The Gift of This Season

photo by Chris Duh

Here it is.  December.  The time of year where our hearts long for stillness, serenity and solitude.  And where we seem to be bombarded by everything but.  Black-Friday-this, cyber-Monday-that, sale-upon-sale, and advertisements that make us believe I gotta have that. right. now!

I'm making a conscious effort this year to stay. calm.  To slow. down.  To be present rather than buy presents.  And just when I think I'm relaxing I get a little tripped up. I notice I'm back to running around again, feeling the tension in my shoulders rise up to my neck, where that stress headache lingers on, reminding me that I've done it again.  I over-committed.  I over-spent.  I'm trying to do too much, take too much, give too much.  All at a pace that is...stressful.

So as I relish in the aftereffect of giving thanks for the last thirty days, I'm reminded of the intimate notes and beautiful comments I received.  I'm reminded of the wisdom that was brought to light.  I'm reminded of the new connections that were made (from all over the world). I'm reminded of the free coffee given, the tears of joy shared, the email from my grandfather, the note from my 84-year-old friend, and the amount of joy received from being more mindful and making space for the people in my life.

And when I remember the simple gifts that come from going slower, I can take pause from this fast-paced world, and truly embrace the peace that can come from this season, and which ultimately comes from within.

I'm choosing stillness, serenity and solitude.  How about you?

Your Personal Reflection:  How will you stay centered this holiday season so you can bring the gift of stillness and solitude into your life?


If you are feeling a little on overdrive, you may be interested in reading my newest Rhythm of the Home magazine article, Honoring the Gifts of Winter.  There is also a give-away going on right now for a spot in my upcoming Inside Out e-course, along with many other wonderful prizes.

AND...there is still time to enjoy the 2-for-1 offer for Inside Out registration.  Visit my Facebook page with all the details. Offer ends tonight at midnight C.S.T.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the 

highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. 

-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Open Road to Feeling Free

(Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Weiss)

I really love the breathing space I'm experiencing from slowing down this month.  I like not speeding ahead.  I like noticing the scenery.  The road is open, the sun is out, the air is fresh, P!nk is blasting through the speakers, and I'm feeling enlivened by new possibilities.  I think I could get addicted to creating space.

Many of you know by now that I'm focusing much of 2010 on reducing clutter to create space for what matters most in my life.  So many awesome bloggers and dreamers have joined me in this hard, challenging, rewarding task and I'm SO grateful that I don't have to do it all alone.

Sarah and I have created a casual list to help guide us as we sift and sort through our clutter for the remainder of the year.  This list takes us through the next seven months and offers a suggested area of focus.  Some of you have created your own list so please continue to do that!  But I know many of you have been looking for some simple ways to get started, and using a list like this one is a great way to begin.

You can find our Reduce Clutter; Create Space list for 2010 HERE.

As you work through your struggles, challenges and celebrations around clutter, please feel free to share on our Reduce Clutter forum.  It is in the sharing and connecting with each other that we tend to grow the most.  If you'd like to see the list of nearly 60 participants making space, visit HERE.

I'm looking for some new explorers to interview on my blog.  If you are interested in sharing some of your experience in letting go, or if you'd like to join the challenge, email me at livefreely@mac.com.  (Feel free to grab a reduce clutter badge to share on your blog.)

Your Personal Reflection:  Do you hold on to thoughts or things from the past?  How can you let go of more to create space for your dreams and the things that bring you the most joy in life?  Start today.

Less on my Plate = Delicious

I'm giving myself complete permission to slow down this month.  And I don't just mean move at a slower pace.  I mean...stop planning and doing so much.  Just when one project ends, I have 50 others waiting in the wings.  I'm tired of having to think about so much at once.  I'm in great need of enjoying the things that I usually don't set aside time for - like playing in my kitchen.  It's so easy to get in a rut and cook the same things every week, but I was inspired when I visited our local farmer's market last week.  The culinary school was giving demonstrations of this delicious soup.  Seriously...it is divine.  And it's super easy to make. 

This is the season for asparagus so go out and try this meal.  You, and your family, will love it.

Spring Leek and Asparagus Soup

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp butter 

1 shallot, peeled and finely chopped

2 leeks, washed & thinly sliced

1 lb fresh asparagus, cut in thirds, reserve tips

1 tsp curry powder

salt & pepper to taste

6 cups of veggie (or chicken) stock

1 bunch chives, chopped (garnish)

Heat 2 Tbsp of the olive oil in a large pan.  Sauté shallot and the leeks until the white parts of the leeks are opaque and the green parts are brightly colored (about 3 minutes).  Aren't leeks beautiful?

Hint:  Thinly cut the leaks, using the white part and a little bit of the green, below the leaves.  Then, soak them in water and separate them with your hands.  This will ensure any sand or dirt gets washed away. 

Add asparagus (not the tips), curry, salt and pepper.  Continue cooking for another 3 minutes or so.  Add the stock and simmer for 15 minutes until the asparagus is really tender.  Puree the soup until it is really smooth - using a blender, Vita-Mix or immersion blender.

Return to the pot and keep warm.  In a small pan heat 1 Tbsp butter and sauté asparagus tips for about 5 minutes.  Season to taste, and top soup with the asparagus tips and chopped chives.

What a perfect spring meal!  Enjoy.

As I continue to move at a slower pace with less on my plate, I am excited to play more in the kitchen and try new things along the way.  

Your Personal Reflection:  What new things are you making space for this spring?

Slowing Down

I'm taking this really cool on-line "Get Crafty" class and I've found it to be so inspiring. Our first assignment was to spend the day taking photos with our digital camera of natural and hand-made patterns. I carry my camera around and take pictures on a weekly basis, but for some reason, this particular assignment was different for me.
It allowed me, (or rather, forced me) to slooooooooooow down. Something I need to do A LOT more these days. So I took a day trip to a quaint, historic Missouri town with my mom and baby boy. Since Kestan fell asleep in the car on the way, my mom and I drove around the country roads and main street so I could take close-up shots. (We also had a wonderful visit - so much fun sharing stories and catching up!)It was so simple, and yet, truly a moment of creative renewal for me. I noticed details on the tree barks that I would have passed by, I found trails I never would have visited, and I discovered old barns I never would have seen.
This small, creative exercise turned out to be the reminder for me that slowing down, noticing the little things, and once again, being in the present moment, allows me to connect more deeply to the people I'm with and the places I visit, and opens my senses to the beauty of life all around me.

I even stumbled across the most adorable cottage that is now becoming part of my vision board as a symbol of my dream art studio!Your Personal Reflection: Go out today with your digital camera. Take close-up shots of all the things around you. How does stopping to notice the little things in life change your perspective?

"To Grow" is to Come into Being

I sat at my computer a few hours ago feeling inspired to write about "opportunities to grow."  Just as I was going to type my first sentence the computer went black. We lost all power in the house. After running up and down the basement stairs several times, I finally got all of the fuses up and running, only after a slight "freak out" moment. I was feeling the pressure of time as I only have daycare coverage for a few more hours and I had a particular set of tasks I wanted to complete today. Just when I was about to throw out my "to do" list for the day and head to the movies, I was able to fix the power problem.

It's funny how those "opportunities to grow" show up in the most peculiar of places. Did I mention that baby was teething all night, the dog peed in my art-room this morning, (which probably caused the outlet problems), and that I hit my head while getting into the car?

So, what can I learn from these minor set-backs today? As I reflect on my own behavior, here's my "opportunity to grow" moment. I had a particular idea of how I wanted this day to turn out, and I was given a series of circumstances that challenged how I would choose to react. I was reminded that when I have expectations and find myself attached to a certain outcome, I'm setting myself up for failure and disappointment. Also, when I'm feeling particularly imbalanced, like in this case pressed for time, lack of sleep and self-imposed pressures to accomplish something, I am much more likely to react, shall I say, not so harmoniously.

Because life is a school, and I am here to learn, I choose to look at each new experience as an opportunity to grow. Today, I choose to embrace the lessons that unfold. And today, my lesson is to slow down, to let go of expectations and to be OK with this moment. Who knew that I could learn so much from some dog pee? (Thanks, Sprockit!)

Your Personal Reflection: Tonight, as you lay your head on your pillow, ask yourself, "What opportunities for growth did my day bring?" In the morning, as you wake up slowly, before getting out of bed, ask yourself, "What do I need in my life today?"

Without expectation or attachment, can you set an intention to grow?