How to Eat a Peach

Welcome to The Brighter Side of Everything.

This newsletter serves a simple purpose → To help you build optimism, resilience and a solution-focused perspective.

Each week, I’ll share actionable insights that not only brighten your day but position you to be a leader within your own life and seize life’s opportunities.

Read time: 12-15 minutes.

• How to Eat a Peach - Finding presence in simple pleasures.

• Bright Reads - Quick links to fun or insightful articles.

• Claudia Sheinbaum - Reminding us what leadership looks like.

• Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg.

• A Bright Idea to Consider - An incomplete list of green flags.

• A Previous Post - When is a swing more than a swing?

• Positively Hilarious - Smile like you mean it.

• Daily Gratitude Journal - Transform your daily routine through reflection.

Hello, Brighter Side readers! ☀️

As always, thanks for being here.

You make this curious, optimistic corner of the internet what it is, and I love showing up with you each week.

This week, we’re biting into something a little juicier (literally).

A sweet reminder that presence might be life’s most underrated superpower.

We’re also heading to Mexico to celebrate the rise of Claudia Sheinbaum.

A scientist, environmentalist and now president.

She’s living proof that character, substance and quiet determination still count for everything.

Enjoy the week!

See you on the Brighter Side,

Chris

P.S. Please feel free to send me feedback on how I can improve. I respond to every email.

What do Andre Agassi, Lego, The Sopranos, Starbucks and Martha Stewart all have in common?

They’ve featured in The Resilience Brief as real-life examples of how to get through the most challenging times.

We all wait for life to get easier, but it doesn’t.

Instead, we need to learn how to handle hard better.

The Resilience Brief is a twice-a-week newsletter stacked with real-life examples of resilience and down-to-earth practical tools that readers can use immediately.

 Because resilience isn’t just a mindset.

It’s a skill set that we can all build.

Subscribe here.  

Let’s talk about peaches for a moment.

Not just any peach, though.

I mean a perfect peach.

A sun-warmed, fuzzy-skinned Ontario peach at the height of summer.

Maybe you’ve had one?

That first bite when the juice runs down your wrist, the sweet-tart flavour floods your mouth.

And, just for a moment, you forget what day it is.

There’s eating a peach, and then there’s EATING A PEACH.

You know the difference.

One is functional.

The other is almost spiritual.

Now, I’ve had peaches before, of course.

Who hasn’t?

But when I moved to Toronto in June 2016, the first peach season hit shortly afterward.

And wow.

These peaches, when they’re perfectly ripe, are on a whole other level.

Juicy, fragrant and sweet with a hint of tartness.

Just delicious.

It felt almost scandalous how good they were.

I still remember thinking, “Oh, so this is what a peach is supposed to taste like.”

That sticky, smile-inducing moment?

That’s presence.

And it might just carry more power than we give it credit for.

Why the Small Stuff Isn’t So Small

Modern society is obsessed with “more.”

More productivity.

More complexity.

More hurry.

And in chasing all that “more,” we often overlook the tiny things that carry surprisingly big joys.

Like the smell of fresh peaches at your local market.

The quiet steam curling off your morning coffee.

The warmth of late afternoon sun on your skin.

We often think joy hides in the big stuff.

Promotions, milestones and grand celebrations.

And while these are lovely, the real, soul-deep nourishment?

It’s hiding in the small, everyday things.

Things we often rush past.

Wendell Berry once said that eating is an agricultural act.

To really taste something.

To really engage with its colour, texture and flavour, is to connect with where it came from.

A ripe Ontario peach isn’t just food.

It’s sunlight, soil and rain.

It’s someone’s hands in the dirt.

It’s a season, captured.

And when we slow down enough to recognise that, something shifts.

Just last week, while walking my kids to summer camp, we had a little moment that brought this home (and prompted me to write this).

We were discussing how many people are involved in delivering something as simple as a cup of coffee.

The beans had to be planted, harvested and roasted.

The cup had to be manufactured.

Someone designed the sleeve, molded the lid, packed it, shipped it.

Then a barista prepared the drink and handed it across the counter.

Think about that.

Dozens, maybe even hundreds, of unseen hands contributed to that ordinary cup of coffee.

Something within that conversation landed.

