Bite-Sized, Daily Notes For Contemplation, Inspiration, Connection, And Clarity

Everyone can benefit from the new book, Dear Friend, which features bite-sized, daily notes for contemplation, inspiration, connection, and clarity. Busy and stressed business leaders can particularly benefit from the 365 profound, heartfelt reflections from author Michelle Maros, founder of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life and cohost of the podcast, Life Happens with Barb and Michelle.

Dear Friend invites readers to go deep and use the notes as a daily practice that compounds over time, nurturing strength, resilience, and clarity.

In just a few minutes each day, this book will offer you a daily reprieve when you feel burned out, beaten down, or overwhelmed by the strains and stresses of modern life.

The heart of Dear Friend began in the quiet mornings Michelle shared with her mom, Barb. Every day, they would sit together, reading affirmations or passages from Barb’s beloved books. These small rituals—simple but powerful—set the tone for each day, grounding them in gratitude, hope, and love. Over time, these moments became a cornerstone of Michelle’s life, showing her the deep, transformative power of starting each day with intention, kindness, and a connection to what truly matters.

“How we begin our day shapes everything that follows,” states Maros. “The intentions we set in the morning can create the energy that carries us through every moment. Starting the day with purpose is not just a practice—it’s a deep commitment to ourselves, our growth, and living a life aligned with our highest potential.”

In addition, Maros suggests we start each day to pause and reflect on these three questions:

What do I want to create today?
What do I want to release today?
What energy do I want to bring into the world today?

Michelle Maros

Maros shares these additional insights with us:

Question: How can leaders model connection and mindfulness at work?

Maros: Connection and mindfulness start with presence. When leaders take the time to pause, listen, and respond with intention rather than reaction, it sets the tone for the entire workplace. Simple things—like beginning a meeting with a moment to breathe or asking your team how they’re really doing, create space for authenticity and trust. Mindful leadership isn’t about being perfect, it’s about showing up with empathy and self-awareness, which invites others to do the same.

Question: Of all the daily notes featured in the book, which are your one or two favorites and why?

Maros: It’s hard to choose just one, but one of my favorites is the entry titled “Follow the Breadcrumbs.” I wrote it during a time when I was struggling to make a big decision and felt completely stuck. This entry always reminds me that life doesn’t have to make perfect sense in the moment—and that’s okay.

“Following the breadcrumbs” is about releasing the pressure to have everything figured out and instead trusting the small sparks of joy, curiosity, and excitement that appear along the way. Those little “breadcrumbs” are the gentle nudges guiding us forward, one choice at a time. Whenever I remember to follow them, life feels more peaceful, meaningful, and full of possibility.

Question: What is an effective way for readers to pair the book with your podcast, Life Happens with Barb and Michelle?

Maros: Life Happens with Barb and Michelle was created with the same intention as Dear Friend: to remind people they’re not alone in their feelings or experiences.

The podcast offers deeper conversations around many of the same themes: self-compassion, growth, and navigating life’s messiness with grace. I encourage readers to use the book as a daily check-in and the podcast as a way to explore those reflections more deeply, while hearing unique perspectives from two different generations. Together, they create a beautiful practice of mindfulness and connection, supporting you through life’s challenges, helping build resilience, confidence, and clarity, and easing the stress of knowing that you are never alone on this journey.
___

Maros is a keynote speaker with a journalism degree from Indiana University. She is also a registered yoga teacher and an advocate for mindfulness, holding multiple certifications in meditation and personal empowerment. She leads workshops at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Florida Atlantic University and founded The Barb Schmidt Fellowship for Cultivating Community Involvement, where she inspires others to embrace the life-changing benefits of mindfulness and meditation.

Thank you to the book’s publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.

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