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What Deep Presence Looks Like and the Magical Impact it Has 

Eckhart Tolle said, "Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now.”

We all know the importance of being fully present. But what does deep presence actually look like? 

Meet my Auntie MaryAnn…

A mother of 5, a grandmother of 10, a lover of all animals, MaryAnn is a special blend of love I’ve rarely experienced. 

“Katie!” She exclaimed when I saw her last week on a trip my family and I took to hang with her daughter (and one of my closest friends) Jackie. “I’m so kitzeled to spend time with you tomorrow!” Referring to our scheduled walk the three of us would take the next day. 

She went on to explain, “kitzeled in Jewish means everything inside of me is bursting with excitement to see you!” 

I melted a bit in that moment as I blinked away a few happy tears. 

To be seen as that important to someone felt like a warm bear hug. 

When was the last time you felt that? 

When was the last time you made someone else feel that? 

The next day, Auntie MaryAnn arrived at the house and as Jackie’s daughter rounded the corner of the hall and saw her grandma, her eyes lit up and her smile spread wide across her face. “Grandma!” She said as the two embraced. 

Everything inside of her was bursting with excitement to see her granddaughter too. 

And her granddaughter felt it. 

She felt seen and loved. 

Our walk began and my aunt told us stories and asked us about our lives. She listened intensely, open and curious, slow to respond so as to make sure we had the space to share anything we needed to. 

She was the embodiment of presence.   

When she did respond, she spoke words of encouragement and wisdom. 

I felt seen and loved. 

By the end of our time together, I turned to her and said, “Auntie MaryAnn, you have a gift for making a person feel like they’re the only person who exists in the world.” 

She smiled in the knowing way loving, wise women do and hugged me.

“I love you, and I’m so proud of you.” She whispered in my ear. 

The tears rose in my eyes immediately and my throat locked up. Something deep within me healed in that moment. And she was the angel who healed it. 

Just because she saw me. Just because she was present with me. 

The Impact of Deep Presence

I’ll be the first to admit that I can get caught up in the rush of life. There’s work to do, animals to feed, dishes to put away, clothes to wash and a constant movement to the days. 

But then my daughter taps on my side and looks at me with her beautiful chocolate eyes and asks, “Mom, can we dance?” She pulls me back into the present moment and reminds me that life is lived right now.  

I lose myself in the motion of our dance and when our eyes lock, I can see the same warmth spread through her the same way it did through me when Auntie MaryAnn was present with me. 

I see her. And she feels it. 

How do you feel when you are seen? 

When someone’s full attention is in the present moment with you? 

What heals inside of you? 

What possibilities arise? 

How much deeper do your roots grow? 

How much more sun is in your sky? 

The impact of presence is that the love that connects us flows freely and abundantly. 

Without ego. 

Without urgency. 

For us to give. For us to receive. 

And in this flow, we become a little more brave to be fully ourselves.

And isn’t that the whole point? 

Today, I propose you take a lesson from my Auntie MaryAnn and show up to a conversation, a moment, or an interaction with your full attention.  With openness and curiosity and a whole lotta kitzel. 

Just see what it creates 

Love, 

Katie

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