Merry Meet my friends and Blessed Memorial Day. I am writing this because I actually have some time to do so today 🙂 We didn’t have any plans per se for today except to mulch the garden beds and relax..perhaps visit the cemetaries. But it’s pouring rain, windy and actually a little chilly, so we are relaxing and unwinding. Things have been crazy busy here with getting our home ready for Summer, planting garden beds, making new garden beds, getting patio furniture cleaned and put out etc etc. I also had a very sad death in my family that has kept me busy with family and the inevitable drama that came with it. I lost a beloved Uncle in a terrible train/truck collision and a few members of extended family have acted up terribly. Anyway, I’ve been trying to be there for my mom (he was her brother) and dad..it’s been emotional and sad but we have pulled together to support each other and that’s a good thing.
In the process of losing someone I loved, I have contemplated on how short life is, how fleeting it is, and how fast something terrible can happen that takes our life away. I have always known this but a death brings it home even more. Ever since I was a young mother, I have done my best to appreciate the simple things, the little moments that bring Joy, laughter, comfort, peace, and reflection in my Life. I tried to teach my girls the same thing and I believe they do too. We are teaching my grandkids the same thing! Life isn’t about the big things..it’s about the small daily parts of our lives.
I see so many people who are so busy that it seems they fly through life without pause. I could never do that. Even on my busiest day, I have to stop and listen, be quiet, feel, reflect, watch, hear, see, smell and taste. We live in a time where people have their attention on their phones, tv’s, and computers. Kids are super busy involved in everything under the Sun …good parents thinking they are giving their kids every opportunity to excel in something…but they have very little time for just being a kid….using their imagination, connecting with nature, being still. I’m not judging, just saying I see this so much in this day and time.
I hear people say “when I get a moment to spare, I’m going to……..????? ” And in my mind, there are so many moments to spare if we are more aware of the time we waste! I’m guilty of this too, don’t get me wrong…we all are! Some days I don’t waste a moment, other days I fill my day with wasteful moments of watching too much tv, on my computer too long or just flying from one thing to the next without any thought of the moments that I’m not taking to “notice” something! As I get older, I can look back and feel I did about 60% well in not wasting time, but now I do much better than that. I can’t function if I don’t!
A few things I like to do when I have a moment to spare:
-walk barefoot outside
-light a candle and watch the flame
-read a bit (that is NEVER a waste of time in my opinion)
-literally smell the roses
-write in my gratitude journal
-call a friend
-eat a piece of chocolate..really savor it slowly
-water, weed or deadhead flowers in my garden beds..I find any connection with Mother Gaia soothing
-listen for the birds, watch a butterfly in flight, watch the setting sun or the rising Moon
-have a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, a piece of good bread and just sit and be while you do it
-pet your furbaby..give them total attention
-write a letter or card
-Listen to a favorite song…either quietly or up dancing like crazy!
-soak your feet in good soapy water
-take a 10 minute snooze
-hug your kids, your hubby, your friend, your grandkids
-take a walk…..feel the wind, see the trees, hear the birds
-clean out a drawer…yes, this is a bit of work, but only takes a moment and it’s so satisfying when it’s organized!
-Play..take a moment to really play….one of my new favs…adult coloring books!
-practice your passion..whether it’s art, music, crafting, needlework, taking a course ….find the time to do it….the satisfaction you’ll feel is so worth it
-Do something kind for someone…it just takes a moment. A call, holding the door for someone, smiling at your waitress or cashier, buying a cup of coffee or lunch for the person in line behind you, saying thank you, complimenting someone….it will make your day and their’s too!
Life is a succession of moments,
to live each one is to succeed.
-Corita Kent
Well…you get the picture. The point is…..Life flies by and you never know when you’ll take your last breath and move onto your next journey. Appreciate the small moments…take time for them…share them. Your life will be richer for it. I have to add that as a Witch and Pagan….I find that my fellow sisters and brothers of the Craft are very good at this too. It is just a natural part of our daily life! And just another word of advice. No matter how old you are….have a will. Also, let your family members know..in writing!!….what you would like done for you when you pass. So there are no arguments amongst your loved ones. Your wishes will be well documented. If you want someone to have something of yours..write it down..and be sure someone has it that will implement things when you’re gone. It makes things much much easier for your family and keeps drama at bay. A lesson hard learned my friends. I know I’m putting everything in writing!!!
So now, I hope that you had a moment to spare to read this….and you take many moments to spare throughout your day…every day! Many Blessings to you! With today being Memorial Day….Please remember the Fallen..the Brave ones who made everything possible for us…..so that we can spare those precious moments to live beautiful lives that they didn’t get to. Prayers for all who have lost their much loved soldiers. Blessed Be!
Blessings and Love, Autumn
My Moonlit Path..... 