By Christine Vanlandingham
In today’s world, the pace is relentless. Deadlines loom, inboxes overflow, and the expectations associated with leadership roles, caregiving responsibilities, community involvement, or balancing work and family rarely pauses for breath. We are constantly responding and reacting. But in the rush to keep up, we risk losing something essential: the space for deep thinking, creative reflection, and meaningful connection.
This moment calls for a recalibration.
The poet T.S. Eliot once wrote of “the still point of the turning world.” For many of us, that still point is not found in the frenzy of meetings or the flurry of notifications. It’s found in intentional pause—in the quiet clarity that emerges when we step back to ask not just what we’re doing, but why.
In recent months, I’ve found myself returning to this idea. The demands of leadership have intensified, especially as we grapple with shrinking budgets, shifting public policy, launch new initiatives to meet community need and navigate complex partnerships. The stakes are high, and the timelines are tight. But amid the urgency, I’ve come to realize that sustainable leadership—and sustainable living—requires more than responsiveness. It requires rootedness.
So how do we stay grounded?
First, we must reclaim time for intentionality. This means protecting blocks of time not just for task completion, but for strategic thinking. It means resisting the temptation to fill every moment with activity and instead carving out space to wrestle with complex questions, to imagine new possibilities, and to connect dots across silos.
Second, we must cultivate reflective practices. Whether it’s journaling, walking meetings, or simply a few minutes of silence before the day begins, reflection helps us reconnect with our purpose. It allows us to lead not just from urgency, but from vision.
Third, we must lean into community. Sharing space with others—whether through formal gatherings or informal check-ins—reminds us that we are not alone in this work or this life. It offers perspective, encouragement, and the wisdom of shared experience.
Finally, we must honor the generational wisdom that surrounds us. In Southwest Michigan and beyond, we are blessed with a workforce and community rich in experience. Older adults bring not only institutional knowledge but also emotional intelligence and a long view of change. Their stories remind us that transformation is possible at every stage of life.
And sometimes, the reminder comes in the most mundane of moments.
Last month, I found myself staring at a draft email I had written to a colleague—an important one, meant to finalize materials for an upcoming meeting. I had carefully crafted my thoughts, reviewed the attachments, and even added a few comments to clarify my edits. But then, in the rush of back-to-back meetings, I shut down my computer and moved on to the next urgent task.
Days later, I realized the email was still sitting in my drafts folder, unsent.
It was a small moment, but it hit me hard. Not because the email was late, but because it was emblematic of something deeper: the pace of our lives has become so relentless that even the act of pressing “send” can slip through the cracks.
That unsent email became a metaphor for the kind of deep work we often sacrifice in the name of urgency. It reminded me that leadership—and life—isn’t just about responsiveness. It’s about presence. And presence requires space.
So I’ve started building in small rituals: a few minutes of quiet before opening my inbox, walking meetings when possible, and occasionally stepping outside for a brief moment of fresh air—even if just to stand beneath the trees or feel the sun—letting those pauses reconnect me with clarity amid the constant movement.
These aren’t grand solutions. But they are reminders that even in the whirlwind, we can choose to anchor ourselves. And sometimes, the most powerful move is simply to pause—and press “send.”
As we navigate the complexities of this moment, may we find our still point—the quiet clarity that emerges when we step back to reflect on not just what we’re doing, but why. May we lead with intention, live with purpose, and remain rooted in the values that brought us to this work—and this life—in the first place.
Christine Vanlandingham is CEO of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call (800) 654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org to learn more and get connected to the support you deserve. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.