Life's Simple Pleasures
There is always something to be grateful for! Yesterday was quite a busy day (aren’t they all), and I was stressed about a location to take these pictures. I sometimes get it in my head that our town is too small and doesn’t have enough beautiful spots for photography and I guess, compared to New York City…that’s true. However, when I gave myself a minute to calm down and be open to inspiration, the perfect spots for these photographs popped into my head! That’s really how it is with most things we worry (needlessly) about in life!
Even though I love cities, small town living is so much easier. It takes me no more than 10ish minutes to get anywhere I want to go and only thirty minutes to an hour to get to fabulous shopping and restaurants! You really can’t beat that!
I am usually running around like a chicken with my head cut off (old Southern expression I think), and forget to take the time to just be still for a minute. In the stillness, everything is so much more clear, time stands still and peace takes over the chaos. Even big problems seem much less serious when you allow yourself to escape into stillness. After all, every answer resides there.
This beautiful fountain is seconds from our home and I walk there with Amos most days. The street is called Fountain Place…it’s a tree lined street with beautiful old homes and children playing. Life seems idyllic when I’m walking on Fountain Place.
As a child, I played in (yes actually in), this fountain. I’m not sure how the fish felt about it, but my friends and I had so much fun. Those were the days when childhood was carefree and anything seemed possible.
During my 40s and 50s, I had come to believe that things would never be carefree again and that life held little possibility. it was only when I learned about my inner power and accessing that power through stillness that my life changed. I now believe that anything is possible and my life feels much more carefree (with a schedule).
As I enter a new decade of life, one of the things I want to focus on is slowing down and noticing the beauty that’s all around me. Nature offers not only beauty but a sense of peace and security. There is nothing like walking through the woods and really listening to the sounds of nature…but, how often do we do things like that! Not often enough.
Even though I have no intention of slowing down as it relates to my business, I do intend to take moments of my day to slow down and notice what’s going on around me. To speak to strangers in the grocery store and smile at children. It’s so important to be engaged in whatever you’re doing instead of only ever thinking about the next thing.
When you stop to think about it, the things that really matter are so simple. Time with people you love, a really great meal, a warm breeze by the ocean, engaging conversation, watching the sunset, sliding into freshly washed sheets in the evening. These things are so simple and often, the things we forget to appreciate.
Beauty is all around you if you take the time to look! In the end, these pictures were so easy because I decided they would be. Instead of stressing about where we would take them, I slowed down and took a breath…and then, it came to me. The pictures with the yellow dress were taken in our side yard and obviously, the other pictures were taken minutes away on Fountain Place.
We ended up having fun, talking to a neighbor and the whole shoot took less than 30 minutes. Lesson learned! Slowing down makes everything easier and quicker and much less stressful. Time is manmade, the Universe is on it’s own time and when we tap in…we can be part of that Divine timing!
My little problem yesterday was very small in the scheme of things, but the same spiritual principles apply to every problem. The Universe really does have your back, when you allow it!
And…about the dresses! They are both from Farm Rio and were gifted to me. I love wearing dresses in the summer and fall and these two are perfect for the days when I want my style to feel a little boho…free and fun! They’re perfect for twirling and you can eat a huge dinner and not worry about being uncomfortable (big plus as far as I’m concerned)! I paired them both with cute espadrilles from Aldo that are under $100 and go with everything because of the clear strap! Both dresses are linked in the boutique below as well as some other favorites from Farm Rio!
I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday and I hope you’re having the best week! Remember, as you go about your day today…stop, breath and let the gratitude for life and the sacred Stillness take over, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes. It will make the biggest difference! Life is supposed to be good and the power to make it that way, lies within you! Thank you so much for reading!