Goodness Weekly 8.25.25

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
- Winnie the Pooh

WHAT’S GOOD

A "What's Good," from Mae:

As you may have read a few months ago, I’m making space to grow into the next phase of my creative calling that I’m grateful was given the room to grow here. It’s time for me to say “goodbye for now” as we welcome our new Communications Manager, Amy Lynn Johnson. I trust that Amy will continue sharing all of the Goodness that exists here.

I’m deeply grateful for the community, connections, and encouragement I’ve found at Sunset Ridge. Each of you has shaped my journey in meaningful ways. While I’ll miss sharing your stories, I’m excited about working with small businesses, non-profit organizations that you may know, and families all over San Antonio. If you’d like to book me for storytelling or photography, I'd love to hear from you, and connect with you on Instagram.

Thank you for being part of this season, I carry your kindness with me.

Two women smiling and looking at man with his back facing viewer, all standing in room with stained glass windows and candelabras on wall.

Rituals That Anchor Us

Jess Lowry, Executive Director, Sunset Ridge Collective

This is Part 3 of a 5-part series based on an interview with Licensed Professional Counselor & Supervisor Grace Iacuone. In our conversation, Grace shared research, stories, and practical tips for navigating change, building connection, and caring for our mental and emotional health. Each week, we’re exploring one theme from that conversation, with ideas you can use in your everyday life.

Part 3 — Rituals That Anchor Us

Life is full of moving pieces — new schedules, shifting responsibilities, and unexpected changes. Grace reminded us that in the middle of all that movement, rituals are like anchors for the brain and heart. They create a sense of safety, belonging, and predictability that calms the “watchdog” amygdala and keeps us grounded.

Rituals don’t have to be elaborate to be effective. In fact, Grace said consistency matters more than complexity. A simple, repeated action can signal to the brain: You’re safe. You belong here.

Grace offered a few other examples:

An after-school walk to decompress.

A weekend family breakfast.
A Sunday evening family meeting to share highlights, challenges, and hopes for the week.
A quick, 15-minute check-in over hot chocolate or a game of Uno.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or simply navigating a busy life, the same principle applies: rituals are anchors we can hold onto when life gets choppy.

A woman and toddler sitting together in the center of a hammock tied between two trees. — *Friends trying out Jess’s favorite hammock spot*

My morning ritual always begins with coffee. I carry it outside to a small corner of our new backyard that has quickly become a sanctuary for me — just two trees with a hammock strung between them. Before the rest of the house wakes up, I sit with my coffee and my journal, looking ahead at the day. I write down the things I’m still carrying from yesterday, the things I’m grateful for, and my hopes for what’s ahead. It’s simple, but it anchors my whole day — and when I miss it, I notice the difference.

Even smaller still is a practice I learned from my rest coach: using doorways as moments to pause. When I walk through the door at the end of the workday, I imagine the stress of the day falling off so I can be more present for my family. When I step through my office door in the morning, I let that threshold mark the start of focused work. These little rituals don’t take much time, but they help me feel more grounded, more present, and more at ease.

This week’s practice:
Choose one small ritual you can repeat daily or weekly. Keep it simple and consistent. Watch how that predictable moment begins to shape the emotional climate of your home, relationships, or classroom.

May these small rituals ground you with peace and presence this week.

Love, Jess

A Look at September

Offices and One Another Coffee will be closed Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day. Starting September 6th, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market will be switching to its fall hours, 9 AM - 1 PM every Saturday.

Daily, NYX Yoga & Fitness
Daily, One Another Coffee
Wednesdays, Open Studio, The Art Room
Wednesdays, Mission Compost Pick Up
Thursdays, Community Fitness in Charis Park
Thursdays-Sundays, Scott’s Pizza
Saturdays, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market
Sundays, Worship at Sunset Ridge Church

Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? We are currently booking for 2025–please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org