I was extremely fortunate this winter to receive an opportunity I just couldn’t continue to refuse. For quite some time, three friends, and their respective cohorts, had been enthusiastically inviting me to visit Florida during the winter months. For some reason, I just couldn’t wrap my head around that possibility until this year. Since working from home affords me a lot of flexibility, I finally reconciled with the concept and accepted. What a gift!

Just before news of the virus broke, I returned to our chilly, wet weather, grateful that I did not become a guest who had to overstay her welcome. Seven weeks working from three unique locations truly could not have been better timed in light of the fact that the stay-at-home orders went into effect shortly after I returned home in early March.

Considering it will likely be some time before I’m comfortable boarding another plane, I was happy to see our feature article this month by April Thompson, “Transformative Staycations, Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home.”  We’re lucky here in New England to have so many wonderful miles of coastline and even mountains to explore this summer.

Lately, I’ve been spending quite a bit of my non-work time reading books that lift my spirits as a way to keep myself occupied and upbeat during the stay-at-home order. One particularly helpful piece I came across from author, Dr. Barbara De Angelis, is about a practice that she suggests for helping us live more mindfully and for developing a deeper appreciation for the everyday events that occur in life. It’s called, “Right Now Meditation.”

She explains it as simply putting the two words, “right now,” in front of every action we take. For example; “Right now, I am typing the June Publisher’s Letter… Right now, I am looking out the window at the birds flying by my window… Right now, I am watching my puppy tease me with his toy to entice me to play… Right now, I am smelling my neighbor’s lilac bushes…”

I’ve started using the Right Now Meditation practice more frequently and am loving that I have another tool in my toolbox to help me navigate this kooky thing we call life. I leave you with a short quote from Dr. De Angelis in the hope that you find it as helpful as I have.

You are alive. You are here now. 

You have another day. That is a blessing.

Enjoy the ordinary everyday miracles 

that make up your life…

They will be your most

sacred real moments.

Peace,