My son, eyes wide, immediately piped up: “Now let’s do ice cream!”

And of course, we did.

It was playful, but real, too.

Because whether it’s ice cream, a t-shirt, or a summer peach, we’re constantly consuming the hard work, effort and care of others.

Every small thing we enjoy connects us to a vast, invisible web of people.

And every bite, every sip, every delight we slow down to really experience brings us a little closer to recognising that.

The peach, then, becomes more than a snack.

It becomes a moment of connection.

A portal to presence.

A gesture of gratitude.

What It Means to Be Present (Like, Really Present)

We hear “be present” all the time.

But what does it actually feel like?

Let me ask: When’s the last time you did one simple thing with your full attention?

No phone.

No multitasking.

Just you and the moment?

Maybe it was drinking a cup of tea so slowly you noticed the rise of steam.

Or sitting on your porch, listening to the sound of leaves in the wind.

That lean-in, lift-the-veil kind of seeing?

That’s presence.

Pico Iyer calls it the joy of quiet.

He’s not talking about anything grand.

He was talking about noticing.

So, where does the peach fit in?

It’s your reminder.

You bite down.

The skin splits.

The juice leaks out and runs down your chin.

You feel it, all of it.

The soft fuzz against your thumb, the warm sweetness, that flash of tartness on your tongue.

You’re not planning dinner or checking your email.

You’re just there.

And in a distracted world, that’s a radical act.

The Science (and Soul) Behind the Peach Effect

Honestly, I’ve done my fair share of clock-watching.

Sitting through a concert, eyeing the exit, checking my watch during a sports game, thinking about beating the traffic and getting home early.

I know how it feels to be anywhere but here.

But here’s what I’ve learned.

The more you watch the clock, the less you’re actually living.

All that time tracking becomes an incredible drain on your mental energy.

It’s far less rewarding than surrendering to the moment right in front of you.

Live in the moment.

Be present.

The real reward?

A life you are actually living.

You only get so many opportunities.

And yes, there’s real science behind this stuff.

Studies show that mindfulness (even in small moments) is linked to lower stress, greater focus and higher overall satisfaction.

One of the simplest ways to practice mindfulness?

Eating.

Slowly.

Intentionally.

With your senses turned on.

Mindfulness experts often suggest using everyday actions like eating or brushing your teeth as grounding points throughout the day.

And let’s be honest, it doesn’t get more grounding than inhaling the scent of a ripe peach or feeling summer juice drip down your wrist.

Often we don’t need a wellness retreat.

Sometimes, you just need fruit.

Or tea.

Or ice cream.

Or your kid laughing on the way to camp.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

Today, we’re conditioned to rush.

To multitask.

To chase the next thing.

But ironically, the moments we remember most, the ones that feed our souls, aren’t the loud ones.

They’re the quiet ones we notice.

That walk with your dog where the light was golden.

The sound of toast popping up as sunlight hits the kitchen floor.

Even the New York Times has leaned into this recurring theme in its Modern Love and Opinion pieces.

Discussing how tiny rituals like morning eggs or folding laundry together end up being the things we treasure.

These aren’t side notes in a big life.

They are life itself.

So How Do You Start?

You don’t have to change much.

Just choose one moment today to really notice.

One bite.

One breeze.

One laugh.

Maybe it’s the feel of grass under your feet.

The sound of your kid breathing while they sleep.

Or the burst of juice in a perfectly ripe strawberry (or yes, I’ll go there again, a peach).

When it happens, linger.

Let it in.

Ask yourself: What is this moment trying to show me?

And let the quiet answer be enough.

My Takeaway

Life doesn’t get richer by moving faster.

It becomes richer by showing up more fully for the little things that are already waiting for you.

A peach won’t fix your inbox or parent your kids or solve world problems.

But it might, just for a moment, remind you that you’re here.

That you’re alive.

That you’re not alone.

And maybe that’s the whole point.

To notice. To delight. To be here.

Next time you’re handed a glimmer of presence, don’t rush past it.

And don’t just eat the peach.

EAT. THE. PEACH.

And let yourself taste the extraordinary beauty of now.

P.S. If you’re keen to invite more presence into your daily life, I created something to help with that. Our gratitude journal is a reminder to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what’s good, no matter how your day has been.

