What's Present Now | Simple Practice | Updates + Offerings
Greetings Reader,
Thank you for being here! Actually, truly, thank you. I'm grateful for you.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how to stay human in 2026.
While deep in the rabbit hole one day, this story surfaced:
Many years ago while grocery shopping and minding my own business, I said a brief hello to the man who was also picking out his vegetables nearby. I was a university student, not particularly patient and likely in a hurry to be moving on to the next thing. A short while later this senior gentleman approached me and said:
“Thank you for your smile”.
He was genuine and sincere, but I didn’t really know what he was talking about. He explained that when I said hello, I had smiled at him and that made his day. In my self-absorption in the moment I hadn’t been fully present to the exchange. I was just “being polite”.
He, on the other hand, was so elated that he offered to introduce me to his grandson! All I said was “hello”. But to him, it meant a lot.
That experience made me realize a few things:
- How simple interactions can have a deep impact
- How good intentions ripple out and reverberate
- How being present helps us to be fully human
I imagined what it would be like for him if more people acknowledged him and smiled. I thought about his gratitude and his willingness to express it.
Today, we have grocery delivery and consistently fewer reasons to leave home and interact with others. I’ve seen convenience stores and airport kiosks that are free of employees - but you still gotta pay for the goods. The point here is that we need to keep practicing our humanity. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple interactions, done with positive intention add up and make a difference.
I'm not suggesting we bypass the hard parts of being human. The aim is to cultivate a practice of being aware, mindful and fully present with ourselves and those we share the world with.
This I Know: Being human is complex, wonderful and very painful sometimes. But we get to decide what version of human we show up as, each day. Choosing to meet life with gratitude is one way we can have agency over our full human experience.
May you have smiles, hugs and other gifts of humanity this month.
PS: Write me back and let me know if you try this Simple Practice ⤵️
Simple Practice
Greet with Gratitude
As you go through your day, whatever you encounter, choose to greet it with gratitude.
A difficult boss. An angry driver. Disappointing news. Greet them all with gratitude.
A friendly stranger. A funny friend. A pleasant surprise. Let yourself feel thankful and express it.
Consider what the moment offers you. Consider what lesson is present. Notice your capacity to receive. Notice if finding gratitude feels hard.
|
Updates & Offerings
🌅 Joy of Yoga is transitioning
As I continue living into my values of peace and simplicity, the time has come to sunset the joyofyoga website. All my services can now be found at the new joyannehowell.com site 🥳. Joy of Yoga will live on as an educational resource with articles and guides to support your wellness journey. Please feel free to share!
To everyone who found me through that space, I'm truly grateful for you and invite you to stay connected here. Future emails will come from joy@joyannehowell.com. Be sure to whitelist this address.
🌱 Coaching Packages
Burnout is at an all-time high - especially for folks doing social justice, non-profit and health care work. As a Vitality Coach I help you refill your own cup and learn how to keep it topped up. Explore the packages and then book a call to learn more.
✨ Corporate Wellness Workshops
I’m excited to support more organizations and teams looking to improve their wellness at work. Feeling well comes from doing well so these workshops are designed to offer hands-on practice of techniques that work. Reach out if you’d like to discuss and let your colleagues know too.
🧘🏽♀️NEW Meditation Course Access For You
If you’ve been on the fence about meditation or just not sure how to start, I've got you. In this video series I breakdown the 4 essential foundations you need to build a practice that sticks. Simple, uncomplicated, easy to apply.
And because you’re here, you get insider access - no sign up needed!
1. Use this link to go to the course site: Click here
2. Use this password for access: guideme123
Let me know how it helps you!🙏🏽
|
|
Vitality Coaching that helps you restore, find balance and move forward.
When you're tired of staying stuck or "pushing through" stress, help is here.
|
|
Been a minute since you've practiced? It's a good time for a Tune Up! You'll receive:
- A personalized assessment + pro alignment tips
- Your key questions answered
- Guidance on getting to your next level of yoga practice
Private session. 30 minutes for $30.
|
|
|
|
