What My 90-Year-Old Aunt Taught Me About Living in the Moment

Recently, I took a trip to Cape Cod to surprise my great aunt for her 90th birthday. It was one of those rare, beautiful moments — a room full of loved ones from all over the country gathered just for her, eyes wide, hands clapped over mouths in surprise, and so many happy tears.

It was a celebration, yes. But more than that — it was a pause.

And that pause taught me something I didn’t know I needed to remember.

Cape Cod, Sea Grass & the Stillness We Forget

While I was there, in this tiny coastal town surrounded by trees, I noticed something I rarely feel in the busy hum of everyday life:

Stillness.
Presence.
A peacefulness that wasn’t striving to be anything else.

I took a dip in the Atlantic. I watched the wind ripple through the sea grass. I felt the breeze on my face — really felt it.

And I realized: I live next to the ocean… but I don’t often stop to actually be with it.

Life at home is busy. There are to-do lists, responsibilities, routines. And sometimes we tell ourselves we need a trip to finally unplug — that presence is only possible when we step out of our lives.

But what if that wasn’t true?

Aunt Wisdom: Flip Phones, Birds, and the Art of Noticing

My great aunt lives on a pond in Chatham, Massachusetts. Every day, she watches the birds in the trees, the turtles in the water, and the neighbors who go fishing each morning. She notices things most of us would scroll past.

She even tried to learn to text recently — but gave up because she still uses a flip phone.

Her exact words?

“I don’t need to do that. I’d rather look at the pond.”

Honestly… iconic.

She doesn’t try to be present. She just is. That’s how she’s lived for 90 years — fully noticing the small things that so many of us miss.

What If Presence Wasn’t Just for Vacations?

What if we didn’t have to go away to come home to ourselves?
What if we could unplug — even without leaving our neighborhood, or our phone?

What if presence could be practiced — right here, right now?

Noticing the wind through the trees outside your window.
Pausing for one full, deep breath.
Looking your child or partner in the eye, with no distractions.
Feeling your feet on the ground while you make your coffee.

These are small moments.
But presence lives in small moments.
And when you add them up? That’s a life.

Therapy Can Help You Come Back to the Moment

At Abbey Rose Therapy, one of the core values I hold is gentle awareness — learning how to come back to yourself, and your life, in a more intentional way.

Whether we’re sitting together in a room or walking by the ocean, our work is about helping you slow down, breathe deeper, and notice the stories that shape your life. And then — slowly, gently — choose which ones to keep, and which ones you’re ready to let go of.

Because presence isn’t something you “achieve.”
It’s something you practice.
And it starts with one moment.

So, Here’s Your Invitation:

Unplug. Even just for a few minutes.
Step outside.
Feel the breeze.
Watch the sky change.
And maybe… don’t text anyone today.

Be like my great aunt.
Choose the pond.

Warmly,
Abbey