Presence
Showing up — with care, attention, and intention
What Presence Is
Presence is the practice of being genuinely available to people, places, and moments — without rushing to fix, extract, or explain.
It is not a program to complete or a product to consume.
It is a way of being that creates safety, trust, and space for what matters to emerge.
Presence underpins all of my work — whether in lived experience reflection, community meals, small projects, music, or quiet one-to-one encounters. It is the common thread that makes connection possible.
Why Presence Matters
Much of modern life trains us to be distracted, outcome-focused, and efficient.
Yet the moments that change people rarely arrive through speed or scale.
They arrive when someone is:
- Fully attentive
- Willing to listen without agenda
- Comfortable with silence, uncertainty, or emotion
- Prepared to stay rather than move on
Presence allows people to be seen without being assessed, helped without being managed, and heard without being corrected.
What Presence Looks Like in Practice
Presence is expressed through simple, repeatable gestures:
- Sitting with someone rather than standing over them
- Sharing food without conditions
- Listening beyond the first explanation
- Returning, even when nothing “productive” happened last time
- Allowing stories to unfold at their own pace
These gestures are small, but they accumulate into trust — and trust creates the conditions for growth, dignity, and mutual care.
Where Presence Shows Up in My Work
Presence informs and shapes:
- Lived experience reflections — writing that emerges from proximity, not theory
- Community tables & shared meals — where belonging precedes services
- Micro-projects and small initiatives — designed to fit real lives, not ideal systems
- Music and singing spaces — where voices matter before performance
- One-to-one conversations — unhurried, relational, and grounded
Rather than asking “What’s the solution?”
Presence begins with “Who is here — and what is needed now?”
An Invitation
Presence does not require expertise, authority, or permission.
It requires willingness.
Willingness to slow down.
Willingness to notice.
Willingness to remain.
If you’re interested in work that values people over outcomes, relationship over efficiency, and care over control — you’re already close to presence.
Explore Further
You may want to explore:
- Outreach reflections
- Mutual Aid reflections
- Systems and Harm reflections
- Hope and Doubt reflections
Each is a different expression of the same commitment:
to be present, and to make space for others to be present too.
Read Current Presence Reflections
Discover more from Christiaan McCann | Risks and Solutions for the Vulnerable | Socialwork Projects in Hobart
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