One common theme of “adulthood” seems to be that we’re constantly busy.

We work hard and we’re so often on our way to or from something that our minds aren’t grounded in the present moment. Being aware of whether or not our minds are in the present takes practice. It’s easy to get lost in thought, but not quite as easy to realize when it’s happening. That is until something happens to snap you out of it… like you pass your street exit or someone asks a question and you struggle to reply because you realize you weren’t listening. Given the fast pace of our daily lives and the seemingly endless expectation to multitask, we’re putting bits and pieces of our attention on a lot of things. Most of us are juggling a great deal of obligations and trying not to let a single ball drop.

Recently, a colleague asked if I could support his class with skills to handle the stress of balancing home and school responsibilities. Time management is already a challenge in 5^th grade.

As adults, I’d like to ask that we take some time to slow down and pay attention to how we’re going through our days. Are we practicing self-care and nourishing ourselves? How can we model balance in our own lives so that children see it’s possible to engage fully and show up for whatever each day brings?

Remembering to hop off the hamster wheel and engage in the present moment can be the hardest part. In honor of young people looking to us to show them the way…Let’s do it…Let’s take a deep breath and slow down together.

xo