Happy Monday, friends.
For all the Mothers out there, I hope your day was filled with appreciation and love.
Our Mother’s Day was spent at a beautiful family picnic during the day, and at my brother’s favorite restaurant in town at night. This was my first “dog mom’s day” where I was able to have my fur babies with me, which made it all feel just a little more special. While I know raising humans and dogs are different experiences, I have been so fortunate in my life to have incredibly special bonds with my dogs. In so many ways, I love and care for them as if they were human. So much so, that my mom used to get me Mother’s Day gifts from my Labrador, “Moo” in my twenties. She’d have him bring it down the stairs to me and everything. It was one of my most favorite moments.
On Saturday, we went WEDDING dress shopping… and, I did say “yes”. It was such a great afternoon with my mom, best friend, future sisters, and future mom. The wedding is a little over 300 days away, which seems far away but we all know it will be here before we know it.
It was a simple weekend, and sometimes it’s those moments that leave a lasting impact.
As we get older, our perception of what matters changes. If you’re lucky, this change will have you focusing more on “who” matters than “what” matters: a shift that allows you to take inventory of your life.
What we start to learn is that the most beautiful moments are rooted in simplicity. Yes, we can buy experiences. They mean nothing, though, if we can’t learn to appreciate them.
Simplicity gives you choices on how to live your life. Simplicity gives you financial stability, opportunities to enjoy experiences, and moments to appreciate the world around you.
So, why then does life get so complicated?
Sometimes, it’s moments that are out of our control.
More often than not though, it’s us making it complicated.
In every moment of our life- good, bad, devastating, joyous- we have a choice of how we process it. We have a choice to protect our boundaries. We have a choice in how we handle our emotions because our emotions are the only thing we can control.
If your life feels chaotic, evaluate the choices that you’re making first.
Are you protecting your boundaries?
Are you focused on your motivation?
Are you spending outside your means?
Are you dwelling in a singular moment?
Or, are you processing and moving forward?
Life is not perfect- that doesn’t mean we have to focus on the bad. Instead, focus on the good.
If you are looking to have a simple life, look at how you spend your day first. Are you comparing yourself to someone? Constantly multitasking? Are you sleeping enough? Is your home messy? Do you spend time alone or are you constantly surrounded?
The simplicity starts with your choices, and your choices have to reflect presence.
If you want a simple life, learn to like nature. Learn to appreciate the spring bloom. Take notice of how the tree you pass every day changes from season to season. Put your phone down and listen to the birds or the way the wind rustles the branches above.
If you want to feel more rooted, take the time to do one task at a time. Appreciate that task and then move on to the next. If you want to feel more at peace, put your phone on do not disturb at a certain point at night and honor it. If you’re worried about an emergency, put key people on emergency bypass to rest your mind.
If you feel stuck, spend 5 minutes a day finding gratitude. Write it down, and cherish it. Gratitude is the first step to simplicity, really.
Say “I love you” more often, keep your environment tidy, and most importantly, accept the effortless. Do not make problems when there aren’t any.
To find simplicity is to remember that we have all that we need already- we just have to clear out the noise that stands in our way.
You won’t remember the moments you felt frenzied.
You won’t remember the arguments with people that riled you up.
You will remember watching the ducklings grow at your local park, though. Or, the way your dog sprints towards you when he gets lost in the sniff. You will remember the first time your child laughs or stands and you will remember that Mother’s day when you just talked in a beautiful park.
You will find peace, you just have to make the choice to get there.
JOURNAL PROMPT OF THE WEEK:
This week, let’s focus on finding simplicity. This week’s journal prompt is a sensory one. I want you to find a quiet moment in your life, and do the following:
Describe the way the sky looks:
Describes the temperature. Is there a chill? A brisk wind? Are you indoors?
Look to your left or right and describe the first thing you see. If it’s an indoor plant, describe its leaves. If it’s a book, write down the title. Take inventory.
Now, take a deep breath and write how you’re feeling right now.
I’ll go first. I’m writing this from my iPad at Heckscher Park, for reference.
Describe the way the sky looks: It’s one of those beautiful spring days when the cotton candy clouds pop so brightly against the blue of the sky. Above me, a duck just flew to the pond and the sun feels like it’s taken over the entire sky.
Describes the temperature. Is there a chill? A brisk wind? Are you indoors? It’s brisk, and there is a soft wind that cools the air more than I expected for a day that reads 74 degrees. I am outside, sitting on a bench overlooking the pond at the park, Marco laying next to me.
Look to your left or right and describe the first thing you see. If it’s an indoor plant, describe its leaves. If it’s a book, write down the title. Take inventory. To my left, past the fence of the little wooden paddock, is two male ducks no doubt hiding away from their wives who are undoubtedly squawking at the now teenage ducklings who wander everywhere. The male ducks have such beautiful deep royal blue and emerald feathers, although Marco’s presence must be startling them because they’re squawking and hastily swimming away. Past the ducks, there is a beautiful magnolia tree blowing in the wind and the end season of cherry blossoms.
Now, take a deep breath and write how you’re feeling right now. I feel grateful that I work and live in such a beautiful neighborhood. Grateful that for the last month, I’ve watched as ducks, swans, and geese hatch their babies and protect them as they grow. I feel relieved that in my own life, I’m maintaining control of my emotions despite outside noise. I feel a sense of pride knowing that I’m SO afraid of my dreams failing but continue to push past fear because failure is not trying. I also feel a sense of knowing that my life is only on the up, and I smile thinking about what is on the horizon.
Now, it’s your turn. Do this once, and then try again next week. This exercise is meant to focus on you and bring you to your present. The entire goal is to build habits of being present, even in a noisy, busy park.
As always, I’m grateful you’re here. My goal this week is to work on some merchandise and update the Salt with Soul shop. My week is hectic though, with after-work things tonight, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday so fingers crossed I find balance.
I’ll be back Thursday with a little bit of Salt. Until then, follow (@) leannegelish or (@) salt_withsoul on Instagram.