New Rituals: Embracing Slow Living
Slow down, stop rushing, relax and make the best of where you are…
So here we are, another quiet and pleasant week has passed here at the Casa. I’ve been receiving the calling to slow down, stop rushing, relax and make the best of where we are right now. I know I’ve been saying this for a while now, but I actually did it! Brooke and I spent a day pool side, and I spent another morning working out in the sun. It made a huge difference in my mood, so I decided to make more time for relaxation and appreciation each day.
With all good intentions, I still catch myself looking way ahead, still distracted by the news, still trying to make sense of things that don’t make sense. This morning, I read through the comments on a Facebook post about opening the country. For every pro, there was a con, for every statistic one way, there was a statistic pointing the other. What’s worse, we are starting to get angry with one another over whether it’s the right time to “open the country” or not. Meanwhile, people are making plans and moving forward with them, without the “official” word.
I am tapping out…
How can we possibly make good decisions for ourselves when we don’t have good information on which to base them? The only thing I can think of doing is slowing down. Taking a breath. Watch and see what happens, and continue to be cautiously optimistic.
What slowing down looks like:
A gentle morning routine.
I am all about routines; my mind can be like a tumble weed, rolling here and there with the wind. Routines anchor me, helping me stay on task, and helping to move me toward my goals. I’ve softened the edges around my morning. While I do the same things, I don’t adhere to a strict schedule, I know what works best, meditation, inspiration, a little yoga, and good coffee, so I do that.
Less urgency around my “to do” list.
I am a very driven person, I like being productive but I also need space around my projects to think and expand. Blogging is surprisingly time absorbing, and there’s always something more to do. It can be overwhelming and because you can do it most anywhere, I find I do. So taking a break, stepping back, planning what I want to get done in a week rather than regimenting my day seems to be working. (for the record, the dance with my to do list is ongoing and ever changing).
Making the best of where we are:
All of us feel the strain of uncertainty, and the pressure of things in limbo or undone. It’s easy for days to slip by without relaxation even though we are at home, which is theoretically relaxing. Notice I said theoretically. I am home a lot, but I’m still thinking…working…planning…worrying. Our day beside the pool, with everything turned off was a real game changer for me. It helped me see that I my engine was running on fumes; I needed a time out.
Pretending we were at a spa, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the sounds of nature and the water was wonderful. The pool has been there all this time, why is this the second time we’ve gone out there? We also started making a beautiful breakfast together. We set the breakfast table, and dedicate the time to enjoy each other’s company. This morning it was raining, so we sat and watched the rain while sipping our coffee.
No, we aren’t in the mountains yet, and yes the property next door is still annoying, but we do have a nice place and each other. I know our future will be here before we know it. Just not as quickly as we had planned. But we are making the best of things.
These are difficult times. If you are having trouble coping, you are not alone. The following is a resource I found that may help:
Sometimes, we need help working our way through various issues in our lives. I have turned to therapy several times along my path to healing. Recently, I learned about Better Help, an online non-emergency mental health program that pairs you with an online therapist. It’s completely confidential and because it’s all done online you don’t have to worry about going in for an appointment. Click HERE for more information. *this is an affiliate link
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I am totally with you, my friend! Strange times, these…