You are here.

If you’re old enough to remember when malls were the place to be, you might also remember the freestanding map, usually found at either end and in the center of the shopping establishment. The map would detail all the stores and clearly mark your location with an arrow and the words “You Are Here.”

For the past several years, I’ve been practicing mindfulness. My goal is to be fully present in each moment so I can enjoy the moments as they happen. I try to capture memories with my eyes rather than through the lens of a smartphone. I read books closely in hard copy, and I write (and rewrite) even slower. I stay grounded in what’s real rather than what’s next.

I’m bringing that same energy into this season as I pivot my career toward work that feels more aligned with my values and professionally fulfilling overall.

We all, myself included, spend a lot of time looking backward at what once was. The past is familiar, and familiarity can feel safe. And when we’re not looking back, we often find ourselves looking too far forward, imagining what’s coming, how it should look, and when it should arrive. The future is full of possibilities.

But the present, that’s where the magic happens. It’s where the real work and true clarity live.

In leadership and in life, presence is a skill. It’s choosing to be grounded even when things are shifting. It’s being calm in the midst of uncertainty. It’s paying attention to the story currently being written. The here and now is not perfect, but it’s full of promise and purpose.

You are here. Where growth is happening. And that’s exactly where you’re meant to be.