monday's musing

"Life is very simple, but we insist on making it complicated." - Confucius



Last night I had a terrible dream, as sometimes happens when I am feeling stressed. Right now, as we are coming to the end of the year, there is so much to do. And I need to be spending time and emotional energy with the kids. Enough said there. I want to clone myself. 

But along comes a horrific dream that leaves me with the reality that it's all so simple. As a dear friend of my mother's used to say to me: "where there's life, there's hope." Everything else is so small in comparison. This week, I will work to remember that.

monday's musing

"What I dream of is an art of balance." - Henri Matisse

At this time of year, I always get lost in the final mad dash to the last day on the calendar. This year, I am working to enjoy the time and find balance. Not really to do less, but to take joy and fully participate in all the many tasks ahead. Because I think I may actually finally have learned that I love to be busy and doing too much. 
 
This week, while knitting on deadline and working to catch up on everything, I am feeling the incredible joy of planning a Thanksgiving meal, in particular for a certain young foodie whose most favorite holiday involves the deep satisfaction of sharing good food with his family. I didn't always find happiness in doing the expected; I've worked to understand just how fortunate I am to have things expected of me by my loved ones. How empty life would be without any expectations at all.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!

monday's musing

"Notice the small things. The rewards are inversely proportional." - Liz Vassey 

This is my meditation and my goal. This week, I will work to notice, take pleasure in, and be grateful for all of the small pieces of my life. The lovely fresh smell of sagebrush in the cold winter air, the incredible quiet of a snowfall, the smile of a loved one, a gentle sunset, a soft pillow, a perfect woolly swatch. Laughter.



Small bits of beauty. Everywhere.

monday's musing

"The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life." - William Morris

And that is so very true. In my adult life, I've worked hard to take pleasure in the small things that make up the process of every day life. This is my biggest failing: being too concentrated on the goal, and not enjoying the journey enough. When I am running around like a crazy person, I often forget that life happens every moment, and that every moment is an opportunity to learn something new, or experience something in wonder, or appreciate a small but beautiful detail. When I forget to do this, life becomes less vibrant and beautiful, and my days take on the feeling of never-ending monotony, rather than being the celebration they should be. Mindfulness and meditation are important to my inner being and to my feelings of centered-ness or not-so-centered-ness.

This morning, I was covering a button and thinking about the little details and how very important they are to the whole. So today, I will try - every moment of the day - to recenter myself with the details of daily life. I will work to feel gratitude for my good fortune, and consider each trial as an opportunity to grow stronger. And however many times I fail, I will begin again one more time.

What makes you feel centered? Do you practice mindfulness? Do you meditate? Do you have a morning ritual that prepares you for the day? I'd love to know!

Just a quick note: today is the last day of my anniversary sale! For 19% off in my Ravelry pattern shop, use code

RomiHA2016

at checkout. Enjoy!!