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Lessons from Puppies There is something quietly powerful about watching a puppy experience the world. Everything is new. Every leaf is worth investigating. Every person is a potential friend. Puppies don’t rush through moments, they live in them. They remind us what it looks like to be fully present, unapologetically curious, and open to joy. In a world that rewards speed and productivity, puppies model a different way of being. They pause. They notice. They rest when they’re

In times when negativity feels constant and reality feels heavy, mindfulness is not about looking away. It’s about seeing clearly. Strong leaders don’t ignore what’s happening around them. They ground themselves enough to respond with intention rather than react in emotion. Awareness allows us to recognize hard truths. Calm allows us to think critically, speak thoughtfully, and act responsibly. Without mindfulness, we get swept up in noise, fear, and division. With it, we cre

Dreaming of a Better World What if we allowed ourselves to dream a little bigger today? Not in the abstract, pie-in-the-sky way but in the quiet, intentional way that starts with noticing. Noticing how we speak to others. How we listen. How we show up when it’s hard. How we choose compassion even when it’s inconvenient. Dreaming of a better world doesn’t require grand gestures. It begins in ordinary moments: Choosing curiosity over judgment Extending grace instead of assumpti

Limiting Interruptions In a world that rewards immediacy, interruptions have become the background noise of our days. Notifications, drop-ins, emails, “quick questions”; each one feels small, but together they fracture our attention and quietly drain our energy. We move from task to task without ever fully arriving in any of them. Mindfulness invites us to notice what pulls us away from presence. Not to judge it, just to see it. Awareness is the first step to reclaiming our f

Easing Back Into the Rhythm Coming back after a holiday break can feel strangely exhausting. We step out of rest, out of slower mornings, out of unstructured time, and suddenly the calendar fills, the inbox grows, and the pace quickens. It’s easy to feel like we should snap right back into full productivity, as if the pause never happened. Transitions take energy. Re-entry is a process. Today’s mindfulness is about honoring the in-between space. The place where rest and routi

The Practice of Not Interfering There is a quiet discipline in not interfering. In a world that rewards quick fixes and constant intervention, mindfulness invites us to pause, not because we don’t care, but because care sometimes looks like space. Not interfering isn’t indifference. It’s resisting the urge to rush in, correct, or control when the moment calls for presence instead of action. When we step back with intention, we allow learning, agency, and clarity to emerge on

A Single Candle “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” ~ Anne Frank This quote reminds us that light doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful. A single candle doesn’t erase the darkness; it coexists with it, giving shape, meaning, and contrast to what surrounds it. In moments when the world feels heavy or uncertain, mindfulness isn’t about fixing everything; it’s about noticing where light already exists and allowing it to matter. Let yourself be t

The Practice of Staying We spend so much time pursuing the next goal that we forget to pause upon arrival. The new feeling of "goodness" quickly becomes the new normal, and what once felt meaningful fades into momentum. Mindfulness asks us to linger. To savor the moment we worked for. To let ourselves feel, “I’m here and this matters.” This week, resist the rush to move on. Sit with what you’ve reached, even briefly. Arrival is not a pause in the journey; it’s part of the pra

Noticing the Cold The cold slows us down, and that’s not always a bad thing. Instead of fighting it, notice it. Feel the crisp air, the quiet, the contrast that makes warmth comforting. Questions to Ask Yourself How does my body react when I step into the cold? Where do I find warmth in my day (people, spaces, or moments)? When things feel “cold” emotionally, how do I soften my response? Actions for the Week Take one slow breath before stepping into or out of the cold. Create

The Chocolate Countdown Chocolate countdown calendars are such a tiny, joyful ritual. One small square, one little door, one moment of “oh!” in the middle of an ordinary day. They aren’t about the chocolate itself as much as what it represents: anticipation, patience, and the practice of savoring a single, simple moment. What if we treated our days like a countdown calendar? Not racing ahead to the “big” day, but opening just one door at a time with curiosity? Instead of gu

Let Gratitude Lead “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” Gratitude doesn’t erase challenges, but it changes how we move through them. When we pause to notice even one small thing worth appreciating, our mindset shifts and our energy follows. Start the week by asking yourself: What is one moment today that deserves thanks? Where could gratitude soften something that feels heavy? Let thankfulness be your quiet reset, steady

Mindful Monday: Birthday Weekends Birthday weekends have a way of slowing life down just enough for us to notice what matters. They’re part celebration, part reflection, and part quiet realization that another year has shaped us in ways we didn’t always see in the moment. Between the plans, the messages, and the candles, there’s usually a pause, a moment where we ask ourselves: Who did I become this year? What did I carry that I can finally put down? What do I want more of as

The Courage to Begin The first time you do something new in public, your heart beats a little faster. Maybe your voice trembles. Maybe your hands don’t quite know where to go. It’s the moment when preparation meets vulnerability, and courage steps in. There’s a certain beauty in that first try. It’s imperfect, raw, and real. You learn what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next time. Most of all, you discover that growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone; it occurs in the

Mindful Monday: Creativity Creativity isn’t reserved for artists; it’s an everyday act of noticing, connecting, and reimagining. It’s what happens when curiosity meets courage. Whether you’re solving a problem, crafting a lesson, or finding a new rhythm in your day, creativity reminds you that possibility is always present if you’re willing to see differently. Pause. Look again. What could this become? #MindfulMonday #Creativity #InnovationMindset #AddorationInnovation

Cold Mornings in the Fall The first breath outside bites a little, and everything slows; the porch step, the car’s defrost, the sun taking its time. Cold reminds the body to notice: the warmth in your mug, the weight of your scarf, the way the air wakes your lungs. This is a season that invites gentler starts and deliberate choices. Try this today Pause at the door for three deep breaths before stepping out. Wrap your hands around a warm mug and name one thing you’re grateful

The Art of Letting Go As the leaves turn and fall, nature reminds us that release is not loss, it’s renewal. Trees don’t cling to what once was; they trust that new growth will come in its time. The same is true for us. When we hold tightly to old patterns, past seasons, or outdated expectations, we leave little room for the new ideas, relationships, and opportunities waiting to emerge. Letting go is about making space. It’s about choosing peace over perfection and presence o

The Mirror of Public Service Public service is not only what we do—it is who we are when no one is watching. It asks us to look inward...

Learning From Failure When was the last time you failed at something? It could have been big or small, a project that didn’t unfold as...

Seasons Shift, Leaders Adapt As the leaves start to change, they don’t force it. They respond to the season. Leadership is like that....

Little Bits of Good It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that only big actions change the world. The truth is, it’s the little bits of...