A Cozy Morning Ritual I Come Back to Again and Again

There's a quiet moment I look forward to most days.

Early morning. A warm drink in my hands, usually coffee, sometimes tea. A book open on my lap. At least one of my cats curled up close, sometimes more if they're feeling cuddly.

Nothing productive is happening. This is a rare moment for me. Nothing is being made efficient. Nothing here is getting checked off my to-do list. This time is mine. And, that is exactly why it matters. I didn't always take this time for me. In fact, I went 3 years before taking more than a few breaths to myself, truly to myself.

I've learned that I need time to decompress. Who doesn't?!? Remember the plane losing cabin pressure instructions: Put your mask on before putting it on others? These moments are me putting my mask on first, so I can be my best self for others afterwards.

These small, slow moments have become an anchor for me. A reminder that I don't need to rush straight into the day to be doing "enough". These moments may be at 5am. I am not by nature a morning person. But, I don't have to prepare for this time. Being present is enough. I am enough.

I didn't realize how important these little rituals were. Life gets busy. It gets complicated, loud, and full. And without noticing, we can move from one thing to the next without ever really settling into ourselves.

When I started protecting this quiet time, even just a few minutes, something shifted. My mornings felt gentler. My thoughts felt clearer. My day felt more grounded. I felt more ready to be a Mom, daughter, wife, friend, and employee at a very high stress (but rewarding!) job than I had in a very long time.

Somewhere along the way, my bookmarks became part of that ritual.

I started creating bookmarks because I wanted something simple but thoughtful and something cozy that I'd reach for every single day. They weren't meant to be flashy. Just comforting. A small reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment I was in.

Now every time I open my book or journal, that bookmark feels like tiny pause button. A soft "you're allowed to be here".

I also love giving them as little "thinking of you" gifts, something meaningful without needing a big reason. A bookmark feels like a quiet kind of care. In my mind it is a little reminder to those I love, that they too need to take time to unwind, decompress, breathe, cuddle a cat.

If you're craving more calm moments in your day, whether it's reading, journaling, or just sitting still with your thoughts, I hope you find ways to create those rituals for yourself too.

And if one of my bookmarks happens to become part of that ritual for you, that truly means more than I can say.

with love, Michelle from Kittlins 💚

PS: If you need a new cuddle buddy, your nearest animal shelter probably has your new best friend, who is waiting to find their fur-ever home.