Tag: health

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?

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 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???