I’m here for a week visiting family, and it’s reminded me just how quickly time moves.

Looking through old childhood photos with my parents, holding my goddaughter who turns one this week… it all feels like a gentle nudge. How fleeting these moments are. How quickly life passes.

And it’s made me reflect on this:

Presence and peace are everything.

When I burnt out, I lost both.

I wasn’t able to be present with the people I loved.
I was so overwhelmed, so out of capacity, that life felt like it was passing me by.

I remember sitting with loved ones, hearing them speak… but not really taking anything in.

And then feeling guilty for not being able to listen.

This time around, being here, I’ve noticed something different.

I’m more present.
More here.

But I’ve also realised something important:

My capacity isn’t endless.
My sensitivity is real.
And I need intentional moments of rest and recalibration to stay connected to myself.

Which brings me to this:

At the end of last month, I shared my first intention-setting letter — a space to pause, reflect, and gently set intentions for what’s ahead.

And I’d love for this to become a monthly ritual for us.

In April, we focused on two things:

Creating consistent rituals for balance
Protecting our peace

For me, this looked like returning to simple practices.

Yoga each day, not perfectly, sometimes just 15 minutes, but consistently.
Moments to come back into my body.

And protecting my peace meant stepping away from the noise.

Small digital detoxes.
Time offline, even for an evening, half a day or sometimes a whole full day!

And the difference… was profound.

More space.
More peace.
More time for me.

As we move into May, I feel called to focus on these intentions:

Presence and creating intentional moments of rest.

And funnily enough, the oracle cards I pulled reflected exactly this…

Just like the sloth, can we embrace slowing things down, taking action with the zestful spring energy but remembering to be sustainable, recalibrate, reset and recharge. Remembering to take breaks.

Remembering to create micro moments of rest and recalibration. This is crucial when it comes to coping with stress and preventing burnout.

So, I invite you to journal on this:
How can you create micro moments of recalibration and rest in your day to day?

The other card’s message is powerful: “Now is the only moment that exists. Embrace it.”

This reminded me of the Zen philosophy of ichigo-ichie, which means
this moment only comes once, and we will never get it back.

And yet… so often, we are not here.

We are in the next thing.
The next task.
The next notification.

Living in a constant state of “what’s next,” instead of “what’s now.”

So this month, I invite you to gently explore:

What is your connection to be able to remain present?
Does it feel easy or hard?
Do you feel constantly pulled away somewhere - where are you being pulled?
How can you create space for you to be able to stay in the now?
What would living in the present look like and give you, if you did more of it?

This is about meeting your life as it is
not rushing past it,
not numbing it,
not escaping it.

Just… being with it.

As we close April and move into May, maybe this is enough:

To unplug, even a little.
To keep protecting your peace, so you can create the capacity to be present.

Because the two go hand in hand.

When we soften the noise, we create space.
And in that space… life can meet us.

So often, we live in the past or the future.
But life is happening here. Now.

And once a moment passes, it doesn’t come back.

So this is my gentle reminder for you:

This moment is the only one you truly have.

And you deserve to be here for it with a heartful presence and inner peace.

🫀
With lots of love,
Essi

If you feel called to connect, here’s couple of events coming up in May.

Sunday, Saturday May 2nd | 12:45pm-3:30pm UK
A mindful stroll through Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park, moving slowly and intentionally while exploring Zen teachings:

Sunday, May 3rd at 7pm-8pm UK | 11am-12pm PT
Online on Zoom

Join me for an online circle to honour the mid-point toward Summer season.

Sunday, May 30th | 12:45pm-4pm
This month we will walk and sketch in the V&A Museum in London!