In Live Love Now, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Macy Stafford tackles the biggest challenges facing kids today and equips adults to engage them with humanness and heart, compassion and honesty to discover the deep, life-giving connection everyone is longing for.
What do young people need now more than ever? Adults who are Truth-tellers not taskmasters. Encouragers not enforcers. Guides not half-listeners. The good news is, it's not too late! No matter what's happened in the past, you can help the kids you love face the top stressors of today, including academic pressure, parental expectations, technoference, lack of purpose, isolation, and loneliness.
With illuminating, straightforward strategies, this guide reveals the importance of practicing acceptance, pursuing peace, and exploring wellness and purpose for yourself so you can be the kind of real, relevant, and lifelong role model young people are searching for. Engaging and thoughtful, each chapter includes moving stories from Rachel's personal journey as a mom of a teen and pre-teen along with illustrative narratives and prompts to help you reflect and take steps toward becoming the kind of adult young people trust.
Whether you're a parent, educator, older sibling, coach, or anyone in a role of leading young people, this book will help you meet the goal of raising and guiding young people to become resilient, compassionate, and capable adults.
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Rachel Macy Stafford's words fill this beautiful book of short pieces constructed around the seasons of life. This flexible, non-dated, moment-to-moment resource of encouragement can be picked up whenever you need to find meaning in the meaningless…when your soul is weary…when your heart is heavy…when your connections are weak. Only Love Today’s life-giving words remind you of the tools you already possess and the insights you already have to guide you back to what matters most. Regardless of what you’re experiencing or what season you’re in, you’ll find wisdom and encouragement to move each day in a positive direction.
Only Love Today—is clarity when you’re conflicted.
Only Love Today—is unity when you’re divided.
Only Love Today—is faith when you’re uncertain.
Only Love Today—is a reset button directing you back to what matters most.
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The steps I outlined in Hands Free Mama to become less distracted were truly just the beginning. In order to be completely free to focus on what enriches our lives, we must acquire a new perspective. We must recognize the all-encompassing distractions of our culture that divert us from living and loving fully.
This is where Hands Free Life comes in.
In my second book, I reveal nine intentional habits that ignite a sense of urgency—urgency to live … love … dream … connect … embrace … forgive … and flourish.
Adopting the nine habits of a Hands Free Life is a deeper, more enduring process than simply putting down the phone, burning the to-do list, and letting go of perfection as outlined in Hands Free Mama.
Living a Hands Free Life means knowing you’re on your true path toward personal fulfillment. It’s going to sleep at night knowing you’ve connected with someone or something that made your heart come alive. It’s investing in what really matters, knowing full well that managing life is the tendency, but living life is the goal.
We live in a culture where grand achievements and small waistlines are complimented … where busyness is a badge of honor … where text messages replace face-to-face contact … where day-to-day responsibilities overwhelm and downtime is extinct. People are hungry for simple ways to live better and love more because knowing how does not come instinctively nor easily in this culture of overwhelm.
Whether readers are just starting their journey toward a life that really matters or have been at it awhile, Hands Free Life will teach parents, singles, women, and men how to create habits that will allow them to invest in the most significant parts of their life.
With a Hands Free Life perspective, readers have the power to look back and see they didn’t just manage life, they actually lived it—and lived it well.
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If technology is the new addiction, then multi-tasking is the new marching order. We check our email while cooking dinner, send a text while bathing the kids, and spend more time looking into electronic screens than into the eyes of our loved ones. With our never-ending to-do lists and jam-packed schedules, it’s no wonder we’re distracted.
But this isn’t the way it has to be.
In July 2010, special education teacher and mother Rachel Macy Stafford decided enough was enough. Tired of losing track of what matters most in life, Rachel began practicing simple strategies that enabled her to momentarily let go of largely meaningless distractions and engage in meaningful soul-to-soul connections. She started a blog to chronicle her endeavors and soon saw how both external and internal distractions had been sabotaging her happiness and preventing her from bonding with the people she loves most.
Hands Free Mama is the digital society’s answer to finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world. It doesn’t mean giving up all technology forever. It doesn’t mean forgoing our jobs and responsibilities. What it does mean is seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. It means looking our loved ones in the eye and giving them the gift of our undivided attention, leaving the laundry till later to dance with our kids in the rain, and living a present, authentic, and intentional life despite a world full of distractions.
So join Rachel and go hands-free. Discover what happens when you choose to open your heart—and your hands—to the possibilities of each blessed moment.
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Where can I go to preorder this book? Thanks so much for helping so many of us open our eyes!!
Thanks, Nikki. Here are several options for pre-ordering: http://www.handsfreemama.com/hands-free-mama/
From the bottom of my heart – Thank you!!! I recently found your website and have to say that your words resonated deep within me. I have a beautiful 6 year old that has my heart in her hand every day and I would without hesitation lay my life down for her in a heart beat. I can’t tell you how comforting it is to know that I am not the only Mum that battles internally with these types of feelings. I have ordered your book from Amazon and can’t wait its arrival on my doorstop. For my daughter and those I love, I pledge to live hands free.
