There’s an old saying about March — in like a lion, out like a lamb (or is it the other way around?). Either way, it’s been stuck in my head this week.

Because honestly… isn’t that just every day?

We never really know what kind of day we’re walking into. You can plan. You can block your calendar. And still...a meeting runs long. Someone needs something. Life roars.

That’s exactly why I’ve built small pockets of calm into my day before the lion shows up.

For me, morning dancing is non-negotiable (and sometimes it's just a gentle sway). So is journaling. A few minutes of quiet. Sometimes both. These aren’t indulgences. They’re not “if I have time” practices. They’re how I come back to myself before the day has a chance to pull me away.

Because I know that I can’t control whether the day comes in like a lion. But I can decide whether I meet it already depleted or already centered and anchored in myself.

And when things explode (because sometimes they do), I don’t start from scratch. I reach for what’s already there: a few deep breaths. Stepping onto my deck. Watching the clouds drift by. Letting my cat remind me that slow and soft still exist.

These live in what I call my Unplug Kit...the small, accessible things I reach for when I need to come back to myself. No app required.

Just a handful of anchors that quietly say: I matter here too.

Your Invitations This Week

1. Write your go-to practices down: Grab a scrap of paper and jot down five small practices that help you return to yourself when things go sideways. They don’t need to be impressive. Cloud gazing counts. Cat petting absolutely counts. Five minutes of coloring definitely counts.
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2. Protect your first five minutes: Before the day roars, give yourself just five minutes that belong entirely to you. Dancing, breathing, stillness, tea or coffee...whatever signals to your nervous system: I came here to be, not just to do.
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3. Share one thing: Hit reply and tell me one practice that’s in your Unplug Kit. I love to hear what others are doing (or not doing?)...plus, I can share them back here with your fellow readers.

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​Whatever this week brings, I hope you find your way back to yourself. Even just for five minutes.

Sending love and calming vibes, Chris

PS: Live in the Baltimore area? Why not join me for a Color Yourself Calm session? I'm hosting one on Sunday, March 15th at Thrive Sanctuary (a holistic plant shop!) in the Locust Point neighborhood. We will color, reflect, and have gentle conversations.
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I'll bring everything - pencils, markers, crayons, custom coloring pages. You just bring yourself. Oh, and you get a pocket Color Me Unplugged coloring book to take home with you!

PPS: I do these sessions for groups and organizations too! Want to bring me in to lead a coloring session for you? I’m available to travel or do one virtually, DM or email me.