I often find myself replying to a text from a friend starting with, “I don’t know where the day went…” and honestly, I feel like that happens a lot. One minute, I’m up before 5 AM to squeeze in a workout, and the next thing I know, it’s mid-afternoon, and I’m finally getting around to taking a shower.
And isn’t that just life? A constant flow of big and small things, all taking up time. There’s the obvious stuff—work, parenting, appointments—but also the things we barely register: making meals, cleaning up spills, bathroom breaks (yes, even those), toddler transitions, errands, and the inevitable unexpected surprises. Then suddenly, we look at the clock and wonder, Where did the time go?
That’s why it’s so important to pause. To take a breath. To be here as much as possible. I know, way easier said than done. But I write these blog posts as reminders for myself, too—so welcome to my self-improvement journal, disguised as wisdom!
On the busiest, most relentless days, I try to carve out small moments to reset. Five deep breaths. A quick mental list of things I’m grateful for. Saying it out loud, even if it’s just to the cat (who definitely isn’t listening). Noticing something beautiful in the chaos. Even reframing a mess as proof of a life well-lived—I get to clean this up because I have a kid who loves to create (and destroy) things.
It’s easy to get caught up in the rush, especially in this extra chaotic world we’re living in right now. But those little pauses? They matter. They add up. They remind us that, despite the whirlwind, there is still so much good to be found.
So take a moment today. Breathe. Notice something small and wonderful. Because as Ferris Bueller wisely put it:
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
How can you take a moment to pause today?