Dear Beautiful Soul,

For years, I misunderstood what it meant to be present.

If I showed up at my boys’ sporting events, sat in the stands, and cheered at the right moments, I told myself I was there.

If I went to dinner with someone and physically sat across the table, I told myself I was present.

If I stood behind the chair doing a client’s hair, I told myself I was present—because technically, I was there.

But the truth?

I couldn’t repeat a single thing that the client shared after they left.

I couldn’t remember half the conversations my friends tried to have with me.

And at my boys’ games, I often found myself answering messages, taking calls, or mentally running through my to-do list instead of actually watching them play.

Then one day, I realized

Presence is not physical proximity.

Presence is energetic availability.

That’s when things changed.

The True Meaning of Presence

If you look up the definition, presence means “the state of existing, occurring, or being in the moment.”

Not around the moment.

Not near the moment.

But in it—with your mind, heart, and attention aligned.

For someone like me—someone who runs at full capacity, someone who has multiple businesses, a family, a team, and a constant stream of responsibilities—

Being present requires intention.

Effort. Boundaries. Awareness.

And I learned this the hard way.

Learning to Slow Down (Even When You’re Built for Speed)

Being busy had become part of my identity.

If a text came in, I answered immediately.

If an email popped up, I felt responsible to respond that second.

If someone needed help, I was there—no matter the time, place, or personal cost.

But here’s what I discovered:

Every time I choose busyness over presence, I break a boundary with myself.

And when you continuously break boundaries with yourself, you weaken your spirit.

You disconnect from your relationships.

And you rob yourself of joy. So, I began making changes.

Changes that felt uncomfortable at first but became the foundation for peace.

I slowed down. Hence came the “white space.”

I started gardening, meditating, and working out without my phone nearby.

Simple activities that grounded me back into my body.

I TURNED OFF ELECTRONICS

I stopped recording every moment for content or memory.

Some moments are meant to be lived, not documented.

I STOPPED REPLYING INSTANTLY

I learned that not every message requires an immediate response—and that waiting is not a failure. It is a boundary.

I PROTECTED SACRED MOMENTS

Sporting events became a time to cheer my sons on. The messages could wait.

Weekends with friends and family became present-time.

Even my downtime—my bubble baths, my journaling, my walks—became mine again.

BEING PRESENT IS A FORM OF LOVE

When you put your phone on Do Not Disturb…

When you turn it over on the table at dinner…

When you look at your child, your partner, your friend in the eyes and truly listen…

You are saying:

“You matter. This moment matters.

I am here with you.”

And that changes everything.

Your relationships deepen.

Your joy expands.

Your nervous system softens.

You start to feel life instead of racing through it.

Being present is the doorway to healing, alignment, transformation and most of all more meaningful relationships.

PRESENCE IS INTENTIONAL

Let me be clear—this isn’t about perfection.

I still have moments when I have to take a call.

I still lead teams, run businesses, coach salons, and juggle life like the ambitious woman I am.

But I now understand this:

When something is truly important, it can wait until I’ve honored the moment I’m currently in.

Presence is not about shutting the world out.

Presence is about choosing what gets your energy right now.

This year for Thanksgiving, I put the phone down. Not one pic taken on my phone, yet I enjoyed bonding moments with my family. I allowed myself to be present and let others capture the memories. The coloring with my 2-year-old nephew, the laughs with my sister, and enjoying every

bite of delicious food. These memories will live with me forever in my heart.

YOUR CHALLENGE (AND YOUR REMINDER)

I want you to ask yourself:

 Are you physically present but mentally miles away?

 Are you multitasking with your moments?

 Are you breaking boundaries with yourself in the name of productivity?

 Are you living your life—or rushing through it?

Presence is not about slowing your life down.

It’s about slowing your mind down long enough to experience your own life.

And sometimes, all it takes is a pause—

a breath, a softened heart, a phone turned the screen down,

or a moment of intentional silence to come back home to yourself.

Because presence isn’t something you find.

Presence is something you choose. Something that you choose for yourself and the people who are important in your life.