Tag: mindful living

Things That Are Supporting Me

Michelle GD3 Comments

A few things that have supported me this week…

 

:: lots of walks…the crisp, autumn air (finally!)…the leaves, the breeze

:: meditation

:: lighting candles…at my desk, during meals

:: soup…I am craving soups of all kinds

:: a good, long chat with a good friend…(and we had soup)

:: my daughter made me a ‘Creative Flow’ potion

:: getting to bed on time

:: writing in the morning

:: clipping the hydrangea and bringing it indoors

:: making lemon pancakes for the kids…because making something they love makes me happy

:: sweet potatoes…I’ve been on a bit of a kick

:: a new knitting project

 

What about you?  What felt good for you this week, or lately?
I’d love suggestions for ways we can all support ourselves…

 

Sending a little love your way, m

 

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:: Dear Thursday ::

Michelle GD7 Comments

Dear Thursday,

 

Thank you for beginning with tea.  Thank you for the words I got down, even though they frustrated me and I finished the writing session feeling not satisfied but antsy and disheartened.  Thank you for the cinnamon rolls I shared with the kids.  Thank you for a bottle of fresh milk to replace the sour one. Thank you for leftover udon soup. Thank you for the difficult book I’m reading with my daughter which is creating opportunity for important discussions. Thank you for the man who teaches my son guitar and the woman who teaches my daughter violin.  Thank you for the cookbook I love and the fact that I’ve been able to renew it twice now at the library.  Thank you for the pork ragu which cooked slowly in the oven. Thank you for the afternoon rain which calmed my antsy state.  Thank you for the flickering candle and the twinkle lights on the deck out back.  Thank you for the rumbling thunder late in the day. Thank you for my family (nuclear and of origin and the friend one grown over the years).  Thank you for being exactly what you were, even though you felt hard and a little bit off.  I didn’t like the first half of you, but there was a reconciliation, a shift, an embrace.  So thank you, Thursday…thank you for being exactly what you were.

 

 

What was your Thursday like?  Share in the comments below, or jot down your memories in a journal or notebook.  Sometimes it’s nice to look back as we begin to move forward.

 

Sending a little love your way, m

 

 

P.S. Links above are not affiliate.  I’m just sharing because they’re books I like, and you might too.

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I Have No Words

Michelle GD12 Comments

Here’s the thing.  I’ve written and rewritten (and rewritten) a post to share today, and nothing feels satisfying or appropriate.

 

There’s the skein of gorgeous alpaca yarn you see above. Grey and soft, so soft.

 

But there’s also the unsettling craziness of our US government.  Abuses of power, dishonesty, sexual misconduct, general immorality.  Everybody talking, but not everybody listening.

 

How can I talk to you about that beautiful yarn?  I just can’t.  Believe me, I tried.

 

So I’m popping in today with a public service announcement for those of you living in the United States.  Your voice matters.  If you live in the United States, make sure you’re registered to vote and please vote on November 6th (there’s still time to register in most, if not all, states…go here).  If you live outside the United States, your voice matters too in your country.

 

We are all equal.  Let’s treat one another as such.  No matter the gender, the color, the ethnicity, the sexual orientation.  Each of us is equal and deserving of respect.

 

Wherever you live:   Pay attention.  Listen.  Be involved, as you’re able.

 

Sending a little love your way, m

 

 

Touching Real

Michelle GD8 Comments

I like my lists; you know I do.

 

I’ve had some long to-do lists lately…most written in my planner but some flitting about my head.  This past week has been good for getting things done.  Sometimes things just click, you know what I mean?  Sometimes all the procrastinating shifts into productivity.  Man, that feels good.

 

Earlier this week, I crossed a huge item off my list.  I won’t mention what the thing was, not from coyness, but because I’m not ready to share just now.  The point, anyway, is not what I did…the point is that I did.

 

Don’t think.  Act.  We can always revise and revisit once we’ve acted.  But we can accomplish nothing until we act.
~Steven Pressfield~

 

As soon as I did what needed doing (which, true story, has been on my to-do list since late July) (yep, I’m solid in the procrastination department), I texted a dear friend.  I was so pleased in the doing and I knew she understood how hard it had been for me.  I told her that the job was complete; I also told her I had butterflies in my belly and tears in my eyes.

 

This is what she texted back to me:

Congrats!!!
And those feelings are what happens when you touch your own “real”. Congrats on that too.

 

I read her words and the mistiness in my eyes became full tears on my cheeks.  I cried only for a few seconds.  The tears were release; the tears were recognition.

 

I felt connected to something deep inside and, I dare say, I felt connected to something bigger than myself. I don’t want to put words or names to any of it.  I just want to tell you, and I want to remember.

 

Those tears.
That “real”.

 

It happens in the doing.
Keep doing, my friends. Keep doing.

 

Sending a little love your way, m

 

 

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:: Noticing the Moments ::

Michelle GD8 Comments

Taking some time to reflect upon my week…

::  watching the autumn sedum begin to color…each day the pinks get a tiny bit deeper…these sedum are an autumnal marker for me…they feel like an old friend

::  finally finishing an essay that I started months (months!) ago and submitting it for online publication…I’ll let you know if it’s accpeted

::  waking earlier than usual the other morning so that I could write (more) thoughts in my journal and sip (more) tea from my mug…the house was dark, outside was dark…it was quiet and peaceful and just what I needed

::  enjoying this cookbook, Small Victories…a dear friend recommended it (thanks, P), and I was thrilled that my library had a copy available…I’ve tried three things (all good) and have bookmarked more…my friend and I agree that she’s the kind of chef/cookbook author who empowers you, who kind of demystifies things and nudges you to go forth and experiment…yes, enjoying it very much

::  our dishwasher not working…me going through the manual and looking for helpful advice on You Tube…me jiggling a few things…our dishwasher now working (me feeling super handy)

::  climbing into bed the past couple nights with another book from the library (thank you, library) (and thank you, P)…Tell Me More…it is touching my heart

::  clipping a few zinnias for the kitchen windowsill…I heart zinnias

 

How has your week been?  What have you noticed, felt, experienced?  I’d love to hear.
Tell me and us below.  Or write your own blog post and link back.
And if you play on Instagram, come visit me @michelle_gd and use the tag #tinytinymoments

 

Sending a little love your way, m

 

P.S.  No affiliate links here…just linking for ease, and because they’re things I’m enjoying.