Simplifying Life

Aril

Hello virtual friends:j
Have been lurking of late as would have only posted a grumbly sort of post. Have had the sort of week where I seem to get it wrong on all fronts...work, knitting with the wrong wool for both the Wooligans blankets etc etc. The upshot is unfortunately all my demons come back to haunt me and I have to take a step back to regroup and regain perspective.
I've had the day off today and feel much better for it. I've been out and about with the small person and my son's friend enjoying the sunshine and listening to all the teenies chortling on the swings in the park. My friend [whose son I was looking after] then stayed for lunch and I've got another friend coming over tonight. The upshot of this is that I've started to reread Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach and today I leave you with a passage I read this morning in the park:
"What is missing from many of our days is a true sense that we are enjoying the lives that we are living. It is difficult to experience moments of happiness if we are not aware of what it is we genuinely love. We must learn to savour small, authentic moments that bring us contentment. Experiment with a new cookie recipe. Take the time to slowly arrange a bouquet of flowers in order to appreciate their colours, fragrance and beauty. Sip a cup of tea on the front stoop in the sunshine. Pause for five minutes to pet a purring cat. Simple pleasures waiting to be enjoyed. Simple pleasures overlooked"
I am pleased to say that I've had many moments of simple pleasure today and have once again managed to stuff the perfectionist who I allow to give me such a hard time back in her box:D
Aril

ceridwen

Groatie Queen - Happy Birthday and I hope you are having a good day. Best Wishes. Sounds like you are right to "take a step back" from the unbalanced relationship with the friend. Unfortunately many people do tend to take things out on other people when they are ill/otherwise unhappy - we can all have bad moments and "let fly" when life has got to us a bit - we are all human - but some people make a habit of "kicking the cat". I am thinking now of one person I know right now in a different respect on this - she has a husband who is getting steadily more and more ill with Alzheimers and she has told me a bit about what her life with him is like......and it does sound extremely stressful to me...I couldnt cope with what she has to deal with in that respect - and yet she always manages to stay pleasant towards everyone. As far as I can see she always "stays in control" and calm. I dont know how she does it myself!

mary43 - sorry to hear about the fire at your husbands workplace. I guess the silver lining is you get to see more of him...but hope things are going to be okay moneywise for you. At least it wont be much longer before your mortgage is gone now - and that will be a great weight off your shoulders. I certainly felt a great sense of relief when I knew I owned every last brick of my house at last.

charis - sounds like a lot of "letting go" is going on in your life at present. I wish you strength for it.

ceridwen

Hi Aril

We crossposted.

Nice to see your chirpy little greeting coming up again. Sorry its been a not nice few days - hope those demons dont have "too big a pitchfork" with them when they come visiting!

Like the quote again - another one for Rosieben's folder she is keeping entitled "Aril's quotes" methinks.:D

Aril - have I mentioned a blog I like visiting that would certainly take your fancy:
http://solsticedreamer.blogspot.com/

You may know this one already - but just in case you dont. I know its nowt to do with simple living or moneysaving - but its a personal little "taste" of mine and I know you'd like it.

mary43

wmf - I get easily confused about who's said what..............lol ooops !

aril - good to see you about again..........did wonder where you were. I can readily sympathise about the times when everything we touch goes wrong.......begins to feel like there just isn't a 'right' way........i which case, best do nothing.
Love the quote.............reminds me so much of that poem..........must look it up...........about having 'Time to stand and stare'. Often its the simple things in life that give us the most pleasure..........a piece of music, a good friend, birdsong, the changing colours in the autumn..........smiling at someone and having it returned. All simple things and all free !
The book you've got sounds like a 'must have' for me and I'm pleased you're enjoying life more again. Bless

ceridwen - OH was so saddened when he got to work to see the whole lot in ashes.............beautiful pieces of furniture that just needed a bit of TLC to restore them to their former glory,not to mention sharing the shock of it all with his boss who's also a friend of ours.OH was also worried about the money we'll lose........part time job I know but every little helps. But I've told him I'm not going to worry about money. We've been in positions before when we almost lost our house, were almost bankrupt and it drove us daft. Not getting in that rocking chair again !
Ex foster lad called up this afternoon and I told him about the fire.........double blow really as there might well have been some work for him.........might still be once the mess is cleared up as it was the huge garden that needed doing. But in every situation there's a positive to out balance the negative........ex foster lad has offered to cllear out our garage so OH can use it as a temporary workshop if need be............oh what a boon to have the garage cleared out of all the 'stuff' that seems to have bred since last year. So...........might end up with OH working from home when needed in which case I'll see him more and ex foster lad, bless him, is offering to do anything we want that will help around the house, indoor or out, for no payment. I always insist on giving him something if he's spent the day working hard -we always argue about it as I shove a note in his pocket. He's got so far through his depression and now needs a reason to get up and get out in the mornings..............so tomorrow, I'm collecting my pension,popping up to see his flat now he's decorated it and bringing him back with me -the general idea being that he trims the plant at the front of the house and helps me to de-clutter my little room here............he'll love it and will probably take half my 'throw outs' home with him...............lol I just hope he feels well enough tomorrow. He has so many ups and downs and just when he feels he's on top he falls back down again so, fingers crossed.

