A very cheery morning to you on this wintry, last day of February Friday, my dear readers. I sincerely hope you all are doing well. It's so hard to believe that spring will be here in just a few short weeks...are you excited for the start of springtime, or are you wanting to hold on to winter? I must admit, that as much as I love wintertime...and I do adore it dearly, I am quite excited to welcome spring this year. I'm ready to see green grass and little buds on the branches of trees and bushes. I can't wait for all the colorful flowers to bloom and to see butterflies and birds flying around. And I am also very much looking forward to wearing sundresses and sandals. As much as I love autumn and winter, I do love spring quite dearly, too...and I'm thankful for the different seasons and the beauty they each bring. It's like opening a gift each day as a new season begins, as there is always something new to notice and delight in.
As I shared in a previous post, as a new year begins, I find myself pondering what sorts of things I wish and hope to share in this space over the coming year(s). I am always listening to the guidance of my heart on the matter of this blog, and I feel as though I am always inching my way closer and closer to what it is meant to be...what my soul desires it to be. I am thankful for that still, small, quiet whisper in my heart that gently guides me along the way to finding my place in this space. And this year, a few things were very clear about this space and what I wish and hope to share here. I hope you'll allow me to share a bit of what's been on my heart, as well as share some "heart and soul things" that will be the rooted foundation of this space.
To take a lesson from Maria in The Sound of Music, let's start at the very beginning; it's a very good place to start. And the beginning is simply to share a "vision of values" that this blog is centered around:
Nurturing a rooted life of gentleness & simplicity, cozy domesticity & home comforts, following nature's rhythms, being steeped in story & immersed in beauty, & preserving old-fashioned values.
Now, if you've been around here for any length of time, you will well know that I am a word person and that nothing is without some deeper meaning. So, if you'll come along with me for a bit, I'd like to take you on a bit of a word journey and share the heart behind each of these components of this vision of values and heart and soul.
♥ nurturing
To nurture is to "help and encourage the growth of; to cherish; to feed; to nourish, cultivate, tend, strengthen, encourage further". Nurture is one of my most favorite words. It feels like a gentle, kind, loving, soft word that holds great meaning and weight to it. I believe to nurture something is to cultivate it in a gentle, kind, soft way. I also believe that if you are taking the time to nurture something, then it must mean a great deal to you. After all, nurturing takes time, attention, energy, heart, mindfulness, and your soul has to be in it. Nurturing is not something I believe to be done lackadaisically or half-heartedly or lazily or nonchalantly.
♥ a rooted life
While lifestyles of hustle and bustle and go, go, go are all the rage right now, I'm of the very firm belief that we are meant to be way more rooted than most folks are. I believe that we are literally meant to live our lives centered around our home and not use the home as simply a place to sleep at night and perhaps make a few pitstops along the way throughout the day. I believe home to be the anchor and foundation of our lives, the place in which all other aspects of our lives are firmly planted with deep roots, and that a rooted life is the best life...a life full of meaning, richness, depth, and endless value.
♥ gentleness
Gentleness is an incredibly important thing, both in practicing gentleness towards others, as well as being gentle with ourselves. I believe that the world would genuinely change for good if more folks embraced a gentler approach towards others and themselves and cultivated that gentle heart that all people are born with, as part of our inherent goodness.
♥ simplicity
Simplicity. In absolutely no way am I suggesting that we go back to the Little House days. What I do believe in, again, is a rooted life centered at home with family as the primary circle of influence. I believe in homecooked meals and preparing food with love and care. I believe in saying "no" to the ways of the culture and society that "everyone else are following" because we know there is a better way. I believe in living life in a way that allows you to actually live and breathe and notice and savour. I believe in cherishing life's simple pleasures.
♥ cozy domesticity
As part of a rooted life, one makes a house a home. And if your heart is rooted where it should be, you see this as a tremendous blessing and gift and honor. I believe in celebrating the domestic arts, and arts they are. For I also believe that the homemaker is a domestic artist. Creating the world of home is one of the most creative, imaginative, wonderous, magical things a person can do. Making a haven for those you love most is something that should be seen as a high calling and a magnificent opportunity to pour your heart into something truly meaningful.
♥ home comforts
Good food, a warm hearth, and all the comforts of home. Ah, yes. That's exactly what a home should be. And here, we celebrate, cherish, and value all things pertaining to home.
♥ following nature's rhythms
Nature is our wisest, gentlest teacher. And I believe that when we pay attention to the rhythms of nature, we can apply so much of what we learn to our lives and days and personal rhythms, and that's when we truly live in peace. Winter means hibernation and rest and slowing down, while summer is more a time of going and doing and getting things done. This is true in nature, but it is also true for us. When we follow nature's rhythms, we will feel at peace with ourselves because we, too, are living in tune with our truest rhythms.
♥ being steeped in story
I believe in story. The stories written on the pages of books, the stories portrayed on a screen, the stories woven into the lyrics of a song, and the stories shared around the kitchen table or in front of the hearth. Stories matter. And stories form and shape and mold us. They teach us and they inspire us. They are our kindred spirits and companions along life's journey. And I believe in story. To me, being steeped in story is to be alive to the beauty of the world. It is to believe in something magical and wonderful and inspiring. It to be shaped by words and illustrations and melodies. It is to be formed and shaped by imagination and beauty. It is to plant a garden in your mind and fill it with beautiful, lifegiving flowers and trees and all sorts of growing things that bring beauty into your life. It is a conscious act of kindling wonder and imagination back into your life, seeing as how the years can wear it down the older you get. As fellow book girl, Sarah Clarkson says, "To be a book girl is to be formed by a bone-deep knowledge that goodness lies at the heart of existence." And that, my reader friends, is what I believe it means to be steeped in story.
♥ being immersed in beauty
Beauty is all around us, and yet we live as though it doesn't matter. I believe in being consciously aware of the beauty that surrounds us, and to reawaken our senses to notice such beauty. This is something as simple as considering and realizing the sacredness in everyday life, small moments, and the hidden places and corners of life. And it also means literally, physically bringing beauty into your life. Being aware of the music and entertainment you allow to speak into your life, as well as the stories that influence and inspire you. Filling your home with beauty in how your decorate, in the way you go about your homemaking, and in how you see the world. Beauty is no small thing, and it is of utmost importance.
♥ preserving old-fashioned values
I believe in morals. I believe in decency. I believe in character. I believe in virtue. I believe in deeply rooted values. And I use the term "old-fashioned" because though many consider that an insult, I consider it a beautiful description of the things I hold dear. In a world where morals and decency, virtue and character, and any sort of upright values are mocked, scorned, ridiculed, and condemned, I believe, most firmly and strongly, in preserving, protecting, and cherishing those things. Morals are not dead. Decency isn't irrelevant. Character isn't meaningless. Virtue isn't outdated. Values aren't of yester-year. Let us not forget these things.
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These heart and soul things really matter to me and are of great importance and value. I hope they are and will be reflected and shared here. As always, thank you so much for vising my little cozy cottage here. I hope you'll come back again real soon!
May your day be blessed and beautiful!
♥