the joys of a quiet life

What sweet delight a quiet life affords.

·William Drummond·

The above words came to me in a beautiful blog post from a favorite writer of mine several years ago. Immediately upon reading them, I realized that they said outwardly what I think, know and believe inwardly. It was a lovely moment....sometimes others say what's in your heart better than you ever could. And upon discovering words like that, you are blessed indeed.

I am thankful to have grown up before the whole technology age consumed every person's every thought. My childhood consisted of pretending, imagining, and playing make-believe. My sister and I would spend every afternoon playing outside with our friends until the sun set, dinner was ready, and homework had to be done. Despite the fact that I spent seven hours at school each and every day, I would come home only to go into my room and play school for hours on end teaching imaginary students, though if I was lucky I could sometimes get my sister or a friend to play along. 

My mom didn't force my sister and me to grow up too fast. She didn't rush our childhood but rather allowed us to be children. I played house and with dolls until I was almost twelve years old. We had an old laundry hamper that held bits of this and pieces of that, random things from around the house that gave us (and our friends) many, many hours of crafting and creating. We made things out of toilet paper rolls, pipe cleaners, old plastic juice cans, and all kinds of weird things that sparked imagination within each of us. 

I just so happened to be in first grade in the year 2000, the new millennium. At that time, our elementary school didn't have many computers; most classrooms just had one in total. However, because technology was beginning to really evolve, one classroom per grade was given a computer for each student. (The other classes used the computer lab that was available for the entire school.) My first-grade classroom was the chosen one because my teacher had a great deal of knowledge in that area. I learned so much about computers that year, and as I got older and progressed into each grade year after year, my familiarity with the internet and getting accustomed to using it grew immensely.

Families were beginning to add computers (the big boxy ones) to their homes. We got an old model from my dad's work for free and it was set up in our house. However, it had no internet. We simply used it for playing games on CD that we got from Santa at Christmas. Once my sister and I were older, I was around nine years old, every so often, my mom would take us after school to use the internet at the library. There, we would play games through Disney Channel. I vividly remember painting Lizzie McGuire's nails and picking out her clothes on a couple of the games. As I moved into the fifth and sixth grade, we would also use the library's computer so I could do research for school papers and projects. That is if I couldn't find my information in an encyclopedia first.

Our family didn't get internet installed into our home until I was twelve years old. The year was 2007.

I share that little backstory simply to say that we have always lived a quieter life than most folks we know. We were the last to get the internet in our family. My sister and I were the last children in our extended families to have had a true childhood, one that is not sped up or pushed along. We have toddlers in our family who watch shows that are meant for teenagers and they know all about the woes of dating and mature topics at the age of three. Their parents say that they outgrew their baby dolls and Lego's as soon as they hit age two. These children receive iPads for Christmas at the age of four. Little girls are mistaken as thirteen-year-olds when they are but five years old. (I'm not making that up, either!) 

Our life was quiet and simple. 

I rarely go a week without hearing, either online or in person, how someone wishes their life were simpler. They wonder when life got so chaotic, noisy and complicated. They are dumbfounded by these things, and because of the life my family and I have chosen to live, it is crystal clear to me. 

People admit to being addicted to their phones. There isn't anything that's not done on a screen...communicating, reading, ordering groceries, you name it. I honestly cannot relate or even begin to understand people who deal with these thoughts and troubles. 

Today I would like to share some simple ideas as to how to live a quiet life. My belief is that just because everyone is doing things the techy, modern way, doesn't mean that it's good, healthy, or adding to their life. In fact, I would say that most of this way of living in such a techy, modern way is the opposite of those things listed in the prior sentence. The ideas listed are things that my family actually does, and I believe that these choices have benefitted us more than we even know. However, these are simply the ideas of my family and if you do something differently, that's perfectly fine too. I do encourage you to ponder these ideas and perhaps even adopt a variation of one or more of them for yourself. Some of these ideas are small and super simple, yet others take more diligence and discipline to actually live out.

We do have smartphones. However, they do not run our lives.

We were late in the game getting smartphones. It wasn't until 2019 that we added them to our lives. Up until that point, we used pay-as-you-go phones, and at that time, we still had a home phone and answering machine. Yes, it was old school, but it was marvelous!

In 2019, for various reasons, it made sense for us to get smartphones. However, in the past four years that we've had them, I can say that they do not run our lives. People are so used to their phones being an extension of their hand. They are almost permanently connected to their body. And they are nothing short of obsessed with them.

