I love you. I am listening. What if this were the presence I gave my children, partner, the people around me. Setting down my own feelings, circumstances. Not trying to fix something, give advice, soothe anything away. Not needing to be heard or understood, or fighting for my reality to be seen. Just listening.

Sometimes while driving in the car I hear my kids talking. They get the verbal “uh huh” as if I’m listening, but my mind is on other things.

What if I brought this same idea into being completely present with my kids during our time together.

Today I was at the house of jump with my son Osmond. I found myself with low energy, and counting down the hour until I could go home. For what? To fully focus on my problems that were playing in my head?

What if I changed this? Let go of the stories about things needing to be done. The terrible feelings of grief from a breakup, fear, frustration, all of life circumstances. What if I were here, present in the moment.

I love you. I’m really here.

I love you. I am listening.