The Power of Presence (and Drinkable Glitter)

This summer, my productivity took a hit… and it might have been the best thing that’s happened to me all year. 

My daughter and I spent the summer in a rhythm that would make any time management coach cringe — and yet, I wouldn’t trade a single moment. 

She became a “bad influence” in the best possible way: perfecting her barista skills by making me a latte each day, introducing me to her favorite YouTuber Hopescope, and keeping me up to date on the latest trends (hello, Labubus).

Between sips of espresso and bouts of laughter, she pulled me into her world. 

• I learned that Sephora is apparently the ultimate destination for life-changing makeup tips — which means I’ve apparently been doing my makeup wrong my entire life. 
• I discovered the strangely satisfying joy of unboxing videos. 
• I learned that drinkable glitter exists (and yes, it’s exactly as magical as it sounds). 
• And I watched her light up when she crafted the perfect cocoa or latte, as though she was creating more than a drink — she was creating a little moment of delight.

And here’s the thing: these moments weren’t on my calendar. They weren’t tied to a goal or outcome. They were just… moments. 

Ordinary on the surface, but everything when I stayed present enough to notice.

Presence, I’ve learned, isn’t just “being there.” 

It’s letting go of your own agenda long enough to see and feel what matters to someone else — and allowing their world to fully arrive in yours. 

It’s in these so-called “nothing moments” that the “everything moments” live.

Next week, she goes back to school. I’ll miss our afternoon coffee time, even though I joke that I’ll get my productivity back. 

But the joy, connection, and shared laughter will carry forward — and maybe, just maybe, the latte tradition will too.

This summer taught me that sometimes, the best use of time is to stop counting it. 

Presence isn’t just a gift you give — it’s one you get to keep.

And that is quantum joy.