It's been a long break since my last post back in mid January. I was ambushed by a full time job that consumed my time and energy but paid my bills. I compromised a lot on how I wanted to live - to slow things down and live with more simplicity and creativity. I ended up with no time for the simple life. No space for family time. No energy for creativity. There's lots to catch up on.
One of the good things about going through a tough time is that I'm making some decisions to make changes that will make a difference. Happiness is not about individual entitlement and materialism but more about kindness and empathy with others, connecting with them in whatever situation they are in, and not walking away because of being too busy or caught up with deadlines to notice things and to care. I hadn't been able to be with my beautiful Melbourne daughter, son-in-law and grandson, nor spend the time with my Yass son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, or my Farmer son and other family and friends here in Cowra. I know that I am at my most happiest when I am with them just doing the little things of daily life - sharing a meal, helping out, holding a child and reading a story, walking the dogs, pottering in the garden.
So I've been making up for lost time since my 12 month work contract finished at the end of August. I've been on full time Nanna duties in the Yarra Ranges caring for my 14 month old grandson while my daughter returned to work. It's been amazing to be part of their journey as they adjust to new routines. I'm missing my little man so much now I'm back in Cowra - his fluffy hair and cuddles in the morning, his playfulness, his chatting and saying new words, reading books, chubby legs crawling so quickly . . .
I'm back to reclaiming my simple life: being grounded, finding my centre, my core strength, my soul and giving it voice - allowing gentleness and kindness space instead of the rushed hard word, the knee-jerk reaction. It's meant some changes. With the US election done and President Elect Trump dominating the news, it's best for me to have the TV off, especially as our politics isn't much better. Having the TV off is making the evenings quieter and giving me time to use the longer daylight hours to garden and then read or listen to podcasts. I'm getting to bed earlier and getting up earlier. At 6 am, I'm having a quiet cuppa on the front verandah, reading and journalling - letting my thoughts out and giving my day a sense of direction. I'm walking Duncan, my old border collie, each morning and never fail to come home inspired and refreshed. I'm baking no-knead sour dough every second day and working hard to establish lots of herbs and vegetables in the garden. There's lots to catch up on after being away for nearly seven weeks.
I've given myself "leave without pay" until the end of February - I'll have to stick to my budget to make it work. I like a challenge!
Making: Knitting two cushion covers in Patons Botanica
Baking: No-knead sour dough
Sowing: Swan River Daisy seed
Reading: "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman (a slow start but I'm hooked)
Listening: Krista Tippett's podcast "Becoming Wise"
Challenge: To write down three lines in a notebook every day (whatever comes to mind, nothing fancy or to be shown to anyone) and see what I notice.
Picked on my walk this morning, Native Frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum), with a delicate sweet frangipani fragrance which always reminds me of summer holidays in Manly.
