Presence and Acceptance
Presence is the practice. Acceptance is the transformation.
I recently came across this little—but mighty—quote, and it couldn't have arrived at a better time…
"Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it."
— Eckhart Tolle
Like many of us, I can get caught planning ahead, trying to control outcomes, looking at my calendar, or wondering if I've accomplished enough. Before I know it, I'm living in my thoughts instead of the present moment.
Over the last nine days, life gently interrupted that pattern.
I moved out of my home, packed nearly everything I own into storage, and settled into a cozy Airbnb overlooking a beautiful marsh (pictured above). Surrounded by nature, I found myself slowing down. Watching the tides. Listening to the birds. Feeling the breeze. I realized I didn't want to spend this precious time anywhere else, but being fully present.
On my final morning here, I ask myself:
How can I bring this home?
Not the home I just left—but into this next chapter. How do I find the balance between doing and simply being when I'm no longer surrounded by this peaceful view?
As I prepare to move into something new—smaller, different, and a little uncertain—I'm reminded that presence doesn't require a perfect setting. It begins with something much simpler: slowing down.
When we slow down, we begin to notice. We notice our thoughts without letting them take over. We notice the people we love, the beauty around us, and the quiet moments we often rush past. We feel calmer. Clearer. More hopeful. Gratitude has a chance to find us.
Maybe you've felt this too while walking in nature, reading a good book, listening to music, praying, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea. For a few moments, the mental chatter softens, time slows, and you feel more connected—to yourself and to life.
The beautiful thing is that presence isn't something we achieve. It's something we return to, again and again, one slow breath, one mindful moment at a time.
I've been quietly creating during this season of transition and look forward to sharing a few nourishing offerings with you toward the end of the summer.
Until then, I hope you find small moments to accept what this season is asking of you, slow down, and remember that your life is happening right where your feet are.
A Simple Practice for Returning to the Present
Tomorrow morning, before reaching for your phone or getting right into your day - pause - I invite you to choose one place in your home.
Maybe it's your favorite chair.
A sunny window.
The porch.
The kitchen table.
Your rest nest.
Visit the same place each morning for the next 40 days.
Have a dedicated journal.
Print your progress sheet to track your morning presence practice.
Before the day asks anything of you, write down one thing you're grateful for.
That's all.
One sentence.
One word.
One moment.
One intentional pause.
You may discover that you're not simply practicing gratitude...
You're practicing presence.
Presence isn't something we achieve. It's something we return to. Again and again.
One breath.
One morning.
One grateful moment at a time.
If you decide to try this practice, I'd love to hear what you notice after forty days.
Sometimes the smallest daily rituals become the ones that quietly transform us.
I'll be sharing more about a new way we can journey together with rest, ritual and connection later this summer.
