A Few of My Favorite Things

When Julie Andrews famously sang about raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens in The Sound of Music, she wasn't just distracting a group of frightened children from a thunderstorm. She was practicing a profound mindfulness exercise. By shifting her focus to the simple, beautiful things she loved, she anchored herself firmly in the present moment.

Here at The Effortless Present, we know that you don’t need a thunderstorm to remind you to count your blessings. Sometimes, the most transformative thing we can do is pause, take a deep breath, and inventory the moments that make life rich.

If I were to write my own version of that classic silver screen hit, my lyrics wouldn't be about copper kettles or warm woolen mittens. My song would be a melody of human connection, painted with the people who matter most.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

The quiet magic of a backyard. There is a unique, grounding peace that comes from sitting beside my father, simply enjoying his company while looking out over the magical landscape of his backyard. It is a reminder that the best conversations often happen in the quiet spaces between words.

Garden dinners with my bride. Time seems to slow down when I am sharing a meal with my wife in our garden. Surrounded by nature, these dinners are a daily sanctuary where we can unplug from the world and plug back into each other.

The open road and family ties. I cherish the road trips taken with my bride, watching the highway stretch out before us as we travel to spend quality time with our extended family. The journey itself becomes the destination.

Teeing up with the next generation. Nothing quite matches the joy of walking the fairways and playing a round of golf with my children. It’s less about the scorecard and entirely about the shared laughs, the beautiful frustrations of the game, and the unbroken hours spent together.

A world made new. There is no greater lens for experiencing the effortless present than watching the world unfold through the bright, curious eyes of my granddaughter. Every leaf, every shadow, and every new discovery is a miracle to her—and by extension, to me.

The marathon of gratitude. I look forward to the entirety of Thanksgiving weekend. It is a rare, protected pocket of time dedicated solely to food, family, and reflecting on our abundance.

The sound of laughter. Life can be heavy, which makes the ability to make people laugh one of the most remarkable gifts we can share. A shared laugh dissolves barriers and pulls everyone involved squarely into the joy of the current moment.

The HOPE Spirit. Above all of these, the rhythm that drives my life is the HOPE Spirit: Helping Other People Everyday. This isn't just a favorite thing; it is a calling. When we step outside ourselves to lift someone else up, we effortlessly align with our truest purpose.

Julie Andrews had it right. When the dog bites or the bee stings—or simply when the modern world gets too loud—remembering our favorite things doesn't just make us feel less sad. It brings us back to the present.

What are a few of your favorite things today? I encourage you to write them down, hold them close, and let them guide you into your own effortless present.