Go only as fast as your slowest part feels safe to go.

~ Robyn L. Posin

It already seems passé to say Happy New Year, as it is off to a quick and dirty start. My favorite New Years meme I’ve seen so far says, to 2026: “Thanks for the free trial. I’d like to cancel my subscription.”  It made me laugh, and it also made me reflect a bit. 

It certainly feels to me like we’re heading towards war, violence is constant, and things aren’t looking too bright on the world stage. And yet, I also sense that there is an undercurrent to all of it that is building and churning up hope. We really have yet to see where this year is going, which is why our practice of presence is ever more important. 

Practicing presence is simple and profound. When you catch yourself in your head, spinning out with your thoughts, or worried about the future regarding things you can’t control, pause and notice your breath. Take two or three deep, slow breaths as you look around the room, noticing objects an...