Certain conscious choices we made make it so that we can have smartphones without them running our lives...or, shall I say, ruining our lives. It's not about hard-fast rules or anything like that. Really, it's living as though our phones are still a landline home phone and not having them attached to our fingertips at all times. I do not carry my phone everywhere I go. It does not live in my back pocket. If I'm out, it's with me. If I'm at home, it's on the table in our living room. I do not want my phone running my life. There is a ton more I could say about this, as I have many strong opinions on this topic. But that is truly a topic all it's own. 

But the main point I want to make is that just because you have a smartphone, and just because everyone seems to use them in one way...in a way that is incredibly unhealthy, obsessive, and addictive...that does NOT mean you have to. And the fact that in this day and age certain things are normal astounds me. Children using smartphones and knowing how? Kids way too young owning their own smartphones and smart devices? People upgrading their phones every single time a new version comes out? Not being able to go in a restaurant or cafe or coffee shop and nearly everyone being on their devices, even when sitting at a table with others? People keeping their whole lives on their phones and other devices? People taking into their watches? Folks talking to a device and calling her by name and asking her the weather forecast or some other question? Homes being wired with all kinds of devices? The fact that saying "no" to these things is weird and ridiculed and mocked? Yeah, that's absurd!

For more on this topic, please head over and read my post on living a private life. Because the joys of a quiet life are also the joys of a private life. And a private, quiet life is a peaceful life.

We do not own any tablets or devices along those lines.

I have a laptop computer that I use for entertainment as well as my blogging. But, other than that, I do not have any internet devices. My phone obviously has access to the internet, but I try to use it sparingly. When we go grocery shopping, eat at a restaurant or anything along those lines, we are the rare sight of people actually connecting with one another. I find it so sad to see families and couples and groups of friends sitting at a table to share a meal with all their heads down looking at some sort of device. You can't even go into a waiting room at the doctor's office and see one person reading a book or magazine anymore. I consider it a blessing to be at a restaurant with my family and actually talk with them. Though I must say it can feel quite weird being the odd one out with a real book in hand while in a waiting room or anywhere for that matter. (I was delighted to see a fellow physical-book-reader at the car care center while we were waiting for our oil to be changed a few weeks ago. I do not remember the last time I saw a fellow physical-book-reader!)

Because we do not have 24/7 access to the world-wide-web in our back pocket, we do not have trouble with being on the Internet all the time. I am very serious and conscious and opinionated about this. I go on the internet for a few minutes before I get dressed for the day. I check the news, weather, emails, etc. Then I spent a bit of time online before bed, watching my shows, blogging, catching up on a couple YouTube channels I subscribe to. I also check the news again, weather, emails, etc. Other than that, I may go online for a few minutes here or there during the day, usually for a specific purpose, (I'm confident that scrolling for the sake of scrolling is anything but healthy and good) but I do not want to be consumed by the online world. I learned a couple years ago that I do not need to check the news more than twice a day, anything else causes severe anxiety for me. And I can honestly say that on days when I am on the internet more than others, my anxiety goes up through the roof. And often, I take longer breaks from the online world, not going online at all for sometimes a week at a time. (Except for checking emails, daily weather forecasts and the news.)

 I personally believing in having as few electronic devices as possible. We use nothing "smart" (other than our phones and TVs with streaming services) or any AI in our home. Our phones are minimal. We have TVs and laptops and that's literally it. I refuse to let my life be dictated by a device or some voice coming from a watch or speaker, and I refuse to speak to a robotic AI voice when I could simply look up the answer to my question myself. I refuse to have my life be run by dings and chimes and buzzes. I do not believe that just because I'm living in the 21st century and everyone is doing something, I have to as well. I can think for myself, thankyouverymuch.

We read real books. 

I am really adamant about reading real books only. To think of all the bookstores closing and our world turning into a download-only place makes me so sad and heartbroken. There isn't a grand reason as to why we choose real books over Nooks or Kindles, but one reason is that I don't like the idea of staring at a screen for every single thing I do. I find that completely absurd and ridiculous. Besides that, have you ever taken a good sniff of a book....especially old ones. Oh, my, do they smell delightful! And to feel the pages between your fingers and to fold down the corner of the page when you're done with that chapter....there's nothing like it.

I still buy CDs.

Music is one of my great loves. But I don't do the whole iTunes, downloading thing. I love having a real, physical CD that I can stick into the car player and hit "play". Just another thing to add to living a quiet life.

I use a real camera when taking pictures.

