I love it how when I have read someone’s words that really resonate with me at various stages of my life. One person who continues to do this for me is New York Times bestselling author, Rachel Macy Stafford and her hands free way of life. I first came across Rachel’s words through her Facebook posts and blog. As a new mother, I found it hard to juggle it all and remain focused on the job at hand, that of being a nurturer, loving and caring Mum.

I guess being an older Mum, I haven’t been faced with as many distractions as perhaps a younger mother would in as far as cell phones and social media goes. Call me old fashioned but I still haven’t really got the whole cell phone thing. I usually leave my phone at home or the battery goes flat. I never think of photo opportunities very much. I very rarely take photos of my kids, missing their first haircut, the first time they walked, their early birthday parties and documenting all the crafts and activities I did with the kids. I just did them and enjoyed them without having to capture it all on social media or via a video clip or a photo. Maybe there were times I felt regretful that I didn’t capture these things but the way my kids are turning out, I think I’ve done an okay job in being there for them and being hands free.

Hands free for me isn’t only about putting down the cell phone or spending less time on the computer. To me it’s engaging with my children more and not worrying about the small stuff like I tend to do. There hasn’t been a time when one of Rachel’s Facebook posts has popped up about the very thing I’ve been struggling with on any particular day and she manages to put it all back into perspective with her plain and simple terms and gentle and wise affirmations.

Now that my children go to their Dad’s 6 days out of the 14 per fortnight, I have learnt to enjoy some ‘me’ time but when they come back, it’s full on. They’re out of sorts the first night they come back from Dad’s, arguing, fighting, demanding my attention and I’m worrying about what bills to pay, what school forms need signing, making their school lunches, teaching them life lessons, making sure they do their chores and on and on. Rachel’s new book Nine Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better & Loving More has taught me to temporarily forget about all those things and focus on the most important task and that’s making sure your children’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs are being met.

My children get sick. I race like a mad woman to get a towel and a bucket for them to be sick in and all I can think about is “gosh, this is all I need, a mess to clean up” and “how will get I get a, b and c done with them being sick”. Rachel’s words have taught me to forget about that and just be there for them. To hold their hand, to rub their back, to tell them its going to be okay. My children are now 10 and 8 and already their lives have just flown by. I don’t want to regret it one day and say that I missed a lot of those special moments when all I worried about was the state of my untidy house. What I hope to get by doing these things and by remembering Rachel’s words is to teach my children to know how to love, unconditionally. How they can love their children, their partners. How to be more in tune with your spiritual self and know that what you’re giving your loved ones you will receive one hundred times over.

Rachel’s new book is an easy read and one that you can keep on hand as a daily motivational reminder to keep what’s important in focus. The 9 daily habits she covers in the book are:

All of those habits are life changing ones that will go a long way to leaving a legacy for your family and loved ones.

I think I’ve definitely mellowed over the years and things don’t seem to worry me as much but Rachel certainly reminds me that the precious cargo that I helped bring into this world only have one life as well and what a great start we can give them as parents if we are more available to them and not sweating the small, trivial stuff.

Rachel’s book is set for worldwide release on 8 September and I was very lucky to receive a copy along with a beautiful framed print filled with Rachel’s wise words and a gorgeous leather wrist band as a constant reminder.

You can follow Rachel on her blog or Facebook. Her words will resonate with you too if you struggle to remain focused on the important things in life.