Tag: simplicity

Jazz In The Shower

~ blacklilymusings ~ Leave a comment

Life experiences had knocked me down. Life had become a series of days of survival.  breathing….putting on whatever was clean…saying a prayer for strength and braving my day with a tense smile and a broken heart.  Self care wasn’t even a foreign concept, it was no concept at all.  It seemed indulgent and something for the privileged. Someone with time, money, affection and care.  I don’t know the moment where i realized i had stopped giving myself moments of joy.  but it began to dawn on me that i had stopped treasuring the simple things, the pure things in life.  the things that truly breathe vitality and a certain humility into our veins that stirs our souls and awakens joy again.  i don’t remember the moment this dawned, but i remember the morning i set my phone on the bathroom counter and for the first time had decided my shower was going to become a luxurious moment.  as the wonderful sound of the soulful saxophone started to play and the steam started to billow around my little bathroom i felt for the first time in years my blood pressure start to drop and a surge of joy and even a childlike moment where my toes started to wiggle and a little smile flickered across my face at the woman in the mirror that decided in that moment to change her life.  i still every morning start my day with jazz in the shower.  i highly recommend it.

Light

~ blacklilymusings ~ Leave a comment

IMG_5219Light Illuminates and adds the Twinkle.  Casts into our consciousness Beauty.  The Pure and Lovely.  It draws us out of our heads and into the Moment.   The humble Chocolate Chip Cookie under its glass dome on the counter looks Decadent with the Light shining from the kitchen window on it.  Drawing our eye away from the kitchen sink where dishes have assembled.

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The Peace Lily in its Dim Lit Corner who struggles to grow looks Alive and Lush with the Gentle Light caressing its thin fragile leaves.

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The warm light from the living room window illuminates the wonderful quiet lesson of Nature.  My kitty and dog snuggled up on the little blue couch enjoying the view.  Showing us what Unity looks like. Unlikely Friendship at its Best.

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A warm beam shining through the little Craftsman style window onto a little five dollar thrift store red porcelain ball makes it look like a Precious Jewel and worthy of  a moment’s notice.

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An Every Day moment with my Daughter Grace checking her Insta Feed becomes a Moment to Pause and Enjoy her Beauty and Spirit as the light from the window gently shines on her and reminds me of the Treasure she is.

This morning I’m so Grateful for Light.  It’s ability to pull me into Reality and see Blessing in the Ordinary.  Without saying a Word.  So of course my mind goes to my Light Friends.  Who just being in their Grace remind me of Beauty.  Of Joy.  Of Blessing. Without saying a Word.

 

Thank You Light People.  Thanks for being Light.

I Love You

xoxo

 

Simplicity

~ blacklilymusings ~ Leave a comment

Some would say I grew up privileged.  That word bothers me.  I did grow up privileged but  not because I had a lot of material things or because it was a picture of unblemished family bliss.  I grew up privileged because of the simplicity of our lives.  Here are some of my simple joys. My mom loved hard ice cream.  We would seek out hard ice cream whenever we were on the “long to a child” road trip to our cottage every weekend.  I to this day have a love for hard ice cream and have found places wherever I have lived or traveled that sells wonderful ice cream.  My favourite is sold in the Kawaihae Harbour on the Big Island of Hawai’i.  They make the most wonderful “Rocky Road” with locally grown and toasted coconut, macadamia nuts, and big chunks of chocolate and marshmallow.  Another simple joy was my mom and dad had a love for antiques.  Many a Saturday I stood in the damp air of a little farm, hearing the familiar chatter of the locals and the auctioneer chanting in the background and and feeling the excitement and stir of a good deal.   My favourite Saturday is estate sales to this day, and have stood with americano in hand first and second in line and found so much comfort meandering around someones home.  Enjoying the atmosphere of others who enjoy the same hobby and treasuring the untold sacred memories behind every little item I would lovingly hold.  Another simple joy was in the springtime touring the beautiful nurseries with my mom picking out her silver dusty miller and her orange and red marigolds that she loved to plant in front of our home.  On a day like today where its -10 degrees I often find myself after errands are done or find myself ” not really in the area but close enough” heading down to Sunnyside Nursery to smell the air and walk amongst the pretty plants for a moment and let it transport me to a warmer clime.  These moments when I allow myself these simple joys is when my heart feels whole and I feel a connection to this beautiful earth and those I enjoy it with.  Here’s to a weekend of simple joys for all of us!

The Silent Season

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Winter with its dark long nights and the heavy blanket of snowfall.  The birds have hushed their voices and are warmly snuggled in their nests on some cold lonely branch.  Families are huddled around the glow of firelight seeking out new hobbies and brushing up on the old.  This season can bring along with its beauty a quietness we are uncomfortable with.  We miss the lightheartedness of summer and the zest and energy we feel with the vitamin d coursing through our veins.  Life is like the seasons.  All seasons have their beauty.  I often even still struggle with the silent seasons. Times of quietness and reflection.  Where maybe the atmosphere is a little chillier than others and there needs some time near the warm fires within our souls.  Where the true warmth of life is felt and nourishes our hearts.  Springtime always dawns, and with it such hope and anticipation as the sun casts its loving warm rays  across the sleeping landscape.  It has waited in quiet faith for this moment.  Nature doesn’t fight the cycle of life, doesn’t cringe at the inevitable changes it experiences.  It settles in and quietly lets the seasons transform from one unique beauty to the other.  I want to listen to my dearest friend when she says….honey, don’t fight it…..it’s the Silent Season.

 

j. chrisp