People ask me this sometimes: what does Awakening With Don mean? Why did I choose that name?
And yes, I also get teased (in a mostly loving way) about how “hippie” I’ve become. Mindfulness, meditation, Buddhism, “awakening”… I know. If I start talking about breathing and compassion, somebody’s going to ask where I keep my crystals.
Prefer to watch instead of read? The full video version of this reflection is embedded at the bottom of this post.
Here’s the real answer: Awakening With Don is not me claiming I’m enlightened. It’s not me saying I’m “awake” like I’ve figured everything out.
It’s me naming a process I’m practicing. And honestly, still struggling with.
For a long time, I moved through life like everything was a mission. Productive. Responsible. Busy. And a lot of the time, exhausted.
My mind lived in the next thing. Next task. Next deadline. Next finish line. Even when life looked fine from the outside, I didn’t always feel free on the inside.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a simple image I keep coming back to: the walk from the parking lot to the office. He talks about “shaking ourselves awake” so we can live with more freedom, peace, and compassion. And he points to something so ordinary it almost sounds too small to matter: just walk. Don’t rush. Don’t lose the moment you’re in.
I love that idea. I also have to admit… I’m not great at it.
Because even now, I tend to “walk with purpose.” And I put that in quotes because my version of “purpose” sometimes looks a lot like hurry.
If I’m going from point A to point B, my internal engine is often still in afterburner mode. I’m not strolling. I’m advancing.
I noticed this even more clearly when I started doing solo backpacking trips a couple of years ago. I’d map out the route, calculate the miles, plan the day, and then catch myself focusing more on getting distance behind me than the beauty I was walking through.
Lakes, trees, quiet, wildlife… and I’m thinking, “Okay, if I keep this pace, I’ll be at camp by 3:00.”
That was a pretty honest moment for me. Because it showed me something: slowing down isn’t just about sitting still. It’s about how I move through my life.
And the truth is, I have slowed down in a lot of areas. I’m more mindful than I used to be. I’m more present than I used to be. I’m less reactive than I used to be.
But when it comes to going from point A to point B, I still catch myself rushing like the world is going to fall apart if I don’t get there fast enough.
So when I say Awakening With Don, I’m not saying, “Here’s what you need to do.” I’m saying, “Here’s what I’m learning in real time.”
So let me leave you with this. It’s tiny, but it’s been helpful for me.
The next time you’re walking from your car into work, or into a store, or down the hallway, just notice your pace. And if you can, soften it a little. Even five percent.
One slower step. One breath. Just enough to remind yourself: “I’m here. This moment counts too.”
That’s awakening for me. Not a finish line. A practice. And I’m still learning it.
Wherever you’re headed next, I hope you can take one slower step. Be well.
