Overwhelmed? This will help.

Watching the news, talking to friends, hearing what’s happening around you and around the world can all feel like too much.

What can you possibly do to help?

I’ve been searching lately myself, cycling through feeling lost by what I see and hear and then feeling incapable of making “enough” of a difference to matter.

That thinking isn’t useful for anyone, especially ourselves.

This quote appeared at the perfect time to remind me what’s most important. I hope it helps you too.

I have another idea that could help — keep reading to learn about my #RealMail #HugTour.

What we do today, right where we are, matters more than we’ll ever know. Every compliment and thoughtful gesture ripples out wider and wider into our circles and beyond.

What’s something we can do today?

Share more love.

• Love for ourselves. Time away from phones reading in quiet corners and walking along silent trails. Carve out at least 15 gloriously still minutes for yourself today. You deserve it.

• Love for others. Buy a stranger coffee, call someone you care about, hug like you mean it (always my favorite). All of these require us to be present with the other person, aware of where we are right now and who is here with us.

We have each other.

I’m so glad to have you on this journey with me.

Want to join me in sharing more love??

Starting this week, I’m sending Real Mail HUGS to friends, family, clients, readers, and loved ones around the world. I’d love to add you to my list.

If you or someone you know would enjoy Hugs in their mailbox, share your address here:

I believe in you and what’s possible when we work together.

Today is all that matters

My friend David Hicks and I witnessed a horrific accident yesterday on our three-hour drive into the mountains to lead a writing retreat in Salida, CO.

Across the highway median on I-70, a tractor trailer barreled down the shoulder, a cloud of dust kicked up all around it, and rammed into an overpass at full speed. The resulting fireball engulfing it and a line of cars patiently idling in rush-hour traffic. 

As we drove past from the opposite direction, David and I looked at each other and back at the scene in shock yelling, “holy shit,” over and over. 

What else is there to say while witnessing an unknown number of lives forever changing in an instant?

What else do you do? 

A day later, these words by the poet Rudy Francisco seem the best answer to me. 

Carve out joy.

Hug every human with your words, thoughts and actions.

Smile so big and laugh so loud in every mundane moment of this precious life.

<3