2026 - Mindful Living and Connection

Edgeoftheburn

Enjoying reading the different variants of mindfulness. There really is no right and wrong just what fits at the time.
We lost one of our cats yesterday, incredibly sudden he was only 4. Reflection has helped find solace, he had a wonderful life with a family that loved him dearly. He had just been out and caught a mouse his most favourite activity.
I read Less by Patrick Grant of the Great British Sewing Bee over Christmas and it really opened my eyes further to consumerism and waste. My immediate change is that I am avoiding the supermarket where possible. Today I had a visit to the fruit and veg market and the butchers to stock up on the needed. Much better value surprisingly and a fraction of the plastic, so aim to support local as much as I can from now on. Won't be able to avoid the supermarket completely but I will be much more careful of where I spend my money. 

weenancyinAmerica

@Ed@Edgeoftheburn - Sorry to hear about your lost cat. That is too young for our furry friends. But having a good life with you made a difference. Sending you many hugs.

Brie

@Edgeoftheburn
more cat related hugs.  been there done that.  makes me sad to think about it.

leftatthetrafficlights

@Brie - clearing your space is definitely part of mindfulness practice. A clear space allows for less distraction and a more peaceful environment! 😁

@Edgeoftheburn - I'm so sorry for your loss 😢 losing a pet/family member so young is awful and nothing can be said which can ease your pain - I have had similar experiences with dogs and it still hurts after almost ten years 😔 

I applaud your decision to avoid supermarkets and shop local where possible - it's not easy to do! I am definitely upping my game environmentally this year as I've let it slip a bit so will be doing the same.

For me, being more aware of my consumption and waste are also part of my mindfulness journey - I've been environmentally aware and a conscious consumer since I was a teenager and a vegan for over a quarter of a century now so they aren't new lifestyle choices but I have another perspective on it now too. I will also be doing a number of other things to both save money and limit my environmental burden...

I collected a load of horse chestnuts in the autumn which have been sitting in my greenhouse ever since - I'm going to chop and dehydrate them today so I can use them as laundry liquid throughout the year. I'm also going to make some ivy laundry liquid this weekend - it's a good way to save money and is very environmentally friendly 😁 

I've done the menu plan for the week and other than salad stuff, everything is from the storecupboard/freezer/garden/greenhouse. I'm hoping to keep the grocery bill to £20 this week. Using what we have reduces the possibility if food waste, the menu repurposes 'leftovers' so reduces cooking times and environmental impacts and makes me think more creatively. 

One of the biggest things I can do this year to reduce my costs and footprint is start to use my washing line to dry laundry when possible. I use my tumble dryer constantly and I know it has a massive impact on my electricity bill 🙄 I'm actually considering getting a dehumidifier and a clothes horse for the days (paticularly in winter) when outside drying isn't an option 🤔 I'm not sure how cost effective/environmentally friendly that is though so I need to do a bit more research on that...

Growing my own food this year is also going to save me money - I buy organic wherever possible so it's definitely cheaper- so I'm going through all our seeds this weekend and making decisions on what we're growing this year - I've arranged for my ds to help with the moving of the compost and bark that I'm ordering next week - we're going to be removing the old bark pathway as it's composted down to mud now (we'll sieve it and add it to the homemade compost) and laying new bark then moving lots of mushroom compost to the back where it will be mixed with our homemade stuff and added to the veggie beds 😁 they should be ready for the spring plantings in a couple of months 🙌 

Edgeoftheburn

Thanks all appreciate your kindness very much.

I am very impressed with your horse chestnut and ivy concoctions @leftatthetrafficlights, do they store well or do you have to make small batches? How effective is it at cleaning? Your bark recycling sounds like it will act as a workout as well as spring preparations.

I have veg garden too and our village has a seed library which is such a fantastic thing, it won't be long until the seeds can be started. I am considering adding a cut flower bed this year to enjoy and to gift. Perhaps I need to get on the prep too when the weather improves a little.

crazybeautiful

Please can I join in 

This year I'm focusing on creating a calm space and a calm life. Intentional spending, my health and wellbeing, decluttering, reading the books I own without buying more, and using up what I already have (groceries, toiletries, craft items).

Wednesday2000

I had meditation class yesterday and then a very intense reiki session with a new therapist. I felt quite sick and drained afterwards which has happened to me before. I felt very cold when I got home from that so I went up to change into my pyjamas and one of the crystals she used was stuck to my stomach. I have to return it to her when I see her again.

I picked up my library book too How to Thrive in Hard Times, a Buddhist Manual - Stephen Fulder.

I'm going to do some decluttering this afternoon and read my book group book and I have a class later today.

Brie

re dehumidifiers - there's been a lot of talk over the last few years about how cost effective they are in relation to a drier.  Our house doesn't suffer from damp so I've not been talked in to buying one.  We do have MiL's ancient washer/drier in the garage but it is massively inefficient taking a good 24+ hours to dry a small load.  I'd love to get rid of it as part of my declutter scheme.  

And in the healthy eating vein I bought some fish today so I can appease the OH's campaign for less meat.  There's salmon (which frankly I'll likely have for breakfast), there's breaded sole (one dinner this week) and there's a bag of frozen prawns (multiple uses, risotto, pasta, with eggs on a baguette).  Hopefully it means that I don't need to go shopping tomorrow after art class - OH has a habit of talking to me about what we should have for dinner (& that I should go and buy) just as I'm rushing out the door to class.  

I'm wondering if I need to remind OH that it's recycling pickup tomorrow morning and that there's still stuff to be put in the bin......

Teaparty_mum

Waving Hello !!

Very belated HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Hugs and support to those who need them 

Things got very crazy these past few months and I had to remove myself from well… basically everything. 

Question… why does everything happen all at once ?? Why does it have to be drama after drama ?? Honestly it’s been like one thing hit us as a family, sort that out then BOOM next truck full !!

Anyway please can I join you ?? 

leftatthetrafficlights

@Edgeoftheburn - this is my first time with horse chestnuts so I'm not sure yet about those...they should last a long time as they are dehydrated and it's only prepared the day before you want to use it. The ivy liquid lasts me around 7-10 days on average; I only use it for dark colours (I use an ethical laundry liquid for whites) but it certainly doesn't seem to be any less effective than anything else I've used (I have used mainstream liquid etc before so have an idea of how it performs 😉) so it's definitely a good way to save money and the environmental benefits are outstanding! 😁 

@crazybeautiful - calm space and calm life sounds wonderful! 😁 welcome aboard!! 🎉

@Wednesday2000 - I hope you're feeling better now after the Reiki session! 

@Brie - I think we do have damp in one of our rooms so even if it's not as efficient as I would like with laundry, hopefully the dehumidifier will help sort that room out 😉

@Teaparty_mum - sorry you've had a rough few months 😔 I hope that 2026 is a lot less difficult for you 🤞It is incredibly frustrating when you start to feel like the ball in a pinball machine and it's important to try to live in the present to help manage the persistent knock downs - not easy I know, but it really can help just to breathe and be at one with the moment, even if its only for 10 seconds....welcome aboard! 😁 

Today I'm having a lovely day - I've been doing mindful actions all day and although it's been difficult to stay focused, I've achieved a lot more than I anticipated 😁