These past couple of weeks have been full. Work, family, obligations—life hasn’t slowed down, and the to-do list seems to keep multiplying. But in the midst of all that motion, something simple stopped me in my tracks and grounded me in the best way.
Alexandra—my sweet, expressive, always-feeling daughter—has a way of delivering these unexpected moments of clarity and connection. The other night, she looked at me and said,
“Mommy, I have a present for you. It’s in my heart.”
Then she ran into my arms and gave me the biggest, most soul-soothing hug.
“My present is my hug.”
That was it. That moment.
She reminded me of what matters most.
When our days are packed and we’re pulled in a dozen directions, it’s easy to overlook the small things. But it’s those very things—like pausing to say I love you, or giving a hug without a reason—that become the anchor.
Sure, the people we care about likely know how we feel. But there’s something powerful in saying it out loud. In making eye contact. In offering our full attention and presence.
It doesn’t take much. A simple “I love you.” A moment of stillness. A hug that says more than words can.
That’s what the Be Present Project is all about. It’s not about doing more—it’s about being here for what matters most.
So take the moment.
Say the words.
Give the hug.
Offer the present that only you can give—your love, spoken and shared.
Because in the middle of everything, that’s what sticks.
That’s what matters.
And that’s the gift we all need more of.
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