly wiping out school lunch debt so kids could eat without shame.

2. Abu Dhabi’s New Museum Opens Its Doors
The city’s newest cultural landmark blends cutting-edge engineering with traditional design to protect the building from heat, sand, and time itself.

3. Young Women & Gen Z Step Up Climate Action Globally
Youth — especially young women — are no longer just the future of climate activism — they’re leading it.

Your fans,
— Sal & the Gleac team

P.S. Meet some of the lovely humans in our Gleac community making waves around the world!