Moving from Productivity to Presence (Better Than Normal 3)

And no photos in this post!

Mar 31, 2026

Continuing my reflections on the transformative shifts in MaryAnn McKibben Dana’s upcoming book Better Than Normal: Virtues for an Off-Script Life1, we come to the third shift... moving from productivity to presence. Today, I decided that I wanted to shift from productivity of a bunch of photos and regularly pulling my camera out and simply soak in the presence of the space where Scout and I walked. I chose to be attentive to color for the most part but some sounds and some textures make it in as well. I simply noted things along our walk today.

MaryAnn quotes the wonderful Joanna Macy when reflecting on presence:

“Buddhist teachings say [maintaining] hope can wear you out...instead just be present...the main thing is that you are showing up, that you’re here, and that you are finding ever more capacity to love this world because it will not be healed without that.” (pp 57-58)

Here’s what I saw, heard, and felt this morning. Sorry for you having to read my handwriting. :-)

As I wrote this out and added the colors, I noticed something else that was not intentional. The colors that appear in the pages above are exactly the same ones that are seen in a Pride flag honoring the LGTBQIA+ community.

This reflection is being posted on March 31 - Transgender Day of Visibility. GLAAD shares that TDoV is a day “to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the disproportionate levels of poverty, discrimination, and violence the community faces compared to cisgender (non-transgender) people.” This is an important day to give thanks for and to honor transgender individuals and also to lift up the realities that are being faced by people in the transgender community (as well as the LGBTQIA community as a whole) - discrimination, hate, and violence. If you have never been to an event on TDoV, look up ones in your area to, as today’s post shares, simply be present to love, support, and learn. In the Cincinnati area, there is an event at Fountain Square at noon as well as local ones in other communities throughout the day.

I am grateful for your presence with me in these reflections as well.

Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Ed