Are You Awake? NO!

Every morning, I ask my son the same question, “Are you awake?”

Without exception, he either texts or yells out, “No.”

Not sleepy. Not grumpy. Just completely unwilling to acknowledge the reality that he is, in fact, vertical. He’s brushing his teeth. He’s putting on socks. He’s making sarcastic comments about breakfast. But still, “No.”

At first, I laughed and thought, “ I deserve that response”. But now I realize he might just be onto something.

Because haven’t we all operated in that half-awake, half-functioning zone? The meeting where you’re physically present but mentally reviewing your to-do list. The early-morning Zoom call where you smile, nod, and wonder if anyone else is still in pajama bottoms. The moment you respond “Yes, of course,” your brain quietly whispers, “I have no idea what they just said.”

We live in a world that rewards constant alertness. But nobody’s really “on” all the time. Being awake is a spectrum. And some days, we’re just doing our best to find the light switch. That’s OK.

In fact, that idea—that we’re all navigating between autopilot and awareness, instinct and intention—is part of what inspired me to write my book. It’s called Inspired by LIFE, and it explores the real (and often funny) ways we show up, adapt, and lead in the middle of messy, unpredictable moments. Like parenting. Like Mondays. Like leading a team when you haven’t had coffee yet.

So if today you find yourself answering “yes” when you mean “barely,” or “I’m fine” when you mean “talk to me after lunch,” you’re not alone. Sometimes the most honest leadership move you can make is admitting, “I’m awake-ish. And I’m working on it.”

What’s your version of “No”? What will inspire you to wake yourself up and truly live your life to the fullest?