Recently, we took a vacation to Colorado.

Now, it’s not the first time we’ve been there—our son and daughter-in-law live in Colorado, so we spend a fair amount of time visiting. But we don’t always make it up to the mountains.

This time, we did.

We spent a few days in Glenwood Springs, tucked away in the canyon area, and it was breathtaking. It's a small, quaint community that follows the Colorado River, past the busyness of the popular mountain towns of Breckenridge, Dillon, or Vail.

During our time away, I was reminded of something that’s become increasingly important to me: I value a slower pace. I need a blend of activity and stillness. Time for fun and time for reflection. The spaciousness of this trip helped me reconnect with that rhythm.

On our way home, we listened to

, the story of the 1994 Glenwood Springs fire that tragically took the lives of 14 hotshots and smokejumpers. It was heavy, and sobering. We also visited the memorial while we were in town, a sacred space that stirred up deep emotion. Adding to the heaviness of the trip, I received heartbreaking news: a dear friend who had been courageously battling cancer had passed away.

All of this—the grandeur of the mountains, the sobering events, the quiet spaces—gave me room to reflect on how life is a blend of joy and sorrow. The mountains offered the perfect backdrop for that kind of reflection.

We’re meant to live life fully. To make each day matter.

Whether it's the smile we offer to a stranger in a coffee shop, the time we take to be a listening ear for someone in need, or honoring our divine nature by being still.

Standing in those mountains reminded me of something profound: we are small. Just a speck in the grand scheme of the world. But that small speck matters. Our life matters. Each moment matters.

And yet, you don’t need the majesty of the mountains to remember that.

Because once we return to our busy schedules, our packed calendars, and the “firestorms” of daily life—it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters.

So today, I invite you to do something simple, yet powerful:

Pause for just one minute. Take a deep breath. And ask yourself, “What really matters today?” Let that answer shape the way you move through your day.

Because living fully—with great intention—doesn’t require a mountain view.

It just requires a moment of awareness.