Be Still, Be Present — Discovering Opportunity in a Season of Hustle

This guest column was originally written for and published in the Business Record.

The holiday season is here.

It is a fun time of year for some, and it can also be an extra busy and challenging time of year.

Recently, I have been reminded of the importance of slowing down. Often, we move fast. What if during the holiday season we took some time to slow down and be still?

When I slow down, I see moments and opportunities to serve that I may have missed if I were too caught up in my day. Here are some recent examples of moments.

There is a person who works in the Local Bites food court in the Partnership Building at 700 Locust St. She is always smiling and gives a warm greeting. Every time I see her, my day gets better. She serves others through positive energy. How can we be that person for others?

Last month at the Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market, an event our team runs, a man unfortunately fell on the escalators. A UnityPoint Health nurse who just happened to be attending saw what was happening and jumped in to help, without hesitation. She could have decided it was her day off and not her responsibility. Instead, she helped her fellow citizen. Would you be willing to do what the nurse did?

While having coffee with a team member at a local coffee shop, she noticed someone having a tough time who appeared to be cold and upset. My colleague excused herself to go buy that person a cup of coffee. She saw the opportunity to help and took action without hesitation. Are you slowing down enough to see these moments of opportunity in front of you?

In all of these cases, someone was willing to slow down and see an opportunity to help and make a situation better. And I was able to notice these opportunities because I, too, slowed down enough to pay attention.

There is science behind the importance of rest and relaxation, and we probably instinctively understand the importance if we’re honest with ourselves. Being still helps our brains to consider different viewpoints, different choices and considerations.

I know this from experience. I can think of times when I have tried to solve a problem, and the solution just wouldn’t come to me. I kept working, the problem still taking space in my brain.

Then, when I take the time to sit still, or step away from the problem and go for a walk or run … boom! The solution came while my brain was rejuvenating.

There’s a phrase I like to use with my team. We can do anything, but we can’t do everything. I say this in the context of our work at The Partnership, but it’s true in any area of life. Too often, we can get bogged down or burnt out in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The reality is, there are major opportunities and challenges to solve for all of us as individuals, in our organizations, and as a Greater Des Moines community. By taking time to pause, we can see the solutions more clearly. We can see more clearly even the simple moments to jump in and help.

This holiday season, I encourage you to be still. Be present. Truly see others around you. And gain clarity on what you can do for others and how you can serve our region in 2026.