Greetings, HaQ readers. Its been another packed week, work and world and worries competing for whatever mental space and emotional capital I have.

The headlines are head-spinning these days, between Harvey, Irma, political acts that tear apart real families, and the random launching of verbal, digital, or explodable epithets. It all gets overwhelming. So the message I’m reminding myself of is “Slow down and be, here and now”.

Hey, Self. Be Present.

Taste your food. Notice what’s around you. Listen to your friend, your family member, your student. Smell fresh air, or fresh laundry, or a flower. Feel the shine on a fresh pepper, or the soft fur of your pet, or the comfort of your clothes. Smile at a baby tortoise touring through the squash blossoms.

Be enveloped in the world. Even when it is scary, it is also abundant. The world gives you life. Let it.

Breathe. And move on.

And move on we will. With two hurricanes, an earthquake and political turmoil, there is plenty to do. And we have so many ways to kick some disaster butt, kick negativity, and create a joyful place. Whether it’s giving time or resources to help with hurricane recovery, or helping with legal needs for someone in distress, or a pan of lasagna for your first responders, or phone calls to your legislators because of something you care about, or two hours volunteering at a local food bank – we all have something we can be called to do, no matter how small, that brings a more little joy where there was less. And joy is magnetic – it brings even more.

So – breathe. And then do your thing. Imagine what we will create as we all do what we can.

Stay tuned for more on the Here’s a Quarter blog next week! As always, your thoughts and comments are always welcome – they are moderated (I know – adulting again), so they may take a little while to appear, but I read them all and appreciate that you were here. Thank you!

My new story collection is now available: Dog Days . I’d love to hear your thoughts if you check it out!