Most mornings, the first thing I do is press the button on my coffee machine. As the espresso slowly pours into the cup, the familiar aroma fills the kitchen. Somehow, the smell alone makes me feel like the day is beginning. Mandoo is usually nearby, already watching me. She knows our morning walk comes next. Years ago, my mind would have been somewhere else by this point in the morning. For nearly twenty years, I worked as a chef in hotel kitchens, where almost everything revolved around time. Once breakfast preparation began, there was always something that needed to be done next. Even coffee was often something I drank quickly between tasks rather than something I sat down to enjoy. I used to imagine that leaving full-time work would naturally bring a slower, more relaxed life. The reality was a little different. When I left my job because of a shoulder injury, the first few months weren't really about enjoying free time. They were about adjusting to a life that suddenly...