I initially had a different post scheduled for today. Yet, I felt pulled to write about something different in light of the recent tragedy in Vegas…..

I woke up frustrated Monday morning because I’ve been having issues with my daily newsletter sending out at the regularly scheduled time. So, I laced up my shoes and headed out the door for my typical morning run. When I returned, TJ asked if I’d heard the news about Vegas. I hadn’t yet, so he gave me some of the headline details. I thought to myself, “You can’t be serious. Again?” I immediately turned on the news and couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and hearing (we went to bed earlier on Sunday, so this was the first we were both hearing of it). The stories were, at the risk of sounding cliché, heartbreaking… and then to hear about acquaintances who were at the event was even more chilling. I went about my day, impacted, but not yet emotional about what had happened….

Until this morning (or, Tuesday morning). As I played with Harper at the park, and we swung together on the swings, the magnitude of the tragedy sank in…. people’s sons, daughters, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, and grandchildren, taken in an utterly senseless act of violence. Not only that, but the horror and trauma for those injured and/or at the event. I hugged her tighter, and kissed her little curly haired head. It scares me to think about the world I am leaving Harper with…. and I began to wonder how I would address these issues with her as she gets older. Then I remembered this quote I had seen, a couple years back, when the Paris shootings had happened….

“When I was a little boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers, you will always find people who are helping.'” Mr. Rogers

And while I know my conversations with her won’t stop at that, I hope they can begin with it…. a gentle reminder that there is always more good in the world than evil.

The shooting in Las Vegas certainly put into perspective the trivial frustration I experienced that morning… a minor blog glitch… in relation to what others were waking up to. A reminder that we have to make the most of the time we have with those we love. To disconnect and be more present… which, in all honesty, can be much easier said than done. So, I took some time to reflect today and to find areas where I could improve my ability to “just be” with those that matter the most…..

1. Put away the phone. I know this sounds so basic, but for me, so much of what I do is tied to some avenue of social media. So, I go a step further and utilize stimulus control. If my phone isn’t around, I can’t look at it. That means putting it in another room when TJ and I are relaxing on the couch and during dinner…. leaving it tucked in the bottom of the stroller when Harper and I are at the park (except for the occasional photo when she’s being too cute….). It’s the same thing I do with sweets… if they’re in the house, I’ll eat them… so I simply don’t buy them. If the phone is within an arms distance, I’ll look, so I put it away.

2. Be Intentional. When I wake up in the morning, I always have the best plans to do x, y, + z with Harper… but then life happens. I do know that if I was a little more intentional with saying, “This can wait….” that I would be  be more present. One of my old supervisors was such a wonderful example of this. She always told me that “not everything has to be dealt with immediately,” and I always felt her presence when we were meeting together. I guess it boils down to prioritizing and being cognizant when you’re in the moment…

3. Focus On The Now. Simply put. Being present means focusing on the moment. I’m so often thinking about what needs to get done within the next several hours that I miss the moment. I intentionally did this with Harper today, and I can tell you it felt so different than usual. I know it’s not always possible, life happens, but it’s something I want to be much more aware of.

While I know I won’t ever be perfect in all three areas, it’s my hope that by becoming more aware I we be more mindful.

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(Outfit Details || Cardigan (black + cream here), Jeans, Top,  Sunglasses)