I'm the girl at the concert or standing beneath a waterfall or crouching low in the flowers taking pictures with a real camera. I have been the only one at a concert not using my phone to capture the moments unfolding before my eyes. Though, I do feel more comfortable using my phone in some settings, it's not the norm for me. That can be very uncomfortable at times, especially for an introverted person such as myself. There's something great and beautiful about the art of photography that is completely gone when using a phone as opposed to an actual camera. Up until just two years ago, I had a simple point-and-shoot pink digital camera. I used that thing all the time and still have it in my bag, but nowadays my DSLR camera goes practically everywhere with me. In fact, when buying a new purse, I purposely make sure it is large enough to carry my camera. Capturing beauty requires slowing down, pausing, observing, admiring, and soaking in and savoring the moment. In my opinion, a real camera is the only tool that encourages those things.

The outdoors is our sanctuary. 

It is such a rare occurrence to see folks outside just "shooting the breeze" as my Grandpa would say. For us, however, it is an odd day when we haven't gone outside to walk around the yard, sit under the tree, and just chat about life and everything under the sun. Again, real talking, face to face. It's a good thing. I firmly believe that time in nature is a must for healthy living....I'm pretty sure studies have proven that.

Sometimes we go on afternoon drives through the country.

Or head downtown to see the river. In fact, this happens quite regularly around here. We will all gather in the car, pack some drinks or snacks (sometimes we'll get a treat out), and head out for an afternoon adventure. My Grandpa was known for his love of rides. He loved "to take a cruise" as he would put it. My mom says that she grew up in the backseat of her family car, going for rides each weekend all around New Jersey. This is one of the simplest, yet most impactful, family activities you can do. And you never outgrow it, either! In fact the older you get, the more you appreciate it.

Home-cooked meals are the norm.

Sitting around the table, enjoying a meal, and lingering there long after the last dish has been cleared and put in the dishwasher, just laughing and talking is something that really needs to be revived in America. I don't know about other countries, but here in the States, family dinners which were once the norm are now on the "going extinct" list. And the consequences are sad and damaging, to say the least. I am of the very firm belief (I'm incredibly stubborn about this!) that home-cooking, gathering around the table, conversing and sharing is of utmost importance. Sometimes eating dinner on the couch while watching a movie is fun, too, though eating in front of the TV should be the exception, not the rule.

Home is where our hearts are.

Growing up, my sister and I did not have after-school activities. We weren't involved in sports, not because our parents didn't allow it, but rather because we had zero interest in them. (I am quite possibly the least athletic person you will ever meet.) My mom really instilled in us a love for home and family and we continue to live that out, the three of us, daily. Most of our days are spent at home doing home things. They are ordinary days, but sweet ones. We do get out regularly, doing things we enjoy and getting errands accomplished, but you can't have a heart for the home if you're never there. (I'm writing a full post on this topic soon.) We aren't constantly going here and there, and our lives are not busy. The world may glorify the busy way of living, but there aren't many, if any, benefits of that sort of living.


William Drummond was right, indeed, when he said that a quiet life is full of such sweet delight. These are just a few of the ways that my family and I have chosen to go against the norm of fast-paced, noisy, complex living, and embrace a lifestyle of slow living that is simple, meaningful, and close-knit to our family and others, nature and all that is good and beautiful.

Again, I did not write this post to dish out a serving of guilt upon you, but rather to encourage and inspire you that it is possible to live a slow, simple and meaningful life in a world that promotes and glorifies living a chaotic, complex and noisy one.

I would love to hear some of the ways that you live a quiet and simple life. Do share below...let's inspire on another!

simple tomato mushroom pasta

Simple Tomato Mushroom Pasta

2 Tbsp. olive oil

3/4 pound spaghetti, cooked according to package directions

2 lbs. fresh mushrooms (We love portobello mushrooms.)

2 tsp. minced garlic (or 2 cloves, minced)

3 medium tomatoes, diced into small bite-sized pieces

1 can black olives, drained and sliced

 4 Tbsp. fresh basil

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/2 tsp. dried rosemary

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Parmesan cheese, for topping

In a skillet, heat the olive oil over low-medium heat. Once warmed up, add the mushrooms and garlic. Cook until the mushrooms are softened and the garlic is fragrant. Add the tomatoes, olives, herbs and seasonings. Cook for about 10-15 minutes. Once the veggies are cooked and all the flavors have come together, add the cooked pasta. Toss to combine. 

Serve and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.