Thank you, Colleen. What a gift it is to walk together on this journey.
If only somebody like you had been there when I was a young mother…I wouldn’t be staring at the phone waiting for my daughter to call me. If only somebody like you were there to tell me all the feelings of hating where I was in my life was normal. If somebody like you were there to tell me relax…lots of moms feel this way…If only somebody like you were there to tell me my mom wasn’t always right…If only somebody like you were there to stop me from yelling and screaming at my kids not because they were doing something wrong…but because I hated what I was and my family thinking I wasn’t doing every thing right and tell me to quit listening to them. If only…40 years ago I could have been a better parent, mother, friend, listener, hugger, encourager…if only………
Dear Lilly, your comment brings tears to my eyes. I want you to know that I don’t believe it’s too late to live the way you wish you had yesterday. Yes, it may be difficult to salvage your distant relationships, but it is not too late to forgive yourself and try to make the most out of the time you have now. I am sure there were many things you did right along the way. I wish you peace and healing, dear one. Today can be different than yesterday.
Lily,
Moved to reply…hope its OK. I am the 41 year Mother of a 5 year old. So much of Rachel’s message resonates with me. My Mother was just as high-strung, perfectionistic and strict as I have been (and working to change, evolve always). My Mother died in an accident 4 years ago. On the birth of my daughter just 8 months before she passed, she told me of all her regrets and we had some of the best conversations of our lives. I am so grateful for that because when I remember her as a Grammy and my Mother when I needed her most, she was so gentle and intuitive about what I needed to hear when I was beating up on myself. All this to say, maybe pick up the phone? I was so glad when my Mom did. My guess is that you did the best you could and that’s all anyone can ask. And, the fact that you recognize your mistakes makes you a wonderful Mom. We are ALL works in progress. Much love to you.
Thank you, Sarah. You have touched my heart by the way you have extended a loving hand today. Thank you for spreading hope.
A year after your post, and I have also been moved to respond. Lily, your words have touched me, and with a warm hand guiding me in being more aware and make better decisions today in raising my two children as a single mom who can often “hate where I am in life.” I hope this last year has brought you closer to forgiving yourself, and building the relationship with daughter.
All the best!
M.
Rachel,
Thank you so much for your reply…I wish that I had the magic wand to wave over my daughters heart. As I said…I have apologized, explained and showed her the rawness of my heart, hoping that she would understand. But, the thing is…she loves the drama (she is my clone) she loves the fact that she has a trup card to play…HER daughter…she is 8 years old and I have never seen her (except pictures I see on facebook). I can’t make her love me, I can’t make her understand, I can’t make her change…I have changed what I can…ME. I can only hope that somebody ^up there will change her heart and she can come to at least think of me as a friend. I so hope that her daughter will get to know me before its too late.
Thank you for your reply…Its good to be able to sound off and hear somebody else’s ideas too…Bless you
Your bracelet is the only piece of jewelry that I never take off. I don’t even think of it as jewelry (and I’m in the jewelry business) as much as I think of it as almost my angel on my wrist. My constant reminder not to sweat the small stuff. There are more important things in life and their names are Ava and Ashley.
I hope you come to the Los Angeles area one day.
Tonya
Thank you, Tonya. This means a great deal to me. I feel the same about my bracelet and what it stands for. I would love to visit CA someday too. Thank you for the sweet support.
Lo tienen en español?
Geacias
Rachel,
I’m so very excited for the release of your book. I first read your blog as I received a promotion at work with MUCH more responsibility as my only child turned 4 months old. It’s been delightful knowing I can go to your blog and find some solace for myself on days when I feel overwhelmed, and need some reminders of what’s important.
On a personal note, I worked with your husband in Cincinnati many moons ago. It was so neat connecting those dots. He’s such an amazing person, and I know he’s so proud of you!!
I just downloaded your book and cannot wait to start reading tonight!! I have several friends eager to start too and so we might be having a “book club” 🙂
Look so forward to reading more of your. Blog and getting your book… I’m a 30 yr old mom of four boys… In the midst of struggle… I need something to change.
Hello! I am interested in your book. It is available in Spanish?
Here in Mexico, I’ve heard fabulous reviews.
Hi Ernesto, thank you so much for your interest! I know it was going to be translated to Spanish, but I am not sure if it is complete yet. Could you email me in a few days? I will get in touch with my publisher. rachelstafford@handsfreemama.com
Just ordered your book after coming across your blog on Facebook. Really hit home, thank you xx
Is there a complete book pack available or do they all need to purchased individually, additionally are they available for IPAD download?