Simple gratitude

There’s this sushi place I love on the Upper West Side of New York. I usually stop in after errands—Trader Joe’s, a nail appointment, something everyday.

This time, I’d dropped my daughter off at the JCC to get her babysitting certification renewed. She started building her Mother’s Helper business when she was 11 and just raised her rates (yup, proud mama).

I sat down—no phone, just me, my miso soup, and a cup of tea.

And I started thinking.

The last few weeks have been so full—and I’m so dang grateful.

I got to work with incredible voices through the Amazon New Voices program, where several folks earned their Emerging Speakers badge. I witnessed my accelerator group—a small, handpicked crew I work with each year (maybe twice a year moving forward... stay tuned)—share their final presentations. Each one was clearer, bolder, more connected.

I coached physicians in a peer discussion group, helping them listen and speak with more intention. I gave a keynote for the incredible community at Easy Step Enterprises for their annual summit—-It all happened fast.

But that moment—soup in hand, nothing else competing for my attention? That felt just as important.

Then a dad and his two kids came in. They pointed at the fish poster on the wall.

“Dad, what are those?”

He took a photo. Looked it up.

“This one’s a lionfish—spiky. That one’s a clownfish—like Nemo.”

Simple curiosity. No rush.

That’s what presence looks like.

So here’s my invitation to you:

Notice the quiet moments.

Celebrate the small wins.

Let gratitude sneak in—especially when things feel overwhelming or ordinary.