*If using vegan parmesan cheese, you can use homemade or storebought. We love the Follow Your Heart brand when we buy it, but we also always have homemade on hand.*

 To make homemade vegan Parmesan cheese, simply add the following to a food processor.

1 cup raw cashews

1/3 cup nutritional yeast

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

Pulse until powdery. Store in the fridge up to 2 weeks. You can also keep extra in the freezer (up to 3 months) to pull out when you want.

Enjoy!

a sunday collection

The things that make me different are the things that make ME.

~ A.A. Milne ~

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A few of my recent favorites...

♥ Rizzoli and Isles ♥

If you know me, you know that Blue Bloods is one of my top 3 favorite shows. I've watched every episode at least a handful of times each and I just love it to pieces. My dad watched this show from it's beginning and recommended it to me. Now, whenever I watch it, I remember him.  

 

Even though I love rewatching the old episodes and such, I was looking for a show with similar vibes and couldn't find anything that got my attention. But a friend of ours with similar tastes in shows recommended Rizzoli and Isles to me and now I am quite literally obsessed. My favorite thing about the show is the strong family element. The Rizzoli family is a close-knit clan and I love watching their stories unfold. That's also one of my favorite things about Blue Bloods...and even though it still holds the #1 spot in my heart, I'm loving having something new to watch that is fun and enjoyable.

♥ Moonlight in Vermont ♥

Just a sweet Hallmark movie set in gorgeous Vermont. Hallmark movies are always hit or miss for me, but my sister recommended this one after she watched it and enjoyed it. It was charming and sweet and I really liked it.

♥ Vanilla comoro tea with sweet creme oatmilk creamer ♥

Simply the best...I do believe I am addicted.

♥ JJ Heller's I Dream of You album series ♥

JJ Heller became a favorite of mine several years ago when I discovered her "I Dream of You" album series. Since then, she has added several more to her collection and I have been enjoying listening to them recently. My favorite collections are: Joy; Sleep; Love; Calm (Instrumental); and Calm. They are fun and relaxing and nostalgic and calming and magical beyond words. The songs along with her beautiful voice combine to create a truly storybook feel, an experience that takes you back to your childhood and allows you to relive the magic of your young years. Alongside that youthful feel, there is also a nostalgia and a nod to simpler days with lots of old songs that transport you back in time. These are seriously some of my favorites, and definitely part of the soundtrack of my days.

Oh, and she's coming out with a new one later this year!

♥ The Old Woman Who Named Things ♥

An absolutely charming picture book by a favorite author of mine, Cynthia Rylant. She wrote the little series I shared about a couple weeks ago. And this storybook is just as whimsical and lovely and sweet.

♥ Miss Maple's Seeds ♥

This picture book jumped out at me at our library's used bookshop. I'm so glad I picked it up! The illustrations are colorful and cheery and the story is magical and beautiful. Another new-to-me author that I'm going to add to my "must collect all her books" list.

♥ Mary Oliver's poetry ♥

I have loved Mary Oliver's poetry for years now. Hers is just the style of poetry that I like. And for literally seven years or so, I have been on the search for her books at the used bookshops we frequent. And I could never find one. I could, of course, have bought a new copy online, but I don't hardly ever buy new books. Then a couple weeks ago, whilst at our library bookshop, my sister found a copy of her book, Devotions, for me. It was only $2, so I of course picked it up. I've been thoroughly enjoying flipping through here and there reading random poems on whichever page I open to. It's seriously the most delightful thing. I hope to share some favorites with you over time, too! 

♥ Simple Tomato Mushroom Pasta ♥

~ recipe coming in next Sunday's post ~

What have been some of your favorites recently?

summertime's small delights...

 Even though summer is my least favorite time of year, mostly because it’s just too damn hot where I live that you can’t go outside to do anything all season long without sweating like you wouldn’t believe…and not to mention, our summer always lasts way too long…there are some things I do genuinely love about this season.

♥ F L O W E R S !

♥ Lush, green trees!

♥ Fresh fruit, especially watermelon!

♥ Butterflies, lightning bugs, and hanging out on summer nights.

♥ Summer showers…I’m not a lover of sunshine; rain is my jam.

♥ Summer tunes…I have certain songs that I love listening to in the summertime.

♥ The colorful-ness of summer. The Earth is just so rich and vibrant with color and I love it!

♥ Beachy books…I’m loving having a few really summery novels to enjoy. 

♥ Iced tea, and lots of it, please. 

