I love reading blogs that sweetly describe days. Cuddling with little ones, their sweet hair softly brushing my cheeks. Baking cookies, the aroma swirling around the room. I have always thought the words were so beautifully inspiring. Today Luna had a banana for breakfast...which means I had to wipe half of it off her body 15 minutes later. I also had to get up 30 minutes earlier than typical. I was slightly cranky. I didn't want to wipe sticky banana off her. In the midst of this thought, I had another...what if I tried to live poetically? Instead of complaining, what if I instead opened my senses to what was happening around me. Just simply being there and experiencing everything. This struck me as profound. I could have those moments I crave, it is simply a matter of my mind being open to them.
Instead of being irritated about getting banana on my arms I could enjoy Luna's sweet touch, her little sticky fingers grabbing my arms. As I put coffee on, I savored the smell. When I ate my breakfast I took time to let the flavors sit in my mouth awhile.
It really is amazing all that we miss in a day because we are simply to hurried to stop and experience it.
I want to rediscover letting little things make me happy, I want childlike wonder and happiness. I know it can be mine if I am open to it.
It's crazy how much, in my adult life, I have become so serious. Not much time for silliness or laughter. I am constantly on a mission and most of the time, the indirect point is to find happiness. Working more hours to have more money to buy more things to make me happy.
It's crazy how much my mind just completely forgets those things that make me truly happy. Long, long walks with my little family, exercising, eating wholesome food, quietly reading, hammocks, lemonade on a hot summers day, blogging, productive mornings, cleaning, spending time with my girls, long talks with Marc...how often do I make it a point to get these things done?
And why does my brain not hold onto these moments? Like, when its come down to choosing between watching a movie with Marc or spending time talking...I almost always choose a movie. Even though I know that I would so happy if we had a long talk instead. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with movies, or indulging in junk food...but I know that for me to truly enjoy my life, I need to do those things that take more time but are ultimately more rewarding. Eating wholesome food and just enough makes me feel good, emotionally, spiritually and physically...I know this, yet I typically choose junk instead.
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| cracking all my raw cookbooks back open. |
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| so happy here. |
I have to remind myself to be aware of much of the same. Right now we have so much going on in trying to get our house ready for the new baby that whenever E is home he is typically working on those things. When we do have moments to ourselves we fall into the habit of watching a movie or lazing around rather than doing something more fulfilling with our time and that's something we are constantly working on changing. Long walks, long talks, creating something together, working in the garden, preparing a meal together, those are the things that make me happy and what we should really be focusing on. Thanks for another nudge in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great reminder.
ReplyDeleteI love this post. I can relate so so much. In the past, blogging really helped me stay aware, but somehow that shifted to something else and I've been trying to get back to that. Life is much different when your perspective is different. Something so simple...yet so tricky at times...
ReplyDeleteSo glad you posted this. Reminded me to turn off the tv and turn on music to blog (totally different feel for me).
I do the same thing. Sometimes I just have to remind myself EVERYTHING else can wait or will be waiting for me and to take time to take my son outside, go for a walk, play in his room. Just be. Really enjoyed this post
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteI need to do this more often. I think it comes back to being present and grateful. Knowing that moments wont last, and there is a bit of joy to be gleamed from almost everything.
Today I had to haul three loads of laundry to the laundromat, my least glamours and most hated chore. I usually grouch abut having to schlep baskets and powder and $1 coins all over the place, but today I spent some time just loving that freshly cleaned linen smell, and looking forward to clean sheets on my bed tonight.
On a slightly unrelated note, your home looks beautiful and proudly put together. I'd love to see a home/yard tour on the blog sometime
Great post! :)
ReplyDeleteI've just finished my exams and after 2 years of hard work finally have a proper holiday! So unaccustomed am I to free time, that I wrote a list of 92 things I wanted to achieve in my 92 days before starting University in the fall, and accomplished about 10 of them in the first 2 days! My mom had to remind me to slow down, to enjoy the free time and to just relax, rather than carrying on with my all-work-all-the-time attitude I have been used to... :)
So I guess to answer your question, I find it hard to find that balance, and it is often those around me who have to remind me to be aware, but I am getting better, and have returned to knitting to help me slow down... I find focusing on each knit and purl is just enough to bring me to my senses, and to help me be aware, and this then (hopefully!) translates into my everyday life... :)
This was lovely. It's nice to have a reminder of how beautiful life can be if you only choose to see it that way. So thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteI have read your blog for months now and this is the best post yet. I found you and your blog through instagram and I'm so happy I did! As a mother this post is a great reminder of how we should live our daily lives! And I thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteAllie! Thank you so much! So glad you are enjoying. xoxo
Deleteboy do I hear and understand every word you say and boy is it all so true. The two more recent posts of yours really reminded me of my current thoughts. This year has gone by so fast- we're more than half way through and I can't even think straight on the amount of things that have to be done- I get so serious and sometimes because of it, I get stuck. It isn't until I snap out of it and remember that my happiness stems from my roots and living more simply.
ReplyDelete<3 you are so, so inspiring.
Thank you so much for reminding me of my goals and aspirations. I am a horribly impatient person and for me, yoga helps me to remember all of what you just described above. Right now I am about to print out an abc's of yoga to do with my son since I can't take a class today. At least that way we can enjoy it together.
ReplyDeleteCheers! & thank you for your beautiful writing and for being such an inspiration to me:)
saltairandfarm.tumblr.com
I can absolutely relate to what you say about movies vs quality time. Last night Ivan offered to give me a massage in the bedroom OR we could watch a movie.... how sad is it that my immediate reaction was 'the movie'?! (Don't worry, I made sure I took the massage...but seriously I can't believe it was even a question!).
ReplyDeleteI also think about how crazy silly fun I used to feel and how now I just feel more...serious. I have no idea how to get more of the silly crazy-ness back into my life, but I definitely can relate to what you said.
Beautifully put x
Im so glad. Its definately work to find the silly and embrace it...I guess it's my nature combined with being a mom.
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed reading :)
it's funny.. I just found your blog and am scrolling through your posts and am seeing so many things in your home that we have in ours! Same vacuum cleaner, same blanket here, same book there. I'm already feeling a kindred spirit in you! Glad I found you.
ReplyDeleteA lovey post, I'm trying hard to live for the moment now, our goals are quite similar! I feel time goes so fast, I don't want to miss a single second! Though, it is often easier said than done!
ReplyDeleteYou're an inspiration! Xxx