Do You Have Time To Love?

“Do You Have Time to Love?” —

Has life pulled you away from being fully present with the people you love?

Are you more of a human going than a human being these days?

When was the last time you slowed down—truly slowed down—to breathe deeply, feel your heartbeat, and look into the eyes of someone you care about… without rushing, without multitasking, without mentally checking your to-do list? When did you last savor the sacredness of a shared moment?

We often forget that being there is love. And love cannot bloom in autopilot.

I know this all too well. As a single mom living in Santa Monica, life asked a lot of me. I had bills to pay, a mortgage to cover, and a little boy to raise. I became a workaholic, not because I didn’t care—but because I did. I had to survive. I had to make things work. But in the race to provide, I missed moments I’ll never get back.

My body may have been there folding laundry or cooking dinner—but my mind was often somewhere else. Worrying. Planning. Replaying. My presence wasn’t always whole. And even though I loved my son with every fiber of my being, I can’t help but wonder if he felt alone at times.

That regret has been one of my greatest teachers. And now I know: love is not just something we feel—it’s something we give with our full presence.

Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that the most precious gift we can offer to those we love is to truly be there. And that begins with a single breath.

Four Steps to Mindful Love on The Real Love Diet:

1. Maitri — Loving-Kindness

Real love starts with tenderness. It’s the warmth behind the words, the softness in the eyes. It’s saying with your full being: “Dear one, I am truly here for you.”

2. Karuna — Compassionate Understanding

Keep looking. Keep listening. We often miss what’s really going on beneath the surface because we’re too busy reacting. But love invites us to slow down and ask: “What is this person really feeling? What do they need right now?”

3. Mudita — Joy

Joy comes when we notice. The sound of laughter, a moment of quiet connection, the way someone lights up when they’re seen. Even saying silently, “Dear one, I know you are here, and it makes me happy,” can transform an ordinary day into something sacred.

4. Upeksha — Freedom

True love allows space. It doesn’t cling or control—it trusts. When we love someone, we give them the freedom to grow, to be, to breathe. No one wants to feel trapped in love. Real love feels like home and open sky.

Whether we are young or old, we can begin now.

Just breathe in… and breathe out. Let your body and your mind come home to each other. That is love. That is meditation. That is living.

“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

Let’s begin again—right now, with this breath. Let’s stop rushing through breakfast, hiding behind the news, or collapsing at the end of the day too tired to connect. Let’s be here. Let’s look at the people we love. Let’s recognize the miracles already around us.

This is the Real Love Diet. It’s not something you earn. It’s something you remember. A moment at a time.

Thank you for reading and sharing. All my love❤️

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