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I try to do this once a season. To take ten minutes to sit and look inwards, to catch up with where I am right now. I had a rather intense week last week and it’s become clear to me how much I’ve grown into my adult self in the past few years. I’m calm in a crisis these days, I’m getting better and better of letting go of the things (and people) that don’t work in my life and nurturning those that do. I’m getting better at letting go – this is a huge thing for me… and it wasn’t until really sat down and looked at myself through the mirror of this list that I realised how much I had changed.
The trade off for being connected in my day to day life is that I often don’t have time to grow my online connections so much – but then I reminded myself of this post, and I took the time to do this little reflection and I realised something that is perhaps the most important thing of all – there is no connection like that of real people – with hands to hold and cake to share and tears to share… There is a beautiful thing about connecting with ourselves and with the people who are right in front of us. It’s something that transcends anything that can be pinned on a pinterest board or said in 140 characters or less – it’s more than a must have compilation full of quirky prints and geometric patterns. It’s something you can touch, it’s something that can hug you back. It’s something that helps you heal and helps you grow. I don’t know about you. But I prefer to be able to touch stuff… I prefer taking stock than making wish lists. Don’t you?
Making: oils and balms
Cooking: nutrient rich broths and sweet cakes
Drinking: tea… tea and more tea.
Reading: The Pilgrimage
Wanting: another slice of cake
Looking: toward the horizon.
Playing: in the garden.
Wasting: as little as possible.
Sewing: patches on the knees of little jeans
Wishing: on a star
Enjoying: dropping little gifts on doorsteps
Waiting: without worrying.
Liking: some intense alone time.
Wondering: what comes next for us.
Loving: myself more these days
Hoping: for good news
Marvelling: at the strength of young people in difficult situations.
Needing: nothing. lucky us, hey?
Smelling: pumpkin and spice
Wearing: Woolen jumpers and fluffy socks
Following: butterflies around the garden
Noticing: the age lines appearing
Knowing: that there will always be more to be done
Thinking: about my friends.
Bookmarking: books.
Opening: book after book after book.
Giggling: with the cheekiest little toddler
Feeling: A resounding sense of calm.
Have you checked in with yourself? Have you taken stock lately?
Taking Stock is the lovechild of Pip from Meet me at Mikes? You should pay her a visit, she’s pretty ace and has an endless stream of awesome stuff going on in her little corner of the internet.
slowmamma - I’m new here but I find myself agreeing with so much. I saw someone ask Wendell Berry (online, of course) what he thought of the growth of online communities and his answer was something like “they are a wonderful thing, but you know that it is a metaphor, right?”. Yes! Online communities are awesome but real community requires touching.
ashley - I love this list, I did one earlier this week and it was a feel good exercise to look at how each prompt could get me to think of what I currently do have, feel, not stuff. I also have been spending more time building my real tribe, connecting, creating, which makes me enjoy building my virtual tribe and sharing my journey. Whatever works. As long as it works! xx
Erin - ” prefer taking stock than making wish lists. Don’t you?”
I definitely agree with this. I do it a little more often than you but usually I only reflect on a short period of time. Just yesterday I took time to think of all I’ve overcome in my life and it really made me emotional. It’s incredible to think about how much you develop without even realising it as it’s happening.
Sash - You know after I read your comment I thought about it for a few days. I actually sat down and took the time what you did – and you’re right. It’s totally incredible. And very overwhelming. We do a lot, without even realising it’s happening!