I used to think being busy meant being successful. As a 42-year old architect in Nairobi, my days were packed with deadlines, site visits, and endless notifications. I didn’t remember the last time I sat down without a device in my hand. Slowing down wasn’t an option, until my uncle passed away and left me his pet tortoise, Mzee.

I didn’t want him at first. What do you even do with a tortoise? But the will was clear: “Give Mzee to Daniel. He needs him more than he knows.”

Redefining Productivity

I started leaving my phone inside when I was with Mzee. The garden became a place of peace instead of another Wi-Fi zone. I’d sip my morning tea while he grazed. Sometimes, we just sat in silence. And slowly, I noticed something strange: I was sleeping better. My headaches stopped. My days felt longer, but in a good way.

It hit me that my life had been full, but not fulfilling. Mzee reminded me that movement didn’t need to be fast to be meaningful.