Middle East Updates, Naked Men, and the Telltale Signs of Impossibility

The guy was standing there naked, filling his water bottle. Right in front of a sign that said:

“This Is A Relaxation Zone.”

Then he startled me by asking, “What’s the latest on the Middle East?”

We were at a Korean spa.

I was sitting a few feet away in the lounge area—fully dressed, freshly showered, feeling pretty good. I’d just come out of the hot tub and sauna. My body was loose. My muscles had let go.

I was scrolling a bit, checking some messages, but mostly just… being, while I waited for my friend.

I asked him to repeat the question. And that’s when I saw the sign behind him.

I said, “I’m not thinking about that right now. We’re in a relaxation zone.” Pointing to the sign.

What does impossibility feel like?

It feels like that.

Like trying to relax, but your brain won’t let you. Like spiraling through questions you can’t answer. Like scanning for the next threat—even in a place literally designed for rest.

And look—this isn’t about him. He didn’t do anything wrong.

We all have those moments. I’ve been that guy.

I spent years as a professional worry wart. When I was a Chief of Staff, my job was to keep things moving—making sure the right people had what they needed, at the right time.

It was like being an air traffic controller with a corporate badge.
Strong objectives, light touch, always scanning for what might go wrong.

Useful skill. But it made it really hard to slow down. To imagine something different. To dream.

And that’s the thing—

You can’t access possibility when your nervous system is locked in henny-penny mode.

So let me ask you:

❓Who do you know that lives like that? (Maybe it’s someone close to you. Maybe it’s you.)

❓How do you make room to dream—about starting something new, or just choosing differently?

❓How do you quiet the constant roar of global doom, daily logistics, the pressure to stay informed and on top of it all?

For me, it started with a moment like that. A decision not to ignore what’s happening in the world—but to be intentional about where I put my focus.

If this brought something up—something you’ve felt, seen, or struggled with—send me a note.

📬 Email me at pierre at pierrebradette dot com. Let me know what resonated, what it sparked, or what you’re still sitting with.

Photo by HUUM on Unsplash

First published on LinkedIn.