Morning Kisses, Generational Wisdom, and the Power of Presence
My alarm just went off and I feel the comfort of sleep and of my little three-year-old cuddled up against me, the sound of her gentle breathing makes my heart swell with love for her.
In those few short minutes, I feel warm and safe.
I pull her close to me, to smell her skin, and give her kisses on her tiny resting face, inhaling the familiar scent of childhood - the sweetness of sleep.
I lie in bed wondering what the day will bring.
Then the day begins, as I make myself get up and start my morning routine: brush teeth, wash my face, get dressed. Then, I head downstairs to wake up my sleeping eight-year-old with kisses on her cheeks and a gentle back rub.
I say gently in her ear, "Good mooooorning. I love you so much. Time to wake up, sweetie."
Some mornings, she smiles. Others, she pushes me away. But I still place her clothes beside her and go back upstairs to wake the peanut.
Some days, I forget to soak in these sweet moments - to remind myself that they are beautiful, precious, and fleeting.
Some mornings are spent rushing through it all.
Time ticks away, and I feel the urgency build. Knowing how once they're both awake and aware, they'll start to play, to laugh, to push, and to let their wild take over.
It can be sweet to hear their giggles in the air, the two of them playing, loud and silly - but many mornings I don't let myself truly listen.
Instead, I rush them into the car, a huge mishmash of bags, backpacks and coats in every direction, and I start the thirty minute drive to my parents' house.
In the car, I get constant questions from my littles:
Mom, who's the most famous person in the world?
Mom, what is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you?
Mom, tell me something I don't know!
Mama, I got a booger.
Oh, how blessed I am. 😆
I sit in my parent's kitchen, a warm plate of breakfast already waiting for me.
My girls greet their grandparents with kisses.
I feel so incredibly lucky and overwhelmed with gratitude, to have this warm and inviting home to welcome us each morning.
Grateful for the fact that my daughters get to spend time with my parents, now 79 and 82, and even my 98-year-old grandmother.
Generations of us in this space - a home that hasn't really changed much since the 80s. With that same brown wood paneling (you know what I'm talking about). The same figurines sitting along the shelves.
This is my safe place. A haven. The place I can go to and feel grounded. Where I can always come back to myself.
This is not a home trying to keep up with the joneses.
This is a home built with love, generosity, and community. It's a home where slowing down is welcomed.
My mother makes herbal remedies.
I sit and listen as she and my dad talk about the herbs and the maladies they heal.
A concoction of aloe, ginger, chamomile, and star anise for cough or relaxation....but of course they use the Spanish words for these: "el jengibre", "manzanilla", etc..
Or another day it's "flor de baragardo for lung issues".....or "flor de clavelillo to clear sinusitis"...I hear them sharing this ancestral wisdom.
My Dad reminisces about life on the farm in Puerto Rico - growing gandules, yuca, mango trees, and chinas (oranges, pronounced cheenas).
Clockwise from top left: Me in my parents bedroom, it's exactly the same now! My peanut at their house. Mmm, delicious food.
I listen, ask questions, and feel myself getting more grounded, more present, and the stressors of the world - loud, chaotic, and demanding - fade away.
Right now, I am here.
Rooted.
Present.
I am grateful for family, my roots, for the connection and the stories passed down.
Grateful that I can learn; for their voices, still here.
Grateful for their love extended to me through food, stories, warmth.
It's easy to get lost in the noise, the overwhelm, the endless cycle of bad news and busyness. But I don't want to live in that state of constant distraction. I want to notice and feel, and to return to what matters most.
Maybe you do, too.
Here's a gentle reminder to us both: Pause. Look around. Find the moment waiting for you to notice. The one that brings you back to yourself.
Notice the good, and the preciousness of simply being here.
To the very miracle of your breathing.
This is why I feel called to do the work that I do as a coach.
Sometimes all I need is someone in my corner, to champion me, support me, to ask me deeply thoughtful questions. To help me see options, pathways, and opportunities I haven’t considered.
And in my work, I get to do that for others.
For me, my coaching practice is what my parents provide for me - a place of safety, warmth, and slowing down. With the occasional kick in the butt to move me forward.
A space provided to decompress and unload, to finally slow down and savor.
At its core, mindfulness means awareness.
It means being present.
To breathe, slow down, to lay down the weight you've been carrying, and return home to yourself.
Not letting your thoughts ping-pong you into overwhelm, but instead realizing you are not your thoughts.
You are the listener. The observer. The soul sitting in the seat of your heart.
And when you move from that space - then you can begin to operate with presence, with love, with hope and things begin to shift. To ease.
When I step into my parents' home, it feels like I'm coming back to myself.
And that's my mission in my coaching work - to help others come back to themselves, and reconnect with joy, creativity, and confidence.
Because we can't create positive, hopeful, powerful change in the world if we don't first cultivate it within ourselves.
My work is my way of helping others feel strong, capable, alive and inspired to act. To help you find more uplifting community.
I hope you do not feel alone.
I hope you feel energized. Hopeful.
Don't let the world convince you that you are helpless. There is so much good.
If this resonates with you - if you’re craving more presence, clarity, or just a moment to breathe - I’d love to support you. Here are some simple ways to reconnect, along with things that have been inspiring me lately.
With love,
Mari ☀️
Tips to try:
Pause & Breathe: Right now, take a deep breath in… hold it… 1,2,3...aaaand release. Feel the tension leave your body. Your breath is always available to ground you. When overwhelm hits, come back to this practice again, and again.
Quiet the Mental Chatter: Inspired by Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, try this:
Close your eyes and listen for the voices of self-doubt or fear in your mind.
Imagine each voice as a tiny mouse. Pick it up by the tail and drop it into a jar.
Repeat until your mind is clearer. Then, visualize turning the volume down on those voices. Now you can reclaim your focus and pour your energy into the goals, tasks or projects that matter most.
Unplug with Intention: Slowing down isn’t a luxury—it’s necessary. It’s about choosing presence over mindless distractions. Set small habits: a phone-free morning routine, deep conversations with loved ones, or even five minutes of silence.
Reconnect with What Matters: Creativity, community, nature, and movement can be antidotes to burnout. Dance, journal, meditate, or engage in a meaningful conversation. The goal is to engage fully in something that lights you up.
Redefine Success: Instead of chasing endless productivity, define success on your terms. What does fulfillment actually look like for you? What values do you want to live by? Align your actions with what truly brings you joy and purpose.
What I'm Listening to & Reading:
🎧 The Mel Robbins Podcast: How to Control Your Mind & Redirect Your Energy to Self Transformation
📖 Earth and Spirit: Medicinal Plants and Healing Lore from Puerto Rico – by Maria Benedetti
📖 Lighter: Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, Expand the Future – by Yung Pueblo
How To Work With Me:
No Cost: Join an upcoming Meditation Session - a space to slow down and reconnect.
Low Cost: Get unstuck and clear on your next steps with a Personal Strategy Session —a life audit to cut through the noise, spark inspiration, and walk away with an action plan. Or, for deeper insight on hidden patterns or intuitive guidance, book a Tarot Reading
Deep Support: Going through a pivotal life change? My 4-Month Coaching Program ($350/month, 4-month minimum) offers ongoing guidance and personalized support. Email me to explore if it's the right fit!
