Working, working...

I'm working working working right now. And while I do love what I do, there's a part of me that knows {and believes} that this time of the year isn't meant to be the rushed chaos it often turns out to be.

To me, the rhythm of summer is meant to be about play, and family, being together and slowing down to take in sun-shining days (although the sun hasn't been out and about that much around here lately), for spending time soaking up my girls, for winding down after the school year, for taking stock and looking back at all that's happened - all that we've achieved together and individually - and taking it in. A time for slowing to the point of noticing where we are, how far we've come and enjoying time to just be.

I want that. And by the water (no matter the weather, and with my girls) is where I truly want to be right now.

But I'm plodding along steadily, getting items ticked off my work to do list, meeting deadlines and counting down til December 20. Because that's when I'm putting myself on enforced annual leave for a week or so. That's when that slowing and internal rhythm will surface strongest. In the meantime, it's a mixture of slow and fast, but with just enough slow to nourish my body, mind and heart and see me through.

xx

Are you rushing to get things done before the holidays? At which point in the lead up to Christmas, do you let yourself truly slow down? xx


>> If you live in Melbourne, check out the giveaway over on my facebook page - you could win a photoshoot with the gorgeous and very talented Laura at Perla Photography + a CD of images from the day + one print of your choice from With Grace & Eve shop - just by liking our pages and sharing the giveaway post. If you're interested, see  details on Wednesday's facebook post here.

Stop. And Surrender.

Right when I didn't think my days could get any busier this past week they did.

And with that busyness I displayed some of my least favourite traits of overwhelmed and frustration.

I keep reminding myself to feel it and let it go.

But sometimes it doesn't happen that effortlessly though.

And so I whisper to myself: a little less thinking, a little more surrendering. And: this too shall pass.

Then I step outside. And look up at the sky.

It's shown me all its emotions too this week: stormy, overcast, illuminated by sunset, blue and sunshine filled, cloud scattered and grey.

And it's in that one minute that I step outside, surrender becomes me.

I stop, see, hear, feel. I witness the sky and I witness myself.

Then I give thanks.

It's just a minute. And that minute is my antidote to busy and rushed.

xx

{Yesterday I stopped twice to look to the sky and surrender my thoughts, once at home, the other at the beach. The sky and the waves were mesmerising. This minute of sky watching was my inspiration for this print. It's become a ritual in my days. Elisa x}

How do you slow down and surrender on the busiest of weeks? And do you look to the sky?

Out of balance

I had a post ready to go about balancing work and motherhood and my thoughts and feelings as I walked out the door to work...

And then this week happened and it's thrown me. I had the balance of mixing work (from home two days a week) plus study and mothering down pat when it was just one cherub to love and care for each day. But with two cherubs and one point five days a week of paid work I seem to be a little lost.

I've got to-do lists longer than I want to share. And this week I've combined adrenalin-racing spurts of rushed with mindful and still pockets of slow. And I feel like I'm doing a little of everything but not a lot of anything. I do feel like I'm doing these little things well, except maybe the housework...

And this balance curve ball has got me thinking. A lot.
About what I really want.
About what makes my heart sing.
About keeping myself in balance.
About living a life I love.
About what needs to be done. And what really doesn't.
About how I spend my time.
About disconnecting. To reconnect.
About what I can achieve now. And what I can trust there will be time to achieve later.

As I drove home tonight and reached our street I looked up at my favourite tree pausing to watch how its branches play out against the sky, and that's when I realised that sometimes balance needs to get mucked up and turned upside down and tossed about. Just so you can refind balance. Reconnect. Make changes. Start again.

xx

{Grateful for the clarity that came out of a lack of balance, and for work opportunities but mostly for the days I get to spend at home with my girls. Elisa x}

~ Linking with the gratitude community at the 52 Weeks of Grateful

Do you reassess balance? And what's making you most grateful this week? x

Quickly

I've been rushing. {Rushing to nowhere in particular and for no real reason at all}.

Just rushing to get out the house, to get this house unpacked, to set up my study/office, to get my wardrobe in some kind of order...

Nothing life stopping {or changing} there. And rushing won't get any of that done any quicker I know {yet still I've been rushing}.

This morning as I ran around the house picking up the contents of the nappy bag, little miss almost-three said, "Quickly quickly, Mum".

And that's when I realised it's quickly quickly that's been coming out of my mouth, and quickly quickly that's been on my mind {and maybe my little girl's too}.

But nothing is going quickly. {It feels as though everything is taking forever to get done}.

So today I'm giving up on wanting quickly. And trusting that time and space will do their thing.

And I hope when it's all done I remember that quickly didn't get me anywhere {other than in a head spin} and gently and slowly still get me where I want to be in the end.

xx

{Image - To combat all that rushing, we're stepping outside today to admire these stunning flowers in our garden ~ a gentle way to slow us all down xx}


Do you rush to get things done? Or find slow and gentle get the job done?

Here life goes rushing by

I was having a good big old whinge to my husband on the weekend about time rushing by.

Time is rushing, I told him. It's going so fast, and I can't get everything I want done, can't see everyone I want to see. And the girls are getting so big, and time just keeps on rushing by. And I wish it would stop. Because everything is a rush.

Later that night I sat down to be still and meditate, and I focused on my breath, and I listened to my heart.

And I let my body slow down, and I let it be still. And I felt my body gently let go and dissolve the day's tension, and there I found calm and effortlessness and a sweetness I've come to believe is always there {if I peel back enough layers}.

And then it dawned on me. Time + Rushing. Time wasn't rushing. Not one bit. Not at all.

Time is time. And it doesn't rush for anyone. It doesn't slow down either.

Time is always at the same pace. But this rushing? Well that was me.

The thing is I'm good at rushing. Really good. I can get myself into a rushed confusion in less than a minute {and I could probably sweep you up in my rushing too}.

I can even busy about and get 10 ticked off my to-do list in a day {leaving me in an organised head spin}.

But while I'm a great rusher and busy may be an easy-to-fall-into state for me, it doesn't suit me. Doesn't resonate with me. Not one bit. Not at all.

For me, rushing means busy. And busy remembers to do almost everything, but often forgets what's most important.

So this week there will be less rushing, more stopping {to breathe}, walking slowly and going gently.

My body, mind and heart will thank me I'm sure.

Elisa x

{image by me via instagram - follow @withgraceandeve}

How goes your week? Rushed and busy? Gentle and slow?