On a Friday I work just a minute's walk from the beach. Last Friday in particular I knew my body and heart were calling for me to set a little time aside, to be by the water and just be, to write for me and focus on my highest priorities. But I decided on the responsible option of working for three hours and spending twenty minutes for me by the sea afterwards.
The universe had other ideas. As I sat down to work, my laptop took forever to boot up. Then my mobile phone reception went dead - in a place where I always have full reception. Finally my laptop was up and running, but I couldn't connect to the wireless internet. A few more attempts, and 30 minutes later I was online and ready to write. Then I popped my USB into the laptop and the laptop found nothing. I tried again, and again. Nothing. I persisted with the work, doing as much as I could without access to the files I needed, and then finally I gave up.
And trusted that working perhaps wasn't what I was meant to be doing at that very moment. I packed up and walked to the beach. I lay down, closed my eyes and listened to the sounds of the birds and water. But after I while I could only hear the quiet rhythm of my breath.
Later I checked my phone - full reception. Sometimes I think the universe has a way of forcing us in the direction we deep down know we're meant to be. I see now how much I needed that disconnection from technology on that day, to reconnect fully with the essence of me.
xx
Any messages from the universe headed your way lately?
{This image is part of my photo project "by the sea" series for this year ~ a place I come to stop and just be, and to honour me. More by the sea posts here.}
No matter the weather this is where I want to be.
No matter if I'm admiring calm turquoise waters or witnessing a dark sea with rolling waves.
Whichever is the rhythm of the day, being here nourishes me.
Reminds me that every day brings change, and to embrace it.
Reminds me to breathe. And exhale fully. And to give thanks.
It reminds me to look for beauty in the ordinary. Because it's always there. And here.
xx
Do you look for beauty in your everyday? x
When I woke yesterday one word was on my mind... choose.
Choose your day.
Choose how you spend your time.
Choose your emotions.
Choose your words.
Choose your destination.
Choose to breathe.
Choose to see love.
Choose to be love.
Choose to write.
Choose to read.
Choose to share.
Choose to sit in silence.
Choose to dance.
Choose to witness this very moment.
Choose calm.
All in a choice.
One I have.
One I choose to give thanks for.
xx
{Yesterday I chose play over work, I chose peppermint tea and splashing in the water at the beach with my girls. I chose to look to the sky with wonder in my eyes. I chose to ask for help, and to give thanks for it. I chose to meditate, to journal and to practise yoga. I chose to turn my phone on silent. Today I will choose to remind myself to breathe. And to just be. Elisa x}
What do you choose?
As I drove home this morning miss four called out for me to stop, "Over there, Mummy! Let's see it."
The beach.
We were driving past the lookout, a place I stop often to watch the sky, to reconnect and just be with my two little girls in tow.
Today the sun was shining bright on the turquoise green sea with soft waves crashing in, the sky a bright blue with just a few scattered clouds.
And as I parked the car I saw miss four already had her camera {her recent fourth birthday gift} ready to go.
"Just a few photos for my collection please."
And so we sat by the car admiring the colours and capturing photos. And giving thanks that we can take in this beauty and wonder just about any time we want.
xx
{Gratitude for where we live, for a week where I have learnt and healed, and for my gorgeous photo-taking miss four and her little sister - who make me laugh every day. Elisa x}
What are you most grateful for today? x
In the spirit of a little less staring at the computer screen, a little more staring at the water, we headed to the beach this past week.
Not once, but four times. It was as though the water was calling us to return.
And I had forgotten just how much I adore the beach in winter.
When all sounds bar the roaring of the waves are forgotten.
The mesmerising colours of the sky and water, different each day.
The rhythm of the water, inviting me to witness the seasonal rhythms around me, and transform my internal rhythms of the day too.
The clarity that comes from a change of scene.
And that alive feeling that comes from running through the wind on the sand on a sun-shining blue-sky winter day with your two little people laughing and running beside you.
xx
{Photo taken into the sun while we ran on the windiest sunny day at our closest beach. It was magic. When I arrived home I heard the weather warning that winds of 100kph were hitting coastal areas. Timing is funny like that. Because had I known earlier, we most definitely would not have gone. Elisa x}
~ Gratitude that we are blessed with the beach close by and for spontaneous and intentionally created heart moments that that are filled with a sense of magic and leave you feeling oh-so-alive. Joining the 52 weeks of grateful here ♡
What are you most grateful for today?
On the coldest of winter days, when the wind is fierce, waves are crashing and the air is icy, I feel most called to the ocean.
Mostly I sit {and stare}, then walk {and wonder, let go, listen, feel, wish and dream}.
And I feel a little calmer just by being there {as I look out at the waves and up to the sky}.
Watching the water reminds me that the universe is big {so much bigger than whatever worry I may be nursing, so much bigger than my little world}.
And it reminds me that every single moment and every single day is different {we're always on the eve of something new}.
I leave {knowing I will return} with a feeling of refreshed and alive running through my heart.
Elisa xx
{My winter beach obsession has rubbed off on little miss two who asks to see the water every time we get into the car. When we're there, she holds me close and points to the waves, sky, sand and birds, proclaiming them all "Wow!". And lately when we go to leave, shes says "Wait mum, stop. We listen to waves". We close our eyes, she listens to the waves and I listen to her xx}
Do you retreat to nature to reconnect?
Years ago a friend asked me how many apples I had in my basket.
I laughed {because I do that a lot}. But I didn't understand what she meant. I wasn't carrying a basket. I don't even like apples.
My friend asked the question again. This time she asked me to visualise my basket.
This time I got it. And I did see a few apples in there {scattered in that basket}. But not a lot. Not an abundance. Not even many.
The basket symbolises our bodies/worlds/hearts/selves. The apples indicate how nourished we are {at any given time}.
Every now and then I ponder this question, just checking in. Sometimes the basket's overflowing, sometimes it's lacking, sometimes it's somewhere inbetween.
I don't ponder the question often, or even regularly. I trust my intuition to pose the question when it's needed.
Today when I woke up {after five hours straight sleep for the first time in weeks} that question popped into my head.
How many apples in my basket?
I cringed when I saw it.
In the past weeks of long days, sick and little sleep, I've been moving as gently as I can but not fully nourishing myself {not for any decent length of time}. Just getting through each day. Slowly at times, franticly at others. There has certainly been gentle moments, but I've felt the rough and rushed ones too.
I've made this week intentionally slower {as I settle back to me}. But today, I set out to put some apples back in that basket.
Little miss two proclaimed it the "best day ever" when I told her our plans: Coffee {babycino}. Park. Library. Beach.
But I forgot about the beach part til we were driving home, and a little voice called out "Mummy, we watching the waves?" My favourite thing to do. And I think it's hers too.
So we stopped, just the two of us braving the wind, watching the waves and the birds too.
She counted the waves. I closed my eyes and listened to their roar.
We walked back to the car hand in hand, a little more nourishment added to our day.
A few more apples in my basket.
Elisa xx
{image by me - made black & white via instagram @withgraceandeve}
Do you check your basket for apples?
I could make an endless list of all the little things I dream of sharing with my girls.
Some of these I've been thinking and wondering about for a long while now.All the beautiful places I want to show with my girls {when the time is right}.The moments I dream about us sharing together {when the time is right}.The little things I want to teach them {when the time is right}.This week I made now our time and began living some of the moments I've dreamt of sharing with Grace & Eve.We saluted the sun {a yoga sequence} together. Little miss two copying thoughtfully, and baby seven months giggling as I tickled her tummy while I gracefully swept through the movements.Little miss two and I held each other close in the backyard at night searching the sky for the moon. We smiled together at the moon.On a cold and windy day we went to the beach to admire the waves crashing and rolling in. We laughed as the wind pushed our hair against our face and brushed our cheeks leaving us a little breathless. Little miss two was mesmerised by the water's movements. I was mesmerised by her, caught in her excitement and wonder I forgot to watch the waves.This week I'm grateful I began living my dreams. Little as they may seem, to me these moments feel big, inspired and wonder-full. Elisa xx
What are you feeling grateful for this week?{Linking with Kidspot's 52 weeks of grateful and Maxabella Loves}
I had a perfect day yesterday. The flavours of a sleep in, love, sunshine, beach, family and laughter combined and served me up one heaped scoop of perfect. I loved every minute of it.
Our little family of four enjoying each moment together. I wish all days could be like this. But if they were, then maybe I wouldn't know what perfect tasted like? Maybe.
Either way, I'm working on having more days like this. I'm working on it, because too often I think about what needs to be done - groceries, washing clothes, washing sheets, hand washing, folding clothes, making beds, ironing. And all those things that need to be done - I put them first. Why? Because I tell myself having a clean and tidy house is important. And I schedule some perfect time in around that.
But these moments of perfect, they're everything. They fill me up with joy, wonder and love. And they make me want more pieces of perfect. So I'm working on forgetting what needs to be done from time to time, and letting a good slice of perfect serve itself up each week. Perfect.
Elisa xx
{Pic by me - Baby Eve's first beach morning}
What's your idea of a perfect day? Do you find you're scheduling in some perfect, just like me?