♥ Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and basil. I could live off this stuff!

♥ Celebrating the Fourth of July…it’s seriously one of my favorite celebrations because it’s so simple and fun and I have so many happy memories from my girlhood days of this time of year.

♥ Roadtrips and just drives through the countryside in the summer are where it’s at.

♥ The sounds of summer…birdsong in the morning and an orchestral performance by the crickets at night.

♥ The scent of freshly cut grass.

♥ Summer nights, whether it be baking something in the kitchen or watching a movie on the couch, or just shooting the breeze outside. I literally have tons of happy and sometimes crazy memories of my childhood summer nights. I could probably write a book! 

So, dear summer, even though you’re not my favorite (at least where I live now), you are still pretty damn special. And I shall be grateful for all the memories you hold and all the future memories that I haven’t lived yet. Here’s to making summertime magical and beautiful! 

What are your summertime loves?

the cottage library ♥ the cobble street cousins series

One thing I firmly believe is that a good children's book that can equally be enjoyed by adults is a gem, indeed. Not too long ago, I decided that I wanted to delve in and explore the world of children's and middle grade books. It is a grand, wide world, and there are many countless titles to check out. Over the last wee while, I have found the beginning of a collection that have brought me much delight. And they've enchanted the little girl's spirit that is alive within me. Today's selection is a small part of my growing collection...

Meet Lily, Tess, and Rosie. Three cousins who live on Cobble Street with their Aunt Lucy whilst their parents are a part of the traveling with the ballet. This series of six short but sweet stories follow the adventures of this cousin trio throughout the course of about a year. From their shared attic bedroom, the girls pull together their imaginations and creative ideas and come up with many plans. Some of their adventures include creating a cookie company, surprising their Aunt Lucy, meeting new friends and neighbors, putting on special shows, hosting seasonal parties, making their very own newspaper, and planning delicious treats to bake along the way. The cousins are all unique and bring their special talents and interests to the table, creating an incredibly memorable and special year for everyone. 

 These six books aren't long, and the writing is obviously aimed towards young readers. But something just really drew me into these stories. As I look back on my reading journal, I described these books over and over again as charming, really sweet, gentle, delightful, cozy, and whimsical.  They are full of imagination and wonder and the goodness of childhood. These stories really brought to life the joys of an old-fashioned childhood, before technology and the internet and before children grew up quicker than they're supposed to. They are true comfort reads...for adults and children, alike. And equally important to the story being delightful and charming and whimsical, the illustrations in this book are just incredibly delightful and charming and whimsical...and sweet. I'm a sucker for illustrations and these are some of the best I've seen. In my opinion, if you don't want to jump right into a children's story and it's illustrations, then it's not a book for me. And this is one I really wished I could jump right into. It had that quintessential "storybook" feel.

If you have children, these would make wonderful stories to read together. And as an adult, I think these make some really sweet, charming stories to read, reminding you of the "good ole days". 

The books in The Cobble Street Cousins series are:

(by Cynthia Rylant)

♥ In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen

♥ A Little Shopping 

♥ Special Gifts

♥ Some Good News

♥ Summer Party

♥ Wedding Flowers

I highly recommend this little series of stories...for children and adults alike. You will be charmed and your heart will be warmed. Trust me.

Until next time, dear friends...

May your week be splendid!

♥

 

slowing down and savouring ♥ a spring tea time

Teatime is a chance to slow down, pull back 

and appreciate our surroundings.

-Leticia Baldridge-

Dear friends,

I invite you to savour a few moments of quiet and calm...

brew a pot of your most delicious tea,

choose the most beautiful teacup in your cupboard,

perhaps set a cookie or two, or maybe even a scone, on a pretty plate,

turn your phone to "silent" and turn off all the noises around you.

Curl up in a cozy, squishy chair or sofa, 

if it's cool enough grab a warm blanket or well-loved quilt.

 Sink down into your seat, cozy up,

and take a deep breath.

Soak that up...

that quiet and calm.

Drink it in, let it fill you up. 

For this post, I have taken a handful of my favorite excerpts from Gladys Taber and her writings. 

I find her writing incredibly peaceful, inspiring, and just beautiful. I hope you find some of that here as well...

May this post bring peace to your spirit,

renewal to your heart,

and refreshment to your bones...

