{ Mindful Housework }

 

 Song from a Secret Garden 

 

The warm temperatures have dropped dramatically.  What looked like warm Spring coming in to say hi the past two weeks, has snuck back into 30 degree weather, windy and rain.

As I sit here on the couch, wrapped in my robe, the wind is howling outside, the skies are a dark gray and the tiniest of rain drops pitter patter on the driveway.  It seems like old man winter is holding on for dear life, grasping at every bit of cold, not wanting to let go.  Such is this battle every year, Spring and Winter competing to the bitter end.

I won't say I enjoy the drastic change in temperatures again, but I do love a good thunderstorm, the kind that brings a darkness to the home that only soft lit candles can thrive in.

 

 

I have gone about my day with a purpose, being mindful of every chore I encountered.  It isn't just about cleaning, or doing laundry, but the heart with which you do it, and intent, and the time to be mindful of what you are achieving in that moment.

 

Housework is just housework, unless you approach it with the mindset that it's your way of contributing to your family.  A way of providing a safe place, a warm bed for weary bodies and tummy filling good food to nourish your soul.

 

I once was told that this simple kind of life is a great idea, but not attainable especially for those who work outside the home.  I understand that, after all, being a homemaker as I am, my life is within these four walls, and so it gives me more time to focus, to go slow, to sip coffee and read a book, or bake a cake, or garden or whatever it is that I want to do.

 

But just because I am home full time, it doesn't mean that those who work outside the home, can't live it as well.   

 

Slow, soft, mindful living starts within! 

 

When we choose to project the quiet inside, to our outside world, it affects everything around us, and in a way brings others to this more calm, laid back, and slower pace of living.

A great way to start living it, is perhaps by surrounding yourself with those people and things, that will encourage you to stay on that path.  I will be honest and tell you that save for myself, no one else in my life lives this way, or even shows a want to do it.  So for me, I choose to find inspiration outside, and being that I'm a very visual person, that inspiration comes through videos on YouTube of like minded women.

Slow living, quiet vlogs, just lives being shared through few words and lots of beautiful scenery.  At the moment, I follow a lot of channels that share their daily slow life from Italy, France, Norway, Germany, England.  

 

Many times, when I am doing the usual cleaning up around the house, I think about my great grandmother Ema.  I fondly remember her with her apron, the pocket always filled with random tidbits, things she needed like her handkerchief, and also things she picked up as she went about her day.

She did everything with love, often cooking meals for 15 people at a time since we always had a big family.

There are memories and moments that are forever etched in my mind and heart.  The smile on her face as she prepared green beans, or peeled a potato.  She would often have me help her peel and then spent the entire time saying "you're taking off more potato than skin Sandra", or "don't cut so deep, softly run your knife just under the skin".  I would often be amazed at how she would start at one point of the potato, and just like magic would end at the other, the potato peel a long swirly line just hanging off the tip of the knife.

She never complained, never said she was sick of doing the same things every day.  She just went about her homemaking chores with a joy in her heart and a leap in her step.  She passed away a few months after I moved to the USA, at the age of 96.  To the end, she still monitored everyone and the running of the household, often giving out orders from her bed.  What an incredible woman and what an incredible love of homemaking she passed down to me.

I wish I could say that my daughter is following in my footsteps, but when it comes to homemaking, she isn't, and that's ok.  I feel that society has taught our daughters that homemaking is something to look down on, that independent women should not be in the home cooking and cleaning, that it's beneath them.  

Did I try to instill this same passion in her?  Absolutely, but in a world of social media and outside influences, I often feel as parents we are left with our hands tied in a sense.  What we teach at home, is often forgotten beyond these walls.

However, now that she is in her own apartment, she often calls me to find out how to do this, or that, or how to cook a certain dish.  Slowly, but surely, she is coming around to understanding how important it is to care for our homes.

I often get many messages on my Instagram, from friends and other women, telling me how much I inspire them or motivate them.  That for me is the best compliment I could ever receive, because I don't look at what I'm doing as influencing anyone, but rather sharing my life and how happy it makes me.  If that inspires others to live a simpler slower life, it's a wonderful thing.

Anyway, I started this post yesterday afternoon, but then got sidetracked with dinner and the night routine and ended up leaving it until this morning, to finish.  

It is currently 7:28 am, and I'm going to sit in bed a little longer, I've been up since 4:45 am, and since it's Saturday I'll take it easy, start my morning slowly and then move on to what needs to be done.

What's on the agenda for today?

• More housecleaning
• Trip to the store to restock on veggies for the week (I am going through a lot of vegetables lately)
• Work on my crochet a bit more
• Start a new book
• Make some cute fabric chickens for Springs
• Continue watching Shogun
• Watch some period dramas (really wanting to watch something a la Jane Austen)

Hope you all have a fantastic Saturday friends.

