A Cup of Tea and a Sip of Serenity

The calendar says September, though my body still feels caught between seasons. Summer slipped past in a blur of caregiving, work, travel, and the kind of decision-making that leaves you teetering at the edge of burnout.

Some days, I’ve been pulled so far into the all-consuming swirl of caring for Dad, planning my upcoming virtual live event, and managing the moving parts of both my life and his life that I’ve barely stopped long enough to catch my breath.

And yet, there are these small moments, these quiet gifts, that call me back to myself.

Like the weight of Sundae stretched across my lap, her slow, steady purr vibrating against me. Or Luna  curling up nearby, keeping watch with that calm, knowing look only cats seem to master. She, too, is purring. Science tells us a cat’s purr can lower stress, slow heart rate, and even help heal us. I don’t need the research to confirm it—I feel it in my bones. Their presence is grounding. A reminder to exhale.

And then there’s the ritual of tea. The warmth of the mug in my hands. The way steam curls into the air like an invitation to pause. The sweetness of a bit of honey. Just a few sips can reset something inside me. It' s like hitting the “refresh” button on my spirit.

That’s what today feels like ... a pause and a sip of serenity in the middle of it all.

September always carries a certain type of energy for me. It's a gentle nudge to look at the calendar differently. It's a reminder that time is moving forward. Kids are heading back to school, the weather is beginning to change, and the holidays are closer than they seem. I am in the middle of developing a new program called From Career to Calling. Until today, the launch date was early November. 

As I sat in my chair sipping tea to the purring of Luna and Sundae and contemplating what still needs to be done to prepare for the launch, I could feel the stress rise up from inside of me. And then I heard the old familiar voice in my head say, "You've got this! You can do it! No problem." Typically, I would go with that voice, but this morning, another voice rose up within me. It was more quiet, but it was quite powerful. "Rest. Relax. You first." My sense is that my soul took over the voice in my head. I immediately felt a warm sensation in my chest. Almost like my heart was wrapped in a warm blanket. My soul had challenged my head to turn the volume down. And in my heart I knew what I needed to do.

I rescheduled my From Career to Calling launch to February 5–7, 2026. This will give me time to slow down, to support my dad through his next major transition, and to allow me the time and space I need to take care of myself, to embrace the learning curve I'm currently immersed in, and have more time to enjoy my life, time with my dad, my writing, and spend more time over tea and cats and the ocean. 

Just one decision to move the date of my event and I can feel the spaciousness of planning ahead, instead of cramming one more thing into an already crowded season.

Life doesn’t always give us big open spaces. Sometimes we have to carve them out in small ways—like choosing to sit with a cat purring on our lap, a cup of tea in hand, and permission to simply be —to see what emerges.

Today, I am choosing presence over productivity. Clarity over confusion. Serenity over striving. Breath over burnout. And it feels so good!

I’m curious …

What would your life be like if you pressed pause, took a deep breath, and gave yourself permission to rest—even just for a moment?

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