If I can tell you one thing that changed everything for me, it would be doing everything with intention. When I started therapy at age 20, it was because I thought it was the pathway to living a better life. One that would allow me to overcome what I came through and end generational struggles I couldn’t quite figure out how to end for myself.

And yes, therapy was a pathway. But more than just going to therapy, I had to show up for it. I had to do the work.

The same way I started to care more about what I put into my body, how I cared for my hair, the clutter I lived within, the company I kept, and the joy and peace I hoped to finally one day feel. The common denominator in all of it? Intention.

Intentional care isn’t just about routines—it’s about the love and connection we bring into those routines. Whether it’s through brushing Maddie’s hair, cooking a nourishing meal, or choosing to wear something that makes me feel good, these small acts become sacred when we show up fully in them. These are the moments where presence and intention meet.

And as it turned out, being intentional made being present so much easier.

Distractions can rob us of so much—our sanity, our focus, our joy. If intention is the compass, then presence is the path. One guides us. The other moves us forward.

It doesn’t mean life is always slow or easy. It means that even in the fast or hard moments, we return to awareness. We return to love. We return to what matters most.

So if you’ve been feeling scattered or searching for a way to feel more grounded, try this: slow down, even just a little. Bring your full self into a moment—any moment. A cup of tea. A walk outside. A bedtime story. That is intentional living. That is presence.