Sunday Morning Café

Sunday Morning Café Dr. Tom Wagner is a resilience researcher, keynote speaker, workshop leader and counselor with 30+ years of experience.

Follow him for weekly tools and inspiration to unlock resilience and deepen connection.

A hundred and fifty years ago, chores were slow, travel was slower, and silence was part of the workday.💡 Today, we fill...
11/18/2025

A hundred and fifty years ago, chores were slow, travel was slower, and silence was part of the workday.

💡 Today, we fill that silence with audiobooks, podcasts, music, and notifications—background noise that drowns out the quiet where meaning-making happens. We haven’t lost the desire for reflection; we’ve just misplaced the conditions that make it possible.

☕ What are your daily or weekly rituals that create space for quiet and reflection?

(Link to the full reflection in comments.)

Here’s something I’ve learned after 30+ years of studying resilience: You don’t have to be grateful for everything. Some...
11/17/2025

Here’s something I’ve learned after 30+ years of studying resilience: You don’t have to be grateful for everything. Some moments simply hurt.
But even in the hard, there is usually something small you can notice — something steadying, grounding, or quietly beautiful.

🌅 Over the years, I’ve learned to do what I call a “Beauty Check.”
It’s an act of defiant positivity — not denying the pain, but refusing to miss the light that still shows up inside it.

It’s simple: I pause. I take a breath. And I look for one small, beautiful thing worth savoring — even when life feels heavy.

A streak of light on the floor. Steam rising from coffee. A peaceful view outside a window.
Sometimes, that tiny moment becomes the strength needed to keep going.

➡ If you want to try this today, here’s the practice: Stop. Drop. And Savor.

When life feels rushed, overwhelming, or heavy, stop and ask yourself:
What here is still good? Still beautiful? Still worth noticing?

Just 10 seconds. Notice what’s good. Let your body feel it.

This isn’t about pretending everything is fine.It’s about noticing the light that still breaks through — the light that helps us take the next step. 🍂
...
👋 Hi, I’m Dr. Tom — resilience researcher, keynote speaker, and therapist for 30+ years. I share tools & inspiration to unlock resilience and deepen connection through my weekly blog and newsletter, podcast, in-person and virtual events, and more. Follow my page for more!

When was the last time you were truly alone with your own thoughts?☕ In my Sunday Morning Café article this week, I refl...
11/16/2025

When was the last time you were truly alone with your own thoughts?

☕ In my Sunday Morning Café article this week, I reflect on how modern noise has drowned out the quiet that once shaped meaning-making. Together, we look at what older centuries can teach us about slowing down and listening inward again.

Explore the reflection here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/a-place-in-time

The scaffolding that forms who we are is made of stories.Some we tell often. Others stay tucked away, quietly shaping ho...
11/12/2025

The scaffolding that forms who we are is made of stories.
Some we tell often. Others stay tucked away, quietly shaping how we see the world.

As a counselor, I’ve seen how bringing those stories into the light—with curiosity and compassion—can transform how we live and love.

☕ This week’s reflection invites you to rediscover how your own stories—told and untold—can become sources of strength and grace.

[link in comments]

⭐ New Podcast ⭐ Ep. 4: SMC Event — Navigating Thanksgiving with Grace & GratitudeOur November Sunday Morning Café gather...
11/11/2025

⭐ New Podcast ⭐ Ep. 4: SMC Event — Navigating Thanksgiving with Grace & Gratitude

Our November Sunday Morning Café gathering was a heartfelt reminder that gratitude is more than a feeling—it’s a practice that builds resilience, especially during the holidays.

Through stories, reflection, and live music, we explored how simple “beauty checks”—pausing to notice what’s good even in hard moments—can shift our perspective and strengthen our sense of connection.

☕ I invite you to listen here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/podcast/episode/2430c505/ep-4-smc-event-navigating-thanksgiving-with-grace-and-gratitude
Or wherever you get your podcasts–subscribe & turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

And a quick reminder: early bird tickets are available for our February 15th Sunday Morning Cafe Event. Join us by reserving your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunday-morning-cafe-event-february-15-2026-registration-1915874174229?aff=social ...
SMC events honor that what is deepest within us is most universal between us. Your gift helps create space for reflection, connection, and belonging — donate here: https://gofund.me/6066c35a7
100% of donations are dedicated to the cost associated with bringing SMC events to more people, more often.

11/10/2025
What stories are shaping you—quietly guiding your choices, bending your path, even when you don’t notice?In this week’s ...
11/09/2025

What stories are shaping you—quietly guiding your choices, bending your path, even when you don’t notice?

In this week’s Sunday Morning Café reflection, I share how one stormy canoe trip in the Boundary Waters—and a decades-later bike ride through the rain—revealed the power of beauty and story to steady us through life’s dark and difficult seasons.

☕ Read the full reflection here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/how-to-intentionally-shape-your-life-with-foundational-formational-stories

The Sunday Morning Café community is now on Instagram!☕  Follow  for weekly inspiration, reflections,  glimpses behind t...
11/06/2025

The Sunday Morning Café community is now on Instagram!

☕ Follow for weekly inspiration, reflections, glimpses behind the scenes of our gatherings, and reminders of resilience in your feed — a gentle pause from the noise of everything else scrolling by. See you there! https://www.instagram.com/drtomwagner/

How do you sit with the awareness of mortality without fear?Nature doesn’t hide the truth of mortality—it shows it to us...
11/05/2025

How do you sit with the awareness of mortality without fear?

Nature doesn’t hide the truth of mortality—it shows it to us every year. Trees shed, crops are harvested, and the seasons remind us that endings are part of life’s natural rhythm. The lesson? Awareness and acceptance of mortality can center us on what truly matters.

Read this week’s SMC reflection from guest author Dennis Kempf — link in comments!

11/03/2025

What an evening "Navigating Thanksgiving with Grace and Gratitude" at the Sunday Morning Café (SMC) Event!

Our 3rd sold-out SMC event brought together adults of all ages to enjoy an afternoon of meaningful conversation, soul-soothing reflection, deep connection & laughter led by Dr. Tom Wagner.

What a reminder that "what is deepest within us is most universal between us."
. . .

Get your tickets early for our next event Feb. 15. Valentine's Day weekend, our topic will be "relationships" and whether you are single or coupled - this one's for you. (Link for tickets in the comments).
. . .

We created a GoFundMe to help make sure SMC events and podcast reach more people, more often. 100% is dedicated to this. Link in comments.

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O'Fallon, MO

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