At the beginning of the story, Sarah’s life is frantic and exhausting. Trying to balance an 80-hour work week with parenting three young children causes enormous stress. Sarah subconsciously understands that her life situation is unsustainable, as evidenced by her anxious dreams, but she does not know how to modify her life. She dedicates most of her time to her job because it makes her feel competent and appreciated. She feels much less competent and appreciated in her parenting, but she loves her children and husband fiercely. Too often, she feels that her efforts are wanting in that respect. Sarah has grown up convinced that she can “have it all,” can succeed in anything she puts her mind to, but the reality of the untenable nature of her life constantly creeps in.

Ultimately, it takes a catastrophic accident, which Sarah views as divine intervention, to break her cycle of burning the candle at both ends. Forced to stop working and focus on her recovery, Sarah spends more time with her family. She comes to understand the value of being present in the moment. She does not have to squeeze every minute of every day in the pursuit of productivity.