Savoring simple daily pleasures
This week has been one of those weeks- It has raced by in a bit of a blur of work, appointments, dance classes, chores, errands and social engagements.
But, in amongst these full days and evenings, I have consciously made time and found little moments and pockets of calm, making the week that much more pleasurable and allowing reflection and tranquility to settle, however briefly. In turn, this helps the busyness to feel less overwhelming, and the full schedule to feel less draining- when punctuated with moments of pure joy and contentment.
A pause to bend and breathe the scent of the intoxicating roses deeply; a good, bracing walk, with a coffee stop in which to chat at leisure with a friend; a regular loop walk one warm evening stopping to catch up with several locals, friends, and acquaintances; sinking into fresh bed linens with a new book; enjoying my freshly cleaned home before a maelstrom of teenage culinary creation takes hold- again; re sticking my fridge and pantry with good, healthy nutritious food; Barbequeing and eating dinner al fresco for the first time this season; waking naturally with the pink glow of dawn not an intrusive alarm clock.
All this is helped greatly by the longer warmer days as we head towards summer here.
I have intentionally and thoughtfully tuned in and listened to my body since returning from our Fijian sojourn- despite the lighter mornings and longer days, I'm finding the routine I have kept for years is just not suiting me at the moment. I fought it for a while and kept pushing myself and berating myself a little for not managing to accomplish my usual 5am starts and vigorous workouts immediately upon waking. I was at the point where I'd wake up groggily from the alarm, drag myself out of bed, and then be so tired I wasn't able to put in the effort to achieve a worthwhile run or workout, then I'd be left tired from waking early, and having not managed to accomplish what I set out to by getting up then. It was loose loose.
So I'm being gentle on myself- I've pulled back from the 5am's and although I'm usually still semi-conscious by then I'm dozing and resting until closer to 6am. With the weather a little more settled, drier, and a whole lot warmer, I can walk to my place of work pretty much 5 days a week- so Im still active first thing, and other days I might manage 20 minutes of resistance training or yoga before my morning shower and routines. Longer evenings mean I always have time to fit in some other form of exercise and still eat a healthy, nutritious meal at a reasonable time before the sun sets, and I feel so much more relaxed and in control for it. It's as though a weight has lifted (If you pardon the pun) and I have let go of the guilt and sense of obligation. Rhythms change, and it's okay to adapt and change with them. It's not to say I'll never start regularly rising at 5am again- but clearly, my body would rather have the extra rest for this chapter.
Amazingly Its like a release and an instant energizer, free of the constraints of a routine that was no longer serving me but that I had been trying to bully myself into submission of continuously.
Sometimes its only when we allow ourselves to step back and look objectively, that we see the tweaks and changes required to meet our current needs that our subconscious is potentially screaming at us!
A dear friend and colleague was admitted to hospital recently for a stay they had not anticipated. Happily, they are making good progress and recovering well, but her ordeal served as a timely reminder to be gentle on ourselves. Tune in, and show the same patience and compassion to ourselves as we would a dear friend or loved one.
Take those few moments to light a candle, read a few pages, have a conversation, write a letter, smell a rose- they are just as important and nurturing as a grueling cardio session. There is no point in having a healthy strong body if we cant enjoy living in it.
Today is Sunday, and while yesterday was pleasantly busy with household tasks and errands, lawn mowing and grocery shopping, manicures and beach walks, for the first time in a LONG time, today feels blissfully like a true day of rest. nothing is nagging or niggling at me, there is a scant list of have-to's which are very minor and not unpleasant or taxing, and for the most part, the day is deliciously stretching out ahead of me after this morning's long, early walk.
Bliss. A day to savour indeed.
The sunlight streaming through the house before 7am this morning, promising a warm sunny late spring Sunday- even while highlighting my dirty windows - fills me with joy.
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