Tag: depression

Mocking sun

The ability to adapt within the human spirit is astonishing. It is at the times when we know hardship is coming that we can take a moment to appreciate a small thing of beauty like the sun dogs I was blessed to see this morning.

(Sun dog- “a bright spot in the sky appearing on either side of the sun, formed by refraction of sunlight through ice crystals high in the earth’s atmosphere” )— which means wet weather … aka ‘snow’ is coming.

How ironic that my intention with this blog at its inception was to write about slowing down and appreciating the good life.

My life is not slow. It is not one of ease. In fact, as I write this I am painfully aware of the fact that I really need to pluck my eyebrows amongst other things that have just gone to the wayside. Bright spot… at least I still have brows to pluck??!

Just because my life isn’t one of repose doesn’t mean it doesn’t have many moments that are oh so sweet. Let’s all take a moment and self check our thought life… what is difficult in your current circumstances but also has some sweet sweet spots worth acknowledging?

Pamplemousse et pastèque

Sometimes language fails me. Sometimes there are just no words to express the feeling, the experience, the thoughts.

For the life of me I couldn’t remember what ‘watermelon’ was in French! I have been speaking French for most of my lifetime and yet the word escaped me.

I don’t think I know much of anything about ‘la vie douce‘ except for my personal experience. I don’t have a magic wand or a secret formula that can solve everyone’s woes.

It is hard to write about something from a place of loss or ignorance or pain. But of late the acronym KISS has been on my mind… keep it simple ‘sweetie’ or ‘stupid’ for those who like to call a spade a spade… 😜

I have the privilege as a foster mom to babies to see physical development at its very beginning. I get to see first smiles, hear first words, see first steps. Everything has to have a beginning. We all have to start somewhere. Baby steps.

I’ve been on a path of wellness as I recognize that as I age I need to not take my body for granted. I have young ones depending on me. More importantly, I need to care for myself well as I can’t keep serving these young ones, my family, my friends, my church, my community from a continuously empty tank.

La vie douce— my baby step— my sweet life for today consists of sitting down to put this rambling here. My baby step involves doing so from a place of openness, recognizing I have a lot to learn. Knowing that I am but a lump of clay being formed into something beautiful by my Creator. I am seeking Him as I breathe in the warm breeze and feel the gentle wind on my face. He is good. All the works of His hands are good.

And so today, I breathe Him in. Today He is my everything and the key to the sweet life I crave.

Franglais

One doesn’t know what they don’t know until they try to translate it into their second language on the fly.

How did I survive all of these years without knowing the word ‘sloth’ in French??!?

I am a lifelong learner. I have my masters in the school of hard knocks but in academia I am more of a dabbler.

I have discovered that there is no better moment than this one, in this season, for no other reason than for the joy of learning to study Spanish.

I have added a language learning app to my repertoire of pick me ups. Although I am not able to do it daily, or sometimes even weekly… I am slowly and steadily growing in skill.

No matter our age, or experience… we are not cooked yet. Until we come to the end of our days, discovering and learning is a crucial part of our existence. La vie douce for me is acknowledging that a) I am not a finished product but rather a work in progress.

b) we are never too old to learn.

Mes douleurs de croissance

Anything worthwhile doing requires some level of discomfort. Growing pains are simply a signal that we are on the right path.

We are made to stretch. There is a reason many of us get a restlessness in us. Restlessness occurs when we aren’t being obedient to the call in our daily lives that compels us towards loving kindness and goodness towards others (and ourselves) in our present circumstances.

It is countercultural but I always prefer to err on the side of Jesus.

La vie douce occurs when we live by this very simple instruction:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself.”

It is as easy (or as difficult) as that.

Growth=stretching=more growth=more stretching

La mauvaise taille

I love t-shirts that have funny or empowering phrases on them.

I tried one on this morning that just plain didn’t fit… not just in size but in principle. I am so thankful. I am thankful that not every shirt fits.

I am thankful that not every impulsive idea I have pans out.

I am thankful that not every job I have worked has been ideal.

I am so very thankful that not every way I have defined my worth has been true.

La vie douce becomes our present reality through daily putting one foot in front of the other and embracing the day. Embracing the day no matter what it brings; because each moment, each step is a teachable moment.

Our lives are NOT to be like that inspirationally sized pair of skinny jeans we keep in the back of our closets. Who I am right now, and my life right now… it. is. enough. I. am. enough.

Une pastèque avec prosciutto

I can’t lie to you, I had to google ‘watermelon’ in French.

Language is a funny thing. We can be fluent yet find ourselves making sound effects or miming a thing in order to communicate. Why is that?

I may be a plagiarist now. I stole a recipe. Well, actually I may be more of an inspirational plagiarist… as the only thing that resembles the original recipe is the watermelon. I. am. weird.

I am completely obsessed with putting watermelon on salad. I start with a bed of Arugula (my salad green of choice lately), cube some watermelon, sprinkle some pumpkin seeds or pistachios on top, add some goat cheese and serve with my protein of choice. For dressing I use avocado oil, salt and pepper. Prosciutto is my most recent addition and my protein of choice. (I blame Tanya Lilley-Chan of #selfaesthetics for that little gem.)

So why am I sharing my salad du jour? Simply because when all is said and done, when I look at the contrast of all the colors on my plate, it brings me pleasure. And the complimentary tastes and textures nourish my body well and satisfy me on every level.

La vie douce is using all of our senses and taking it all in with a touch of gratitude and zest for life.

P.S. the salad below isn’t even the same salad I just shared above! It was just so ‘purdy’ I needed to share it.

Tapenade et les pistaches

I think I am forever spoiled by my former life of living in such close proximity to the bounties of nature.

I have learned and then subsequently forgotten the fine art of seasonal eating. Today, I remembered.

Fresh figs are currently available at my local store. These bejewelled beauties regally adorned my baby arugula salad. I added a leftover bbq chicken thigh, some goat cheese and a handful of freshly shelled pistachios. My dressing… salt, pepper and avocado oil. Voila!!!

La vie douce, the sweet life does not overcomplicate. La vie douce can be as simple as taking stock of your resources (in this case my fridge contents) and making it into something beautiful… a feast for the senses!

What are you overlooking today? Have you been sidelined thinking you are not enough or that you don’t have enough? Not skinny enough? Not smart enough? Not loveable? Unworthy? What other lie have you been telling yourself? What other false belief has the world been giving you?

Let me assure you. You. Are. Enough. The simplicity of who you are is what makes you beautiful! Take stock. I am confident you will discover I am right.

La vie Pastorale

Plucking berries from my grandmother’s raspberry bush and popping them straight into my mouth is the epitome of farm to table; the memory of which is so very sweet.

Pastorale: suggestive of an idyll; charmingly simple and serene way of life. (source- google)

Why do we complicate things? I think our overabundance stifles our creativity and stunts our ability to live life as we are intended.

P.S. This blog was inspired by me cleaning out our fridge today. #rottenfruit

Des cuisses de fer

Did you know that it is a scientifically proven fact that naked toddlers run faster than clothed toddlers?

I have been having a fight with myself. I am feeling like I may need to up my cardio. Little man’s cherub-like physique is only getting speedier and this 40-ish body of mine needs some fine tuning in order to keep up.

I love how little man’s brain works. A) I have legs B) I have feet C) I can run.

To implement this daily practice might prove to be life altering.

A) gratitude (ie. I have legs and feet!)

B) embracing my reality (I am fearfully and wonderfully made — strong and capable even!)

C) taking action based on truth.

La vie douce possesses a certain kind of self-denial. The kind of self-denial that holds every thought captive and measures it against truth. Truth= action without fear. Anyone up for a slow, slow, slow jog???

La Passion

I have a toddler with a singular purpose in his daily life. His purpose is to just be.

What if.

What if I lived my life with a singular purpose? What if that purpose is to just be? To just be me. To be the me I was created to be?

My little man knows how to do that. And his contribution to this world just as he is, is enough. In fact, it is breathtaking.

La Passion. Zest. Exuberance. Fire. Intensity. Fervor. That. That to me sounds like the good life. La vie douce. Yes. Please.

(Fyi… this is little man’s favorite song. He knows truth when he hears it.)