mary43

Why oh why is it that just when you think you're winning something stupid happens ? I was getting along fine today..............called to see ex foster lad and he came up and between us we managed to condense what was in two drawers in the computer room into one.............brilliant ! At last..........all my craft stuff in one drawer..........the other one has only necessary stuff in it. Tomorrow we're transferring photo allbums to floor level cupboard (back breaking when you want to look at a photo) Albums can go on a shelf that I can reach and the boxes of 'my Dad' can go into the cupboard.
Sorted I thought..............even OH was in lighter frame of mind and even more thrilled when ex foster lad managed to work his dvd player out properly..............but no................life isn't like that is it........well not at chez 'bonkers' here its not. OH sits down to watch the news.............oooops ! Tele won't function.:eek: .........so,,bit of messing about, the air turning blue for a bit and tele is on............but not ITV ! 'Oh' says OH - must be ITV network. I tried it upstairs on our bedroom tele and no prob with ITV..............'Oh', says OH.............must be because downstairs is digital (what with freeview etc.).I expect "!!'............well I gave up at that point.
Need to phone a builder (previous two never did come and look at the roof). Ring around to find one recommended..........brilliant..........phone number to hand I turn around to pick up portable house phone.............where is it ????? Well neither of us have a clue ! :eek: We still have the wall phone in the kitchen so not the end of the world but annoying none the less..............my poor little 'almost simplified' brain was in total turmoil all over a little phone and digital tele !!! :eek:
And having just written this out I think I must be a really 'sad' kind of person to let that get to me ! Am I the only one who gets so troubled by such trivia ???
Sorry for minor rant but had to sound off.........................now I''m going to ring the builder who should have called on Monday to see when if ever he will bother.....................................oh dear ..........further apologies for small rant there:o
Will try and untangle my brain at some point during the evening.........

Ellidee

Mary I have quoted this, by John Lennon, before, BUT ' Life is something that happens while we're making other plans'.

mary43

Thanks ellidee - OH is at this moment playing Beatles Love Album.........I remember that John Lennon quote - he had some really good ones...........it all makes sense.
Phone will probably turn up.............if not, well its not as though we haven;t got one and as we watch mostly bbc .................does it really matter that much ?I'd have do be a real saddo to think that it did wouldn't I.

Feel a bit calmer now.............OH has said relief to be one phone missing -just need to get rid of the other two (he hates phones..........lol)

To add.............we really should be taking advantage of some time out.......our lads away..............and OH is now lighting candles to create a better ambience (think thats the right word)............lol
(under his breath he's muttering about missing phone - from one who can't stand them............???)

EagerLearner

mary43 wrote: »

No..............what made you think that ?

Just that my husband had the exact same thing happen to a business opposite him that sold tools, same day Took 6 firetrucks, really bizzarre

I'm more of a lurker on this thread hoping to pick up tips and hints that will give me more spare time :T

mary43

Eagerlearner - how strange !! Same number of fire engines as well............!
This was a workshop where OH did up old pine furniture so you can imagine how it took hold ! New workshop too and not long been done. Oh well, OH has said about clearing the garage to do some work -at least then we get the garage clleared out. Desparately needs it...........it must breen every year the 'stuff' that seems to accumulate.

Builder has been at last to look at the damage to the roof........quote will follow, send off to insurance and hopefully the work will get done.
Last of Dads music will be collected next Wednesday (relief when its all gone) and ex foster lad is on his way up to give me a hand with further de-cluttering in computer room................(wonder if we'll find missing phone ? )
Am now past caring about it and feel I may have de-cluttered it away...............lol

boredofbeingathome

Hello everyone, I was just wondering if anyone had read any books by Vera Waters? I have just read one, and it is full of little bon mots which really make you reflect on the positive side of life!
she is one of our local authors and the had books on sale in one of the shops.
The one i read was called 'Recipe for a Rainbow'
Talk about uplifting.I adored it and its not often i can say that about books.
She has a website at https://www.verawaters.com
I thought about a quote to include,but there are so many. Instead i will include a bit from the back cover.

Believing in constant hope and positive humour she will show you how to seize each day making every moment precious. Read and be inspired....
Well i did and i am.
Bob xx