Slowing Down To Move Forward
There are moments when the most meaningful healing does not come from doing more, but from allowing ourselves to pause. In contrast to a culture that rewards constant productivity, winter asks something different of us. It asks us to listen, to rest without guilt, and to trust that slowing down is not the opposite of progress, but part of it.
If we slow down enough to return to our breath, it can become an anchor that brings us back into the present moment, rather than the one we keep replaying or are anticipating. In this new awareness, there may be enough space to recognize what we are carrying and what we might be ready to release. Before we can move forward, we must first acknowledge where we are.
– The Station Foundation
January Journal | 2026
The Breath That Grounds Us
Mindfulness teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn captures this simply when he says, “As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than wrong with you.” Stillness helps us reconnect with that truth, especially during seasons of transition, fatigue, or uncertainty.
The invitation is not to withdraw from life, but to meet it more honestly. As the year begins to unfold, may we remember that forward movement does not always start with effort. Sometimes, it begins with awareness, with breath, and the will to be still long enough to hear what matters most.
From Service To Self Connection
We teach these practices to our SOF (Special Operations Forces) participants and families because lives shaped by service often leave little room for pause. The demands of readiness, responsibility, and resilience can make rest feel secondary or undeserved. Our programs provide a space for stillness where warriors, spouses, and families can reflect on their journeys, rediscover what matters internally, and renew their sense of direction.
We offer tools that help individuals and families reconnect with themselves and one another. These moments of slowing down support personal well-being and the capacity to navigate transition, reintegration, and change with greater steadiness and care. It’s not about leaving the past behind; it’s about integrating it and carrying forward the lessons that shape us while letting go of what weighs us down.
Thank you for your continued support in making this possible. Your generosity provides powerful experiences that help Special Operations Forces – Warriors, Spouses, Children, and Gold Star Children – heal from the impacts of combat.
To learn more about supporting The Station, email Shannon Stacy at: sstacy@thestationfoundation.org
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