Helping families navigate the NICU journey, one miracle at a time.
TAKE TODAY
Part of the ethos of Today is a Good Day is to be present for and accepting what is happening, even in the unpleasant and difficult moments. “Take TODAY” is a way of saying “I accept the unfolding of this present moment in whatever form it may take - it is allowed and accepted.”
Take TODAY is not meant to bypass or sugar coat challenging experiences, rather it is a reminder to soften our resistance, to stay grounded in presence as best we can, and connect to a sense of peace and ease even in the midst of difficulty. Join us for this signature practice inspired by our founders’ own experience navigating the NICU, to support you through yours.
Stress Reduction & Emotional Support Tools
As part of our mission at Today is a Good Day to support families experiencing the NICU, we are pleased to offer a collection of guided meditations for stress reduction and emotional support. From relaxation exercises, to foundational mindfulness, to emotional support techniques - all evidence-based and scientifically shown to help reduce stress and cultivate emotional balance. These tools can help ride the waves and take life one day at a time, one moment at a time, even one breath at a time.
We encourage you to explore these meditations with curiosity and an open mind. Different practices resonate with different people and at different times. Discover the ones that resonate most with you and know they are always here to return to whenever you may need. The recordings vary in length, some shorter for when you only have a few minutes, others longer to deepen your practice when time allows.
May these guided practices support you through whatever may be arising in your present moment experience, to offer steady ground and a safe port even in the midst of life’s storms.
Emotional Support
We can hold moments of pain and stress with a kind and compassionate awareness that helps us understand and work with our reaction to difficulty. We may not be able to change or control the circumstances of the situation or our emotions...
Relaxation
We tend to hold difficult experiences and emotions in the body in a way that creates tension and tightness. This signals to the brain a physical threat may be in front of us and the body reacts by releasing stress hormones to prepare to fight or run away - causing even more tension and stress.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be described as paying attention to the present moment on purpose and without judgement. Integrating moment-to-moment attention into life as it is happening without struggling against it helps us move from an automatic stress reaction to curious observer, creating room for choosing a skillful response to whatever is arising.
Teague O'Malley
Teague is a professionally trained meditation instructor and contemplative artist, weaving together evidence-based methodology with his creativity and open heart.
Creating a relaxed and inclusive container, Teague supports participants to learn and practice tools to cultivate a sense of ease, purpose, and well-being in their lives – no matter what conditions are arising.
Teague’s secular training includes qualifications from the world’s leading mindfulness-based stress reduction and emotional balance programs including the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Program for Mindfulness at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center.
Teague has been working with Today is a Good Day for over five years, supporting NICU families and healthcare workers with contemplative tools to navigate stress. He also teaches workshops, courses, and retreats around the world in hospitals, universities, community centers, and online platforms.
Heart Opening
Practicing an open heart, especially in times of difficulty, can provide the space for emotions to move through us and to meet whatever is arising with a loving awareness.