And here’s the powerful part. Every journal sold supports granting wishes for children through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. So your practice of gratitude becomes part of something much bigger, a ripple of generosity heading out into the world.

✨ Start (or end) your day with more presence and gratitude - Order here.

• How the Muppets take to the streets.

• Why we choose to avoid information that’s right in front of us.

• How does your brain know something is real?

• 17 wild animal superlatives.

• Why can’t we tickle ourselves?

Some moments in history feel like more than just milestones.

They signal a genuine shift.

Claudia Sheinbaum’s election as the first woman to serve as President of Mexico is one of those rare turning points.

What makes it even more striking?

It wasn’t achieved through spectacle or ego, but through quiet resolve, deep preparation and a commitment to substance over noise.

More Than a Headline

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was born and raised in Mexico City.

The daughter of two scientists and the granddaughter of Jewish immigrants who fled persecution in Eastern Europe in search of a better life.

From early on, her worldview was shaped by resilience, curiosity and a deep sense of responsibility to others.

She studied physics, earned a doctorate in energy engineering and became a respected climate researcher.

She even contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, work that earned the group the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

That alone would have been a remarkable legacy.

But Sheinbaum’s story was just beginning.

Determined to bring data-driven thinking into public service, she stepped into politics.

First as Secretary of the Environment, then Mayor of Mexico City, and now, President of Mexico.

That’s a pretty cool run of roles.

So what is it that sets her apart?

• Barrier Breaker – Sheinbaum isn’t just symbolic. She’s actively forging paths that others can now follow.

• Scientist’s Mindset – She leads with evidence - not ideology. Her decisions reflect research, not slogans.

• Grounded & Empathetic – Colleagues praise her for being measured, inclusive and quietly determined.

• Reformer with Vision – From expanding clean transit systems to launching gender violence alerts and universal school programs, her policies are bold but practical. Focused on lifting those most often left behind.

Why Her Story Matters

In a time when political leadership is often confused with theatrics, Claudia Sheinbaum is a reminder that effectiveness doesn’t have to be loud.

Her rise challenges the idea that power needs to be flashy or performative.

Instead, she shows us what leadership looks like when it’s rooted in service, guided by principle and driven by purpose.

Not ego.

Sheinbaum reconfirms what it means to lead: less noise, more substance.

Through long-term thinking, quiet confidence and a deep commitment to values, she’s proving that humility and results-driven work not only belong in politics.

They can win.

Her leadership has already shown impact in meaningful ways.

As Mayor of Mexico City, she led through the COVID crisis and managed natural disasters with clarity, calm and accountability.

She prioritised long-term investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and women’s safety.

Choosing lasting change over political optics.

She made inclusion part of her strategy, not just her message.

And as the first woman to hold Mexico’s highest office, her presence alone makes history.

But what sets her apart is that she pairs representation with real results.

Her legacy is not just about being first.

It’s about paving the way forward with courage, integrity and a remarkable devotion to thoughtful, inclusive progress.

She knows what she stands for and she doesn’t waver.

In today’s political landscape, that might be the most powerful statement of all.

Lessons from Claudia Sheinbaum

• You Don’t Have to Be Loud to Lead – Some of the most powerful voices are the quietest in the room.

• Firsts Change Everything – Every quiet trailblazer makes a little more room for the people who come after them.

• Purpose Outlasts Popularity – Real change isn’t about attention, it’s about intention.

My Takeaway

Sheinbaum’s story reminds us that progress doesn’t belong only to the boldest or the most visible.

Sometimes, it begins with steady feet.

With patient hands and a head bursting with good ideas.

Our world, sadly, often rewards flashy ambition, but she’s proof that character, substance and dedication still matter.

For anyone wondering if their quiet strength is enough to make a difference.

Claudia Sheinbaum just gave you your answer.

Want to learn more? Check out this 10-minute video:

There aren’t many greater forms of respect than being the person people turn to when the shit hits the fan.

In those moments, trust and calm are worth their weight in gold.

But you don’t just stumble into that role.

It’s built with concerted effort, understanding, practice and the creation of new habits.

With some work, you can be the person others seek out when things get tough.

One of the most impactful ways to become that person is by learning to communicate clearly and compassionately.

