Simple Living, Active Mindfulness, and all the Little Gifts
As my husband and I were driving home from a weekend in the mountains after celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary in Black Mountain, North Carolina we chatted as we drove and I shared with my husband a few of my thoughts or rambles as I call them. I shared with my husband the happiest times of my life, and the not so happy times as well and one of the things that the happy times have a correlation to specifically my connection with other people.
We really are here on this planet to connect to others and follow our passions and if the money comes that’s great too because then we can do more to help others that we are on this planet and we all know that is something we should all take part in. The quote below is one of my all time favorites so I hope it resonates with you as you read this post! This obviously isn’t your formula; I guess it could be but I feel we all have to find our own formula that works for us but I hope you appreciate my perspective!
I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.
-Laura Ingalls Wilder
My husband and I have people come over to our homestead to learn about beekeeping at our house and we have homestead open houses and we do all of this so that others can learn from us, what we do well, and what we have failed at. Homesteading is actually a pursuit that is best shared with others and this includes other topics above and beyond homesteading.
I know I haven’t posted in a bit and I think this soulful post is coming from my time spent in the mountains and I realized that I felt recharged after a weekend spent listening to music. I guess listening to music may very well be one of the most soul re-generating activities ever!
Some Tips For Simple Living
Gratitude
Listen to music you love
Spend time with friends
Spend time doing pursuits you love (writing, art, cooking, horse back riding, walking, bike riding, reading, etc…)
Don’t keep up with the Jones’s….just don’t
Caring for others when they are grieving or ill
Sharing the wealth from your garden when you have more than you need
Sharing primitive skills and bartering
Learning new skills from others
Surround yourself with people who bring you joy (obviously this is not always possible but you can limit time spent with those who stress you out or drain you)
Have empathy for those that don’t understand this list
Mindfulness
This year I have set aside time to be more mindful. Here is my list that has helped me pull through some tough times.
Mindful of breath
Drinking lots of fresh, delicious water
Getting my required sleep 7.5 to 8.5 hours
Laughter (Fit this in wherever and whenever you can!)
Walking, lots of walking!
You don’t have to explain yourself to others!
Little Gifts
Look for visitors like little finches, dragonflies, lady bugs….I always think of these friends as little gifts maybe someone is trying to encourage you. After my Dad passed I kept seeing bluebirds, and when my Granddad died I kept seeing butterflies. The summer my paternal Grandma passed their were dragonflies everywhere.
It could be an unexpected quote that just touches your heart-strings!
A relationship renewed after a season of winter
A new friend
A dream that causes you to pay attention or take a course of action
Forgiveness is a gift most especially for the person holding judgement or resentment
I look around and I see that I live truly an abundant life. We have a garden going at all times, and the bees fly in and out of the hives during the day, in the evening the bats and the dragonflies come out around the time the chickens go in to roost for the evening.
Do my musings resonate with you where you are at in your journey? If so I would love to hear practices that you have put into place for simple living, mindfulness, and enjoying all the little gifts as I call them.
I wish you all a beautiful week…until next time!
Fondly,
I totally loved this post and how grateful you are for everything. I think mindfulness and gratitude are so important. So glad I found your blog!
Angie thank you so much for sharing! Sorry I just saw this…it is an extremely time at my work. I appreciate that you took the time to stop by and share your thoughts with me!
Don’t know how I missed this post. It somehow went to another file. This is food for thought. Thank you for sharing. A simple, gratifying life is the best of all. I believe I’m going to have to agree with Laura Ingalls Wilder on this one. Blessing to you always.
Thank you for sharing! So appreciate you stopping in!