That flat, resigned Bohemian Rhapsody line — nothing really matters to me — caught in my throat at 14 and still does. What if it's actually permission? Permission to stop carrying what was never really yours and make space for what genuinely matters.

That's the Care Budget. Yes, I made it up.

This episode is about treating your energy like your finances — assessing where your cares are going and deciding if they deserve the investment. I share the moment I hit empty in Kansas City, why The Giving Tree is a cautionary tale for women who are really good at giving, and four questions to figure out what you actually care about — not what guilt tells you, not what you've always done on autopilot.

We also build the practical framework: audit, categorize, protect your non-negotiables first, practice the pause before saying yes, and revisit seasonally. Blue zone research found that a clear sense of purpose is worth up to seven extra years of life. Your Care Budget isn't just feel-good. It might be self-preservation.

You are not learning to care less. You are learning to care on purpose.

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