A Year of Choosing Presence
Gratitude, Stillness, and Deepening Our Practice
A Year of Choosing Presence
Over the course of this past year, we’ve returned again and again to a simple truth: presence is always available. Through breath, stillness, and conscious awareness, we’ve explored what it means to awaken to a vibrant inner life that does not depend on circumstances. When fear, anxiety, or resistance arise, our practice gently reminds us that peace is not something we create—it is something we remember in the present moment.
Throughout these messages, we’ve reflected on stillness as a doorway, the breath as a bridge, and the heart as the place where transformation unfolds. We’ve seen how unconscious living keeps us tethered to worry and control, while presence frees us into trust, compassion, and love. Again and again, the invitation has been the same: be still, soften your attention, and allow God’s living presence to meet you right where you are.
As we bring 2025 to a close, we want to pause and offer our sincere gratitude. Thank you for walking this path with us—reading, reflecting, practicing, and sharing your experiences. Your presence here matters. This community exists because of your willingness to tend your inner life, and it has been a gift to journey alongside you throughout the year.
As we step into a new year, we invite you to begin again with the Practice of Presence, or to deepen what has already taken root. To support you, we’re offering a free gift: the Choosing Presence Calendar (2026), created to accompany your daily practice and help sustain you in presence throughout the year.
May we continue to walk this path together—returning to stillness, choosing presence, and living more fully in God’s peace.
The Choosing Presence Team
Jim Heaney • Jim Taylor • Brian Mueller
Brian Mueller – Poet, Community Organizer, and Spiritual Guide
Brian Mueller is a poet and community organizer based in Dayton, Ohio. He serves as Director of Education & Engagement for ChoosingPresence.org and is an active member of the Ohio Chapter of Illuman, where he co-leads writing retreats that support men’s spiritual journeys. As a writer, Brian is known for his candid, accessible poetry, with works including Cock‑A‑Doodle‑Doo: 100 Morning Haiku, the Poem of the Day series, and the Bull Series. Inspired by poets like Rumi and Mary Oliver, he believes everyone carries the voice of a poet within.
