Over my vacation (which was incredible, thanks for asking!), I had the distinct pleasure, honor and privaledge of reading Rachel Macy Stafford’s very first book gift to humanity, which hits the shelves tomorrow, and which — trust me — you aren’t going to want to miss.

Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters is nothing short of a treasure; a timely, desperately-needed, soul-stirring message to those of us awake enough to notice the beauty all around us, but so laden by our loads and burdened by busy that we’ve hardly a free hand to accept it.

I stumbled upon Rachel’s blog about a year ago and was reduced elevated to tears by her eloquent storytelling, honest self-reflection and brave vulnerability. Since then, I’ve been moved time and again by her offerings and have come to anticipate her posts like gracious gifts in my inbox.

Talented as she is though, Rachel is no mere wordsmith. Rachel…is a healer. 

Few are able (and fewer still willing) to face their darkest demons and examine the brokenness within, then piece themselves back together with so much grace, love and non-judgement that the end result makes you want to do the same.

She GOES THERE, and kindly invites us to join her.

With chapters like:

• Acknowledge the Cost of Your Distraction
• Make Purposeful Connection
• Silence the Inner Critic and
• Reveal Your True Self

Rachel circumvents the dime-a-dozen pragmatic parenting paradigms that appeal to the intellect only, and goes straight for the heart while weaving stories with such wisdom and reason that the intellect is fed all the same.

A refreshing reminder that WE must set the pace by which we want to live, her findings parallel my own discovery since living abroad:

When I’m not rushing through life at high speed,

When my schedule isn’t jam-packed with every spare moment accounted for,

When my attention isn’t consumed by the buzzing electronic device gripped tightly in my hand,

When I’m freed from unnecessary pressures,

Then the minor inconveniences like waiting in line don’t bother my so much. I actually start to see all moments–even the bad, frustrating, and tiresome ones–as gifts.

Why?

Because I am alive to experience them…and the significance of that fact should not be underestimated.

Perhaps most importantly though, Rachel proves, through an honest look into her own once-distracted and burdened-by-trivialities lifestyle that as long as we’re alive, it’s never too late to heal.  It’s never too late to connect. 

My advice to you?

Go there with her. She’ll show you her heart, she’ll show you YOUR heart and shine light on your journey back to what matters most.