A Nugget of Wisdom
Finding beauty in the small things
Today I was invited to pause for a while, to gather the scattered pieces of my being and restore order. The gentle, healing energy of the New Moon added qualities of compassion, acceptance and letting go. This has been helping me to accept what I can’t fix and focus on what I can.
The world can feel complicated at times, cluttered with information and ideas that are all vying for our attention. It threatens to consume my vitality and sense of wellness on a daily basis unless I come back to what is essential.
What is essential though?
To me, it boils down to the six things below:
The breath - it’s my doorway into the present moment and my greatest teacher in life.
Getting into my body - As a writer I can spend a lot of time in my head. Exercise, breathwork, and jumping into some cold water bring me right back into my body and they are an essential part of my daily routine. It also makes my headspace cleaner so it’s a win-win from all angles.
Snuggling with my cat - when I’m done at the gym I come and snuggle my cat and it’s one of my favourite parts of the day.
Growing food - Having the space to grow my own veggies has been one of the greatest gifts of living on a farm. It’s way harder than I thought but the thrill I get when my plate consists (mostly) of food I’ve picked just 5 minutes before is something not to be missed.
Sitting in stillness for a few minutes every day - this helps me take stock of where I’m at, where I want to go, and how I want to get there. It also slows down time which feels like a precious commodity at the moment.
Writing - writing turns my scattered thoughts into something true and meaningful and I love that. It’s like my own version of therapy.
Whenever I’m ever in doubt, I follow the advice of the wise
Here is my simple 4-step strategy that I use to live a peaceful life whenever I’m in doubt. It comes from an ancient Chinese teacher and it’s lasted the distance of time.
Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.- Lao Tzu
The older I get, the more I’m leaning into this kind of life. And from my own direct experience, I can see it really works.
What are some of the essential things that are important to you in your life?