Savoring simple daily pleasures
As pressure builds during this busy time of year, even while employing techniques regualrly throughout the day of taking a pause, mentally regrouping, breath work, hydrating- and all that good stuff, its all too easy to get caught up, feel the overwhelm creeping up and go about our days in a constant state of alert, heart rates elivated and cortisol spikes a plenty.
On this, the eve of my -notoriously- busiest week of the year, I decided to spend as much of this Sunday at home, ensuring the house was clean and tidy, laundry up to date, beds all freshly made with clean linens, fridge, and pantry well stocked with good, nutritious food, the lawns mown, and a hearty family meal followed by an early night to round off the weekend.
The girls have been bust socializing at various beaches enjoying the early summer sun, and I took a walk with a podcast up a favorite shady woodland track.
On my walk, I had a good talking to myself about the week ahead:
I wanted to reframe the jam-packed week - looking at it as something to savour and enjoy, not dread or worry about before its begun.
There is no denying I will be shattered come next weekend- the week entails my regular weekday full-time job, heading straight across town when I finish there each day to don a headset and Backstage crew Tee Shirt to help at the annual dance school production until late each evening, and somewhere between the drive home and my 5am wake up my third role of homemaker, wife, and Mother- keeping the household fed, watered, clean and ticking over!
But, and Its a bug BUT: I am choosing to savour and enjoy all the little moments along the way. Im going to look for and enjoy all the Ordinary Magic - the little tiny tasks, moments and treasures we can choose to notice and enjoy in our everyday. I will no doubt look back on these years with fondness and be so very grateful I was able to participate, and share the joy of such a special time in my little dancers lives.
Spending time with my daughter doing something she loves to do; the evening drives in as the sun sets and watching the city sparkle with Christmas lights, the social aspect and comraderie of all the other parents who are doing exactly the same as me for that week, and when I return home, I intend to savor my sanctuary- making it a space in the busyness and rushing and adrenaline of performance, where kindness is commonplace, and peace prevails.
I am going to do small things each day and enjoy them greatly- even if that's just the satisfaction of folding the line-dried washing, still warm from the day's sun, or stepping into a hot shower after a long day, using a favorite scented soap and anticipating clinging into my long-awaited bed. The freshness of a salad I have taken the time to pack earlier in the morning as my picnic dinner by the stage door. A heart-shaped leaf I pass on my way to the theatre.
I plan to look to my furry babies in the moments of quiet, where, in their feline wisdom they never seem to get numb or ambivalent about sheer joy- a nap, a meal, a cuddle, a cozy spot to get comfortable, and the quietitude and haven of home- all equally joyous to them each and every day. I need a sprinkle of that too.
So, while I enjoy the ordinary magic of the gentle bubbling of the pot on my stove, the cicadas chirruping in the garden now the sun has dipped, and the deep sense of well-being felt after a sunny active, and productive day- I will leave you with that thought.
To seek out the ordinary magic in your everydays- to elevate, add sparkle, and a sense of such deep contentedness even in the midst of a hectic schedule.
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