A balloon floated down from the hotel ceiling. My son said, "Hit it back."

I was sitting on a bench, quietly processing—reflecting on a loud, joyful Italian family reunion the night before, thinking about my upbringing, the conversations with my brothers, how my wife and I are raising our own kids. I wanted to stay in that quiet space.

But then a wave of irritation hit me. And in that fraction of a second before the balloon touched my head, a thought arrived:

This moment may never happen again.

In this episode, I share a simple story from a family trip to San Jose—and what it taught me about:

1. Recognizing when we shift out of safety and into fight or flight
2. The quiet power of playfulness as a pathway back to connection
3. Why seizing small moments matters more than we think

This isn't about grand gestures or life-changing epiphanies. It's about a balloon, a 10-year-old boy, and the choice to hit it back.

Consider this as me hitting a balloon to you. 🎈

🌸 Not sure which stuck state you're in? Recognize where you're at and join the free community here - https://www.stucknotbroken.com/stuck?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=stuck-page

It helps you recognize your state. It never tells you what you are. No quiz, no verdict, no card.

🤩 Ready to go deeper? Explore resources at every price point here - https://www.stucknotbroken.com/how-i-can-help-you?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=how-i-can-help

🙂 Don't know the Polyvagal Theory? Catch up here - https://player.captivate.fm/collection/cce134e7-1550-4d33-8e56-738d344c63b0

This and other content produced by Justin Sunseri (“JustinLMFT”) (i.e; podcast, YouTube, Instagram, etc.) is not therapy, not intended to be therapy or be a replacement for therapy.  Nothing in this creates or indicates a therapeutic relationship.  Please consult with your therapist or seek for one in your area if you are experiencing mental health symptoms.  Nothing should be construed to be specific life advice; it is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Justin Sunseri is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist registered in the State of California (#99147).

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Stuck Not Broken self-regulation practice

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