{ Slow Living and why I embrace it }

 

Slow living..... 

 

What is it?  Why do I love it?   Why do I embrace it in my own life? 

 

Slow living is merely the act of being intentional with your time and the way you approach everything in your daily lives.  

 

In Japan they use the word 'ukino' to describe slow living.  It literally means 'to live in the moment and be far from common life matters'. 

 

Just reading that description makes my soul do somersaults.   Yes, yes and another yes!!!

It's no secret to anyone here, that I've been all about the slow life, living simply, country living, stepping outside to enjoy nature, kind of life.  It's something I've aspired to for many years.  Granted, there are times that chaos and busy schedules can't be avoided, but in between those rushing moments, I still find time to stop and breathe.

In my attempt to research this whole way of life, I came upon some very good channels on Youtube.  I know you love all the videos I share on Mondays, but prepare yourselves for another whole level of calming and beautiful imagery.

 

I'm going to share some of my favorites here with you, but if you want to find others, just try doing a search for Slow Living on Youtube.  Just be sure you have an hour or so on hand, it will draw you right in and you'll be sucked down a hole.  Haha

 

But before I share these channels with you, let's dig a little deeper into what slow living really is.

 

Being mindful and present is one of the biggest needs if you're looking for this way of life.  We have so many distractions, and I speak for myself when I tell you that I too am constantly being flooded with information and scattered thoughts.

 

Sometimes even while trying to pray, I get lost, start thinking about other things going on around me and lose track of what I was doing.  So many ideas, cellphones, tvs, text messages pinging us throughout the day.  That has become a normal part of life, but we don't have to let it completely envelop our beings.

 

So being mindful and present is the first step to conquering the craziness in our lives.

 

Embracing the quiet.....so many out there have an aversion to quiet.  I even have family members that don't like being alone, don't like being in the quiet and prefer a busier, on the go lifestyle.  

 

This one for me was easy.  I've always been a homebody, always thrived on silence and being alone, and I have no problem whatsoever being in my house for days at a time, minding my own business and puttering around.

  

Truly, there is no right or wrong way to live a slow life.  We all have different lifestyles, different family needs, different homes and different ways of doing things.  

 

It is being present with your family.  For example, how many times have you gone out for a fun family day, and then spent most of that time with your nose glued to your phone using the excuse that you're sharing to Facebook, Instagram, taking pictures for later memories?

 

*raises hand*

 

I used to be extremely guilty of doing this.  All in the name of blogging and now Instagram.  A visit to the museum just meant some really cool photo opportunities for  later.  A meal at a restaurant garnered some amazing food shots.  Walking through the park or by the river meant my phone in my hand constantly taking videos or candid moments between family members.

I almost felt like I was present but only in body because my spirit and thoughts were elsewhere.

Now here's the kicker, you don't have to stop posting your photos, stop sharing what you're doing online, or let a good opportunity for a photo op go by.  You can do both, take the shot you want, share the instagram story you want, then set the phone aside and immerse yourself in the moment.  

 

Bake that bread at home, enjoy the process from dough to beautiful loaves that will sustain your family.

 

Stop and appreciate every little thing you do.  The swirls the milk makes as it pours into a hot cup of coffee.  The steam that seems to dance up from the rim of the cup, and the way the sunlight splashes on the petals of the flowers at the kitchen window.

Slow!

Slow down, take it in, leave the crazy world outside.  Search calmness and quiet.  Find peace within your home, and spread it to your husband and children.  

And to finish off, one thing that really helped me was learning to say no.

I've always been a people pleaser, I would rather put myself in uncomfortable situations, go to places I didn't want to, or say yes to doing something with someone, for fear of hurting their feelings.

But while their needs and wants were being met, I was feeling overwhelmed, sad, and stretched thin.

 

So I started saying no.  No thank you.  No I don't feel like doing that.  No I really can't.

 

At first I felt awful, guilty, like I was being a horrible person.  But what I quickly started realizing is that every time I said no, my inner peace would grow.  

 

People weren't angry at me for declining things, they just moved on with their day.  

 

All of this just to tell you that you CAN have a slow paced life, if you take the time to breathe, to choose to slow down and say no to the fast life we are all thrown into.

 

Ok, now with that out of the way, let me introduce you to some {a lot} of Youtube channels, that are all about the slow paced kind of life.  

 

I hope you get as much joy and peace out of watching them, as I do.

 

 

 

 

 

I have many and I mean many, many more to share, but I don't want to overwhelm you all at once.

So, I will continue sharing them, but in a different post.  These are just some of my favorites, and as always keep in mind that just because I enjoy them, others may not, they are merely suggestions.

I wish you all success in your own simple living, slow living journeys.  I would love to know if any of your already follow this way of life, how you got there, what made you crave it.  

Let's have a chit chat in the comments :)