Especially when emotions run high.

Handling tough conversations well doesn’t just prevent conflict.

It deepens trust, creates understanding and strengthens every relationship in your life.

Why It’s Worth Your Time

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is more than just smoothing over disagreements.

It’s a toolkit for having honest conversations when it matters most.

Rosenberg lays out a grounded, practical process for expressing yourself and listening deeply, even when tensions are high.

This book is filled with relatable scenarios and exercises that help you put these skills into practice.

NVC isn’t about dodging conflict.

It’s about getting to the heart of what matters, for everyone involved and finding a path to mutual respect and clarity.

What Makes It Stand Out

At its core, NVC follows a four-step framework: observe without judgment, identify your feelings, clarify underlying needs and make clear, respectful requests.

These steps might sound simple, but in practice, they change the game.

Helping you move from blame and defensiveness to honest dialogue.

Rosenberg doesn’t shy away from anger or difficult emotions, instead, he shows how even those moments can be transformed into opportunities for honesty and connection.

Even something as simple as how you give thanks becomes more sincere and meaningful.

Practical Lessons from NVC

Nonviolent Communication delivers some very practical lessons:

• Composure in crisis: Stable communication habits mean fewer misunderstandings and stronger relationships, especially under pressure.

• Empathy as a foundation: Deep, attentive listening turns confrontation into collaboration.

• Naming the need: Understanding what’s really driving your feelings helps solve the root issue.

• From demand to request: Clear, respectful asks build openness and trust.

• Practicing self-empathy: Treating yourself with patience is as important as supporting others.

My Takeaway

The world is full of loud voices.

But the ones we remember are the people who bring clarity when it matters most.

Nonviolent Communication doesn’t promise perfection.

It simply hands you the tools to cut through the noise.

You know, how to turn tense, tangled moments into breakthroughs that actually stick.

Imagine being the person whose words lower the temperature, settle the room and spark real understanding.

The kind who leaves conversations better than they found them.

That’s not just communication.

That’s leadership, empathy and influence rolled into one.

If you want to show up for the people who matter, when it really matters, this book gives you the script, the practice and the firepower to do it.

Got a recommendation?

Please share; I'm always keen for great suggestions.

The Lesson

We hear a lot about “red flags” these days.

You know, what to watch out for, what to avoid.

But I think it’s just as important (and a lot more fun) to look for green flags.

Those small, wonderful signs that someone is genuinely good for your soul.

I came across this list (see above) and it instantly made me smile.

It’s a celebration of all the little things that make people great.

The gentle truth-tellers, big picture thinkers, dreamers, deep feelers, old souls, young spirits, goofballs and those rare folks who make you feel safe being yourself.

Go Deeper

I’ve always been someone who seeks out and highlights the best in people.

There’s something powerful about noticing the green flags.

The small acts of kindness, the honest conversations, the friends who make you laugh so hard you forget to check your phone.

When you make it a habit to focus on what’s good, you start to see it everywhere.

It does wonders for your outlook and it’s contagious in the best way.

Green flags aren’t always loud or obvious.

Sometimes it’s a quiet good-doer, someone who admits when they’re wrong, or the friend who listens just to understand.

These are the people who remind us that lovely things, and lovely people, still exist.

Practical Steps

Here are a few ways to practice spotting and celebrating green flags:

1. Make a Green Flag List: Think about the people in your life who show these qualities. What little things do they do that make you feel seen, safe or inspired?

2. Let Them Know: This is huge. Send a quick message or say it in person, let them know you appreciate them and why. It’ll make their day (and yours).

3. Be a Green Flag: Look for small ways you can be that person for someone else. Listen a little deeper, offer a gentle truth or just show up when it matters.

4. Celebrate the Lovely Things: Pause during your day to notice the good stuff, shared laughter, honest conversations or even someone bravely grabbing that last slice of pizza.

My Takeaway

I’ve found that when you look for the best in people, you find more of it.

Not just in others, but in yourself too.

If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it.

The more you notice and celebrate green flags, the more they seem to show up.

Give it a try this week.

You might be surprised by just how many lovely things (and people) are all around you.

Who are the green flag people in your life?

Let’s keep reminding each other that lovely things still exist.

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