When There’s No Room for Dessert: Learning to Leave Space for What Matters

Bonnie Strati
Sep 9
3 min read

“You can’t savor life’s sweetness if your plate is already overflowing. Leave space—not just for yourself, but for the people and moments that make it worthwhile.” - Bonnie Strati

We’ve all done it. It’s Thanksgiving, and the table is covered with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, and casseroles of every variety. You load your plate high because, how can you not? Halfway through, you realize: there’s no room left for dessert.

And isn’t dessert the best part? The pumpkin pie, apple crisp, or whatever sweet tradition your family has waiting. But when you’re already stuffed, you just can’t enjoy it.

Life can feel exactly like this. We pile on so much—work, obligations, errands, projects, even social commitments—that we leave no room for the “dessert”: the joy, connection, and presence that give life its sweetness.

🛑 When Your Plate Is Too Full

Overfilling your plate doesn’t just weigh you down—it affects everyone around you.

Picture this: a teammate, a friend, or a family member needs your help. Maybe they’re struggling quietly, hoping you’ll notice. But you’re already drowning in your own commitments. To them, it feels like being ignored, even if that wasn’t your intention.

It’s not that you don’t care—it’s that you left no margin. No breathing space. No capacity to see or respond. And from their perspective, that can feel like invisibility. Over time, this chips away at trust and connection.

🤝 Life Is a Potluck, Not a Solo Dinner

The truth is, life isn’t meant to be a contest of how much you can balance on your own plate. It’s meant to be shared.

At a potluck, everyone brings something to the table. No one leaves hungry, and there’s always room for dessert. That’s how life works best—when we contribute, collaborate, and notice when someone else’s plate is too heavy.

When you create space on your own plate, you have the capacity to show up for others. You can lend a hand, offer encouragement, or simply be present. That’s the essence of teamwork—in families, workplaces, friendships, and communities.

🌿 How to Create Space on Your Plate

So, how do you avoid overstuffing?

Practice intentional yes’s. Before you commit, ask: Does this nourish me, or just fill me up?
Schedule whitespace. Block out small windows in your day to pause, breathe, or reflect. These pockets of nothingness become your margin.
Declutter commitments. Not everything deserves a spot on your plate. Sometimes the bravest act is to let something go.
Notice others. Look beyond your own plate. Who might need help? Who’s silently struggling?
Share the load. Teamwork isn’t about doing it all—it’s about balancing what’s on everyone’s plates so nobody carries too much alone.

✨ Dessert Is the Sweet Stuff

In this metaphor, dessert represents the moments that truly matter:

Laughing with friends.
Helping a teammate succeed.
Listening to someone who just needs to be heard.
Taking time to recharge so you can show up as your best self.

But if your plate is already stacked too high, you’ll miss out on these moments. Dessert isn’t optional—it’s the joy that makes the meal of life worthwhile.

📌 Call to Action: Gaining More Space in Your Day

This week, I invite you to take a close look at your plate:

Remove one thing that doesn’t serve you.
Protect one pocket of time each day just for you—no emails, no errands, no noise.
Offer one small act of support to someone else. It could be encouragement, a helping hand, or simply listening.

✨ Remember: when you leave space, you don’t just create room for yourself—you create room for others. And that’s when life feels whole again.

💜 Ready to Make Space for What Matters?

If your plate feels too full and you’re ready to create room for healing, joy, and transformation, I’d love to walk beside you. Through my Be Soulful Coaching programs, I help clients clear the clutter, set empowering boundaries, and reconnect with what truly nourishes them—body, mind, and spirit.

✨ Imagine what your life could look like if you had more space for what matters most.

👉 Let’s create that together. Email me at bonnie@bonniestrati.com