{"id":518590,"date":"2025-05-29T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/?p=518590"},"modified":"2026-04-21T19:48:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T02:48:50","slug":"doing-embarrassingly-well","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/doing-embarrassingly-well\/","title":{"rendered":"Doing Embarrassingly Well"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Originally published on my Substack blog: <a href=\"https:\/\/JorgeDaries.Substack.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/JorgeDaries.Substack.com<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column519949_53360f-c6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column519949_53360f-c6\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e{margin-top:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:472px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);}.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 6fr) minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.27;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 6fr) minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id519949_c6bd52-8e alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-3-columns kt-row-layout-center-exwide kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column519949_719c54-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column519949_719c54-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column519949_719c54-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column519949_719c54-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column519949_719c54-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column519949_719c54-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column519949_719c54-98{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column519949_719c54-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column519949_719c54-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column519949_719c54-98\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column519949_2e6eef-db\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09\"]{text-align:right;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519949_fcc395-09\">Part of my Series:  <a href=\"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/heart-and-health\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"518454\">Heart and Health<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column519949_cf423b-c7\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/MendingHeart_v2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-518412\" style=\"width:54px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/MendingHeart_v2.png 1000w, https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/MendingHeart_v2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/MendingHeart_v2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/MendingHeart_v2-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Embracing Vulnerability in the Wake of Recovery<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I work my way back to <a href=\"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/embracing-my-new-normal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">normalcy after my heart attack<\/a>, I\u2019ve been surprised by the range of emotions that have surfaced. One in particular, has taken me back: A little embarrassment\u2014not at my setbacks, but at how well I\u2019m doing. After ten weeks of healthy eating, regular exercise, cardiac rehab, and rejoining the social scene, I\u2019m doing remarkably well. Yet, as I reconnect with friends, colleagues and clients, there\u2019s a nagging feeling just beneath the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This past week was particularly interesting as my cardio rehab program continues to push forward, social events with my wife resumed (party with good friends) and a pretty big occasion to celebrate my daughters engagement! It was an exhausting week, that at the I had to opt out of some and stayed home alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s wonderful to see the pleasant surprise on people\u2019s faces when they realize how well I\u2019ve bounced back. Their support and encouragement mean the world to me. But there\u2019s a small voice in my head that keeps replaying the events from those scary weeks. I feel a strange sense of embarrassment that others had to witness my health crisis. Did they really have to go through that with me? It weighs on me to think that my ordeal may have caused them worry or forced them to confront their own fears about health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This emotion is complex. On one hand, I want to celebrate my recovery and share the positive changes I\u2019ve made. On the other, it\u2019s uncomfortable to acknowledge that my experience disrupted the normalcy of others\u2019 lives. That realization brings a sense of vulnerability, reminding me that I am not invincible after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve been reflecting on where this embarrassment comes from. Maybe it\u2019s rooted in a desire to protect those around me, or perhaps it\u2019s the discomfort of being seen as vulnerable. It\u2019s humbling to realize how interconnected we all are\u2014how our struggles ripple out and affect those we care about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But maybe this embarrassment is a natural part of healing. By sharing my journey, I have the chance to foster deeper connections and open up conversations about health and resilience\u2014topics I never expected to discuss so openly. Facing this embarrassment head-on, I\u2019m learning to shift my focus from self-consciousness to gratitude for the support and love that surrounds me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I step back into my professional and social life, I remind myself that vulnerability is part of being human. While I may feel embarrassed at times, my experience also offers others a chance to reflect on their own health and well-being. In sharing my story, maybe I can inspire empathy and understanding, and create meaningful dialogue that transcends my own self-doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, I\u2019m committed to owning my journey\u2014not just the triumphs, but the uncomfortable feelings too. Writing about it is part of my healing. Here\u2019s to navigating recovery, one step at a time\u2014and to growing, unapologetically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do you think? Am I crazy?  Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/jorgeDiaries.SubStack.com\">Substack Article and leave a comment!<\/a>  I\u2019d love to hear from you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Originally published on my Substack blog: https:\/\/JorgeDaries.Substack.com Embracing Vulnerability in the Wake of Recovery As I work my way back to normalcy after my heart attack, I\u2019ve been surprised by the range of emotions that have surfaced. One in particular, has taken me back: A little embarrassment\u2014not at my setbacks, but at how well I\u2019m&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":518591,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[966,1022,615,972],"class_list":["post-518590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-journey","tag-heart","tag-journal","tag-personal-thoughts","tag-recovery"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":17,"label":"Journey"}],"post_tag":[{"value":966,"label":"heart"},{"value":1022,"label":"Journal"},{"value":615,"label":"Personal Thoughts"},{"value":972,"label":"recovery"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/FeaturedImage-DoingEmbarrasingly-Well.jpg",800,300,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Jorge Pereira","author_link":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/author\/jorge\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":17,"name":"Journey","slug":"journey","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":318,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":17,"category_count":318,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Journey","category_nicename":"journey","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":966,"name":"heart","slug":"heart","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":976,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":9,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1022,"name":"Journal","slug":"journal","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1032,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":19,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":615,"name":"Personal Thoughts","slug":"personal-thoughts","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":625,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":69,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":972,"name":"recovery","slug":"recovery","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":982,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":9,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518590"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":519954,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518590\/revisions\/519954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/518591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}