“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence.
When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
He's one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world, yet millions of Americans have never heard of him. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. nominated this monk for a Nobel Peace Prize. He was banned from his native Viet Nam by both sides because he sought to bring peace in the middle of a horrible and tragic war.
Thich Nhat Hanh (above, pronounced tik not hahn) suggests to us that our full presence creates a miracle. He offers the notion that, “The miracle is not to walk
on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in
the present moment and feeling truly alive.”
It can be very difficult for caregivers to be fully present in any given moment. Across this day, ask yourself that question as to tend to the needs of others. Daydreaming is where I spend a lot of my waking hours (the rest are, of course, spent in night dreams.) This means that I am someplace else other than present to the life and the person before me.
Consider presence to a person in pain. What a gift this is when it occurs. The full presence of a loving caregiver is one of the things that brings healing to those who suffer.
Prayer, meditation, art appreciation, attention to our breathing, nurturing loving thoughts, all of these practices support us in our goal to be present.
What do you do that helps you bring your presence to this world and those whom you encounter along your caregiving journey?
-Erie Chapman
Journal of Sacred Work 
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