I have a nickname for my phone. I call it the weapon of mass distraction (lovingly, mostly ;) and if you've ever heard me speak or been on a call with me, you probably remember me asking everyone to put it away.

And I'm not immune. Not long ago, my phone rang in the middle of a call I was LEADING, and it was supposed to be on Do Not Disturb. 🤦‍♀️

We all reach for it... in the car line, when we're waiting, at the table when the conversation goes quiet. Sometimes it's a little breather before the next thing, and there's nothing wrong with that.

But with the holidays coming and all the tables we'll be gathered around, I've been thinking about how I want to show up at them. Because I don't want to create ways to connect and then miss half of it because I'm distracted.

So here are a few little things that help me stay at the table, phone and all.

Face down, then out of reach. The same thing I ask of every room I lead. When it's in another room, I stop thinking about it, and somehow nobody misses me online for an hour or two. Who knew? ;)

Ask a question with no agenda. Not to fix or correct, just to connect. "What was the best part of your day?" or "What was surprising this week?" works on my boys, my husband and a table full of family & friends. Then I listen like it's the only thing happening.

The phone doesn't get the first part of my morning. That quiet time is mine, before I'm on anyone else's agenda. When I skip it, I notice a difference in ME and come back to it quickly without treating it like a rule I broke.

None of this has to be perfect or dramatic. It's about noticing that half second before you reach, because that little space is where you get to choose.

So I'll leave you with this.

Who do you want to be fully present with this season?

Cheers to a season to savor ❤️

J'aime xo

MY GIFT TO YOU! If you're looking for something to help you create quiet, calm and a little more presence this holiday season, I made you The Holiday Exhale. It's 8 minutes in my voice to pause, breathe and put down what isn't yours to carry, and it's free all season. Listen to The Holiday Exhale