Tag: simplicity

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

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.

Dulce de Leche 101

I love the simplicity of ‘dulce de leche.’ The translation is ‘sweet milk’ but refers to a sumptuous carmelization process of sugar in milk. What could possibly be wrong with that?

Simplicity keeps me from drowning under the daily guilt of the ‘shoulda, coulda, wouldas’.

The uncomplicated ingredients of my life are producing something that day by day are restoring my soul.

My Recipe for Uncomplicated:

1 c Gratitude

2 c Presence

A pinch of flexibility

1 big ol’ sack of Grace

Cultivating 101

I have killed 2 succulents, 2 palms, and a fern this year.

I am learning the art of lovingly and consistently caring for my plants through trial and error… a lot of error… and that the standard of care and attention can vary from plant to plant.

In this season of my life, I too require loving and consistent care.

I am cultivating daily habits in my life that are very basic but consistent and indicative of a transformation that is occurring on the soul level.

Curating 101

The yellow tulips I lovingly placed in our en suite bathroom are in peril. The vase leaks.

I could simply swap out the vase; but the contrast between the cobalt blue and the striking tulips gives me joy.

And so I refill the vase every morning.

I am learning to curate joy in my daily life. I am learning to refill myself daily. I am ‘selecting, organizing, and presenting’ *stuff and things* ‘using expert knowledge.’

Who has better expert knowledge of me than me??