“It is important from time to time to slow down,
to go away by yourself, and simply be.”
Eileen Caddy
I love a rainy afternoon.
Especially when I have time to sit on the back porch with my dog Luna and hear the drops plummeting onto the tin roof, watch them build into glossy puddles in the yard, and feel them spray my face when the wind gusts a little too hard in my direction.
I had that sort of day yesterday and it was such a gift.
As you know I’ve been very ill for several months. Initial tests revealed, among other things, that I am immunocompromised and my body is not absorbing nutrients. At all. Yipes! 🙂 Thankfully I have an amazing team alongside me – doctors, counselor, Reiki practitioner, nutritionists, kindred spirits – who are doing wonders in helping me get healthy again.
But some days it’s hard.
It’s difficult to build a beautiful life when each day is marked by severe exhaustion, intense pain, and a host of other unpleasant symptoms. It’s hard to be yourself when your new self functions so differently than the one you’re used to. And it’s hard to pursue good health and thriving relationships when just making it through each day is cause for celebration.
But I’m determined to keep trying. 🙂
One word has helped me above all others:
slow
Although I’m not a healthy lass yet, I can still live a good and soul-affirming life if I do things slowly.
I can’t run or lift weights or any of the other things that keep a body fit and strong. But I can walk slowly and steadily and say, “You go girl!” each time I add five minutes to my regimen.
I can’t do all the work around the house and farm that I’d love to, but I can sit on the back porch in a rain storm and dream of the things I WILL do when I’m better. And in the meantime I can do the dishes or a load of laundry and cheer loudly for each project that gets crossed off the list.
I can’t rush around cooking up a storm, doing crafts and filling my freezer with freshly baked cookies. But I can do little things like one jar of pickled beans, one small batch of rhubarb ginger sauce, or one bowl of peppermint sugar body scrub.
That makes me happy.
What is one small thing you’d like to do this weekend to make your life a bit more beautiful?
“Always remember to slow down in life;
live, breathe, and learn;
take a look around you whenever you have time
and never forget everything and every person that has the least place within your heart.”
xo
I’m sorry you’re struggling with your health. I’m glad you can find comfort in a rainy day. That ginger rhubarb sauce sounds scrumptious and the peppermint body scrub sounds delicious… in a topical kind of way. 😉
It’s so inspiring to see the ways you find beautiful things amidst your pain.
Thank you, Christina, I really appreciate your kind words. 🙂 xo
My best wishes to you for a swift recovery! BTW–love those vintage glass bottles!
Thanks so much, Christine. 🙂 Aren’t the bottles splendid? I love them so much. 🙂
You can inspire still and take beautiful, peaceful pictures. I’m SO sorry for the hard times yet glad you have people around who can help and give hope on those hard days. Each day IS a triumph. You are strong and weaving the beauty through the pain is a gift. XO
Dearest Breanne, I’m so glad that we have each other to cheer and understand. XO
OMG I had no idea you were ill. How did I miss that? Please reach out to me if there is ANYTHING that I can do! Much love!!!
Thank you, dear Andi! If you were close I’d be calling you for a session for sure! XO
Krista, I am lost for words. I wish you strength and health and peace above all else. I love that you delight and appreciate each blessing. Each small blessing that makes a huge difference. This weekend, I’ll be thankful to see my children and ‘flour’, as in baking flour. 10 days away from home, and no cooking has wreck havoc on me 🙂 Lots of love babe. Stay well.
Those are beautiful, wonderful things to look forward to, dear Oz! 🙂 XO
Oh hun, my heart goes out to you. I’m so glad you’re finding happiness in slow (I have trouble with that myself, *especially* at times when it’s the most necessary) and enjoying those beautiful rainy days.
Thank you, dear Bethany. 🙂 Slow is becoming as beautiful to me as glitter is to you!! 🙂
Whilst you may be experiencing slow right now, I’ve noticed that you are never slow to laugh heartily and from the belly, and that makes you beautiful no matter what the pace is. xx
Oh Jackie, you always know just the thing to say. 🙂 XOXO
I did not know you were having such severe health problems. I’ve had some in the past and it’s frustrating to not be able to move about normally. I hope you’re able to heal soon. Rainy days are beautiful.
Thank you so much, El. 🙂 It’s lovely to be understood. xo
Krista, know that you are loved and that you will eventually figure out what your body needs to get better! And don’t forget that it’s not your fault that you are sick and it has nothing to do with something you did or didn’t do. Being sick is just plain awful, but it can be empowering to play detective and figure out, one little piece at a time, what helps you feel better. And you CAN write just as beautifully as ever. 🙂
I had some similar problems a few years ago (not as severe, though!), and one of the things that helped my body to recover was cutting out gluten and following (loosely) a Primal diet. Take that for what it is: totally random, unsolicited advice. 🙂
I will happily take random, unsolicited advice from you, @SevenGreySweaters:disqus 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind and inspiring words.
We get plenty of rain here, haha – will look out for the beauty in in =) LOVE that shot of the bottles
Oh Andrea, it was mighty hard for me to find beauty in the incessant rain in Washington too. 🙂 Gah! I would’ve killed for sunshine back then. 🙂
Stay strong my friend. xo
Thank you, dear @Cailins:disqus 🙂 I will write you an email soon! XO
Love your perspective, it’s as beautiful as your photos.
Thanks so much, @twitter-35399535:disqus 🙂
Gorgeous!