 

"It might seem as if June were an old story, with so much poetry written about it, and so many songs sung. And yet every time it comes it is as much of a wonder, as much of a delight. If I had Aladdin's lamp and the usual three wishes, the first would always be, 'Give me the first day of June.' The whole, complete day, with the sky-blue dawn, and the golden noon, and the violet dusk, and the silvered night. With early roses unfolding and a hummingbird over the border. And a whole packet of smells too. New-cut grass, and pea vines, and freshly hoed garden soil."

"Now it is warm enough on these May evenings to sit in the back yard while the stars come slowly out in the eternal depth of the sky. The radio is on in the house, and the music comes out through the open door, even sweeter when it is blended with dusk. The cockers settle down on the terrace, paws folded in, and ears limp at last. The May noon is white as foam. And the May night is sweet as first love. And the heart is lifted up by the happiness which is Spring."

"Somehow, since the war has destroyed so much beauty, I hope many people will begin to save and love the old things that are left, to cherish and preserve whatever is available. It is good for us to keep our roots in the past, just as we draw so much strength and courage from great men and women who have lived before our time. Change is a fine thing; growth is necessary in our ideas, our institutions and our way of life. And yet I think we should be careful not to become a regimented people, and not to discard the value of individuality."

"As long as there is a sky overhead there is beauty, something to live for. Early in the morning, when the birds begin, the light is an infusion of gold through my curtains. All the new insistent green of the world, and the glowing color from a thousand blossoms are in it, and the smell is so heavenly sweet it aches in the heart."

"Life is not, after all, made up of grand moments, grand gestures, glorious achievements. Life is made up of many days filled with small things. Shopping, going to the post office, using the telephone, keeping house- these make up the chief sum of our days. And to me, it seems infinitely greater to make all the people one sees feel a little happier for it than to paint a masterpiece or be in bright lights on Broadway. After we are all hone down by the river of time, the simple kindness of those who fulfill their daily tasks graciously will overbalance any special feat."

"There is a kind of enchantment about a tranquil blue morning. I feel as if something wonderful might happen at any minute; and on the other hand, the day itself is a wonderful happening."

"Yes, in spite of all, I am in life with life. There is more beauty than we can measure in this old world of ours. There is surely more beauty than we can measure in a single night."

"I believe deeply that we should live with as much beauty as we can, every single day that we live. We should surround our daily life with as much charm and graciousness as we possibly can."

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

"'You see', I tell myself, 'there is always some small work to do, the world goes on, and the simple ordinary things of life are good.'"

"The earth keeps her seasons. Sun and wind and rain are vouchsafed humanity. Nothing can take away the security we have in the earth herself. And no mad dictators can lift their iron gloves and wipe off that delicate lilac color above the dark hill. The earth endures, her strength restores us...I took a last look at the sky about the great maples. The sky and the maples and the darkness made the house seem very small. The house belongs to us, and we are allowed to work on the earth around it. The earth is bigger, the sky and stars and moon are too big to belong to man. Thankful I was for the enduring things, and that I, such a small finite creature, have been allowed to recognize the beauty of the world in my small and finite way."

May the beauty and peacefulness of the ritual of teatime

fill you to overflowing with a renewed mind, refreshed spirit,

and a heart to share that beauty and peacefulness with those around you.

Bless you, dear friends!

Thank you for joining me for tea today.

♥ 

Note: All quotations are taken from "The Book of Stillmeadow" by Gladys Taber. All emphasis is mine.

a simple introduction to gentle living ♥

Gentle living is something that I have grown to be very passionate about. Funny enough, even though it's really the way I was raised and how my family has always lived, at least to a large degree, I never realized that until just a couple years ago. It finally dawned on me that gentle living has been part of my life since I took my first breath.

Grab hold of your dreams and make them come true, for you are the key to unlocking your own magic. Now, go. Let your dreams guide you. Reach out and find your happily ever after. 

Walt Disney World 

As I've shared before, I am a highly sensitive, sentimental person who deals quite regularly with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and fear. Along with those two things, I'm an extreme introvert...and an idealist who often doesn't feel like I belong in this world. I have struggled with feeling like an alien of sorts, like an outsider, and with just feeling very different from most people. So I understand completely when someone shares with me that they, too, live with these things as part of their everyday. 

On top of those things about myself, I also want a different sort of life than what I see most folks living. Most folks that I see and know live very shallow, very "in-the-box", very conventional, very meaningless lives. I want something more. I always have, ever since I was a little girl. As I've gotten older and learned a thing or two about myself and what I believe about things, what exactly this means has changed over time and morphed into my thinking and feelings and beliefs that I hold today. They're nearly thirty years in the making...and no doubt, as I grow older, they will probably just get weirder and stronger and even more solidified into my soul than they already are. 

 While there are plenty of experts and professionals out there (99% of which I strongly disagree with), I prefer to take a more relaxed and organic approach to creating a life that is beautiful, meaningful, and true to me. What I will share today, however, is not just for me. This is truly for anyone, and in my opinion, it's the best, wisest, healthiest way to live. It is a way that invites happiness and bliss into your everyday and peace and calm to flood your heart, mind and spirit. I'm not saying that out of arrogance or because I'm so great that I came up with these things all on my own. Because, well, I didn't. These ideals that I hold onto so strongly and believe in so deeply have been formed thanks to some incredible folks I've learned a hell of a lot from over the years. Especially these last four years. These teachers of mine have been some wonderful writers, artists, creators, musicians, homemakers, crafters, holistic teachers, some old, some young, some dead, some alive, but all incredibly unique and gifted in making a beautiful life that tends to body, mind, heart and soul. And on top of those folks from whom I have learned a great deal, I also learn from and alongside my mom and sister. And nearly everything in this post are things that I have learned over the years. And lots of it, well, it's just how I grew up. 

Gentle living is really a simple thing. I believe it includes several aspects that we incorporated into our daily rhythms and lifestyles. It's nothing complicated or overwhelming, for this way of life is simply taking one step in the right direction at a time. Life is a journey and gentle living is part of that journey. Gentle living is all about being kinder to yourself and to others. It's generational living and making generational choices that nurtures the body, mind, soul and heart, along with tending to life in a way that preserves goodness so that future generations can live this way, too.

We are meant to be happy and our lives are created to be filled with happiness and beauty. Gentle living allows us to be happy in a myriad of ways. It invites us to consider our senses and truly taste, see, smell, hear and feel the world around us. It awakens our wonder and rekindles the imagination oftentimes lost deep within us. Happiness is meant for all of us and yet so often we are trying so hard to attain it. And yet, there it lies, right in front of us. So many people live lives they have to escape from, and yet this is about creating a life that you don't want or feel the need to escape from. It is possible to live a life you love and find beautiful. And the truth is, it's a whole lot simpler of an answer than most would admit.

Gentle living equals slow living. Living slowly means that we are not caught up in the hustle and bustle that the world tempts us with at every turn. We realize that not everything calling out our name needs our attention, nor does it mean that we should participate in every activity that comes our way. Slow living means taking the time to breathe and notice more. Far too many people are in a mad dash of hurry to get absolutely nowhere. Abundance comes when we slow down, notice and savour that which is right in front of us. You may find that when you live slowly, you actually get more done because you are focusing only on the things that fill your life with goodness and beauty. All of the other stuff can go. Slow living is about protecting your peace and making sure your roots are planted in the good soil of beauty and calm.

Gentle living equals soft living. Living softly means being gentle with yourself and others. It means showing yourself kindness and grace and truly tending to your wellbeing, soul and mind. It means treating yourself with love and compassion. Oftentimes, it means treating yourself like you would a child. When you treat a child with disrespect, harshness, discipline over guidance, and like they are less than human, they crumble. It creates lasting effects that take a lifetime to recover from. And yet, that is how many people treat children, even (if not, especially) their own. And on top of that, it's oftentimes how people treat themselves. We need to stop hating ourselves, speaking harshly or unlovingly about ourselves, and tearing ourselves down. Being soft isn't weakness. Being soft is being kind, loving, gracious, gentle, compassionate, and nurturing. It begins with how we treat ourselves and then trickles out all around us in how we treat others and live our daily lives.

Gentle living also equals simple living. Simple living allows us to cherish the life we have now. There's nothing wrong with desiring certain things or working towards this or that, but simple living tells us that what we have right here and right now is good and blessed and beautiful. Small things get turned into big, beautiful moments when we see them through this lens. It finds happiness and delight in sitting on the porch in the evening and having long chats after dinner. It's reading a novel before bed or baking fresh bread in the morning. It finds goodness in the world of home and yet also sees the beauty of the grand world waiting for you to explore. Simple living is really that...it's simple. It cultivates beauty in the ordinary, everyday rhythms of our lives and seeks to create abundance within those moments. And, more times than not, even when I am doing something "big" or "grand", it is in a much different way than most other folks I know or see. I always just have my own little way of doing this or that, and am forever just walking my own sweet little path.

Because this is the internet after all, and there all kinds of people out there who read way into things or take things off the deep end, please do not misunderstand me. Let's pause right here before we continue and let me get this out there...This "gentle living" way of life does not mean that you never leave the house or live without modern conveniences like Little House on the Prairie. It doesn't mean that sometimes you are busy and you feel as though your head will spin right off your body. It doesn't mean that you don't have responsibilities or that your life looks like some sort of Cinderella tale. 

Honestly. Get real.

We are all human. We all deal with things. We all live the same 24 hours a day. That, however, doesn't mean that there is only one way to live and that we must follow the status quo. You can live this way. There are a hundred ways to do so. It's not about hard fast rules (it's really about no rules) or some overly complicated way of living (it's really about simplifying everything that's been overly complicated for decades now). It really is quite simple. It's not some fantasy...I know folks who really live this way. I'm one of them. It's an overall approach to life and choosing a different way than what has been sold to us by mainstream society and Hollywood alike, religious and secular groups equally, pharmaceutical companies, the so-called "mental health" agenda, educational systems, big corporations, fast food industries, all numbers of experts on just about every darn topic in the world, and well, just about everyone. Because we've all probably heard... "everyone's doing it". Well, guess what, you don't have to!

If you want to, that's fine. But if you're interested in something different, that's the folks that I'm writing to. And if that's you, I'm glad you're here. ♥

Gentle living equals seasonal living. Living in harmony with the earth brings balance and peace. Enjoying each of nature's passing seasons as they come around year after year. Cherishing the snowy white winter and the fresh flowers of spring to the summer nights with lightning bugs flying around and autumn's carpet of colorful, crunchy fallen leaves. There is abundance found in the harvest of each season and getting to enjoy that harvest on our plates at mealtime. It means savouring the beauty that comes with each season and not wishing away this one for the next. Reawaking our wonder each time the earth brings forth new beauty and allowing us to drink in the splendour of that gift. Seasonal living feeds the mind, soul and body in tremendous ways. And it brings with it fresh perspective, renewal and peace and a return to wonder, which all of these are overflowing blessings.  

Gentle living equals authentic living. Authenticity is a rare thing these days, especially in the age of social media. But authenticity is a true gem. When you are authentic, you are embracing your true self and allowing her (or him) to shine brightly through. It means accepting yourself for exactly the way you were made and not trying to change or fix things that make you who you are. It's being true to yourself. It's seeing your personality as just the right one for you, not in need of any fixing. It's realizing that you are enough and perfect just the way you are. It's not buying the many lies or falling into the countless traps that Hollywood or beauty industries send out, but instead, choosing to see yourself as beautiful simply because you are...naturally, truly you. It's having zero tolerance for anything less than true and authentic and genuine. 

You may wonder how these aspects of gentle living bring healing and peace to those of us with anxiety or intrusive thoughts or being highly sensitive or sentimental, or whatever else you want to add. I believe that living a meaningful life brings these things. Also living a life that desires and seeks to make beauty wherever you bring these things. And finally, living a life close to the earth and in harmony with nature also brings these things. Living simply and slowly and softly and being authentic is about being kinder to yourself and others. Living seasonably and as naturally as possible is about being kinder to the earth as well as your wellbeing. And yet they all overlap. When you live slowly and simply and seasonably and softly and authentically, you are being kinder to yourself and others. It's a cycle of kindness. And it's constant if we allow it to be. The circle isn't broken unless we are the ones to break it.

Gentle living brings abundance into your everyday life when you allow these gentle changes into your ordinary rhythms. Living gently isn't hard or complicated, but it does ask of us to be creative and intentional and purposeful and most of all...kind. Kinder to ourselves, to those around us and to this beautiful dwelling place...the earth.

Gentle living is a journey, and it's not one that should be rushed. It's one day at a time, one step at a time, one gift at a time. Through all of these things come peace and calm, abundance and blessing, beauty and wonder, harmony and happiness, goodness and kindness. It's truly the way of fighting against the fears and anxieties and stresses that too often fill our minds and days and bring tension to our bodies. 

There is oh so much more I would love to say about this topic, as it is something I am very passionate about and hold dearly in my soul. But this post was just meant as a condensed overview, a sprinkling of sorts or gently tiptoeing into this topic. I do hope to share more on gentle living and all the many aspects of it throughout many posts here. Some of which already exist, if you just look through my archives.

I hope this gave you even just a bit of encouragement towards creating a life that truly tends to your wellbeing...♥♥♥

A lot of good things can come from slowing down.

Moonlight in Vermont