You are here now.

Have you ever found yourself in a mall, disoriented and trying to locate your favorite store? The one sticker I always look for is the “you are here” circle–the clean, simple orienting spot amidst the chaos of overcrowded shops. It’s an invitation to a breath, a sigh of relief. I am here now, and I can pause. It’s also an opportunity to take a step forward. 

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, as I take stock of where I am, geographically, chronologically, and otherwise. There is a lot about “here” and “now” that feels foreign to me. This is not where I want to be, and yet I am here. There is grief there, but also a release and a beckoning–what does the next chapter hold? What is the invitation for this season? I am here, in the San Fernando Valley, in California, in this home, in this body, in these communities, in these families, in 2025, in February (as of this writing). This current, fleeting moment will pass, and yet it matters. It orients me to now, the past, and the future.  

I’ve been thinking about this in my work with clients. The social worker adage to “meet your clients where they are” is ringing in my ears. To bear compassionate witness to wherever they find themself in. To respect and care for all of who they are, regardless of functioning. To validate their many-layered existence as a human being. To empathize with their vast array of feelings–all feelings matter. They tell us something about yourself. You are worth cherishing. Whatever you have lived, however you have gotten here–you have arrived. It may have been a hell of a fight, and you may have wanted to give up. 

Recently, I was sitting in a session with a client and the thought came to me–it is amazing that this client has been so tenacious to arrive here, to this office. The hope and the strength each client holds is nothing short of astounding.