To Be Present

Your mind is the garden, your thoughts are the seeds. The harvest can either be flowers or weeds. – William Wordsworth

In the mountains where we live, we have a long cold winter. Lots of snow and cold temperatures. This winter, in particular, seemed a lot longer than usual. If you know me well, you would understand me to be a sunshine girl; I love to be in the warmth – by a lake or ocean, with the sun on my face. If I had it my way, I would might spend the month of December in the winter climate in order to have snow, cozy fireplaces, and Christmas. The rest of my time would be in the sun. So, as soon as the snow started melting, and the sun started getting warmer it gave me new motivation: to deep clean my house, plant flower pots, do yard work, and just be outside. It also brought me the inspiration to clean up my life and the way I had been living.

For the most part, I seem to be very good at making my needs a priority. But, as a wife and mother, this sometimes isn’t as feasible as I would like it to be. We had been on the go all winter. There came a point when the busy, hectic lifestyle became draining. I was struggling to stay upbeat and positive. I was spending more time on my couch and social media than I would have liked. I felt almost like I was floating from one weekend to the next. I had come to the point where I felt burnt out. It was at that moment I decided I needed to take a break from everything extra I had accumulated, and just take the time to focus on myself and my little family. To be present.

I set myself a minimum goal of one week to make some necessary changes. I spent the week taking long walks every day, I cