real life – La Vie Douce

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

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.)

Renaissance 101

I think everyone encounters a crisis of belief of sorts in their lifetime; where your fundamental ‘raison d’etre’ gets challenged.

Reverse engineering the essence of you and your reason for being doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

I like to picture myself as a little girl. A little girl who didn’t know hurt other than an occasional scraped knee. It is as simple as that. Whatever that little girl did…. I want to do that.

My bliss, my raison d’etre comes out of me just being me.

You do you boo. You do you.

Wonder 101

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is a magical thing. Little ones delight in the smallest things; hearing a bird sing, touching grass for the first time, tasting an apple, smelling a flower. Oh how those moments are so very precious.

To be as children, seeing things for the first time is completely within the realm of possibility. A few things that can move us towards a life full of wonder and beauty :

Slowing down.
Paying attention.
Getting outside in nature.
Giving thanks .