Do you ever find there are times when you really ought to take your own advice? Today I have decided that is what I ought to do. What is the tagline at the top of my blog?
Slow down, breathe easy, make a poem of your life. Don't let life rush by; reflect. Look for beauty and rejuvenate your soul.
This week, and particularly today, I seem to be living by the exact opposite principles to these. I am rushing everything because I feel there is too much to do and I am so desperate to move onto the next thing that I am doing each thing badly and certainly not enjoying what I am doing.
I have actually had a good week. When not working I have picked up some decorative and useful charity-shop bargains for my kitchen, found some new gold pens for my artwork, read some poetry, made a white bean salad with a mustard dressing, sipped green tea and eaten cake. I have met with a friend and experimented with my first collage work.
Wow! When I list it like that I realise I have been blessed with a wonderful week. But I also realise I have not enjoyed it!
I feel stressed and over-stretched. I have failed to be in the moment during any of these precious moments. I have spent each of them worried about the next moment. I have missed the beauty in all of them. My life has not been a poem; it has been a mass of scribblings and crossing outs. What a waste of a wonderful week!
So as of now I am going to take my own advice. I am going to slow down and breathe easy. I am going to rejuvenate my soul by looking back over the list of things I have done above and I am going to take the time in retrospect to appreciate them for all their worth and the joy they should have brought me.
What have been the joy-bringers so far in your week? Did you enjoy them in the moment?
If not remember them now and appreciate them in retrospect. If you did enjoy them as you experienced them, remember them again and go on and treat yourself - appreciate them again!
Louise
Hi Louise - I just came here from your comment on my blog about Passion. You are my very first blog-commenter!
ReplyDeleteI had a wonderful joy-bringer yesterday. I was walking along the beach with a friend, enjoying an uplifting conversation in the winter sunshine, when I spotted a pod of orcas swimming by. I have been to this beach countless times before but this is the first time I've seen the orcas.
As for slowing down when you find yourself stressing, I was recently led to a discovery. I was trying to think of things to be grateful for when my friend pointed to my heart and said, "Answer from here." My consciousness immediately shifted from my brain to my heart chakra, and suddenly all I could see was how awesome my life is. Since then, whenever my mind is getting all in a knot about things, I just make this shift of focus to go back to that place of calm appreciation.
Judy
Hi, Louise. I am from lyricalthoughts.tumblr.com:) I have replied on your feedback as well.
ReplyDeleteI love your site. It is homey and cozy. And I love the way you treat each day special:) Your post is also inspirational.
Being in a hurry cannot make us appreciate what we do. No matter the list that we have, the best thing is to do it according to its urgency. Sometimes 24 hours is not enough for work.. what more 8 hours! Many times in my life I have been through the same thing as yours. And it really suck!
I love the joy bringer:) As for this week.. I have gotten sick but I am ok now so it's a big joy for me:) Aside from that, my sketches, watching Glee and One Tree Hill, reading, doing some photography, laughter.. simple things.. I love it.
Have a bright day!
Thanks for the reminder Louise :). I enjoyed my moments of creativity and now going to do dishes. I will try to be in the moment, but will probably daydream a little about my next project ;).
ReplyDeleteStay inspired!
Hi Louise, I can really identify with what you are going through. I am always behind. Always. So when I'm feeling good enough to enjoy myself, I'm also trying to take advantage of getting more things done while I can. Most of the time it is a big mistake. I just end up wrung out and grumpy. So I am trying to take your sage advice too and enjoy life in the moment and accept that it is o.k. to slow it down. So what if something mundane doesn't get done. I want to enjoy a real life!
ReplyDeleteI must say that a joy-bringer today was your comment with un peu de Francais (forgive my bad French! :)
ReplyDeleteAh, but perhaps you can help me along my halting way. :)
I can really relate to this. I've been thinking and writing about some of the same things. Thanks for the beautiful reminder.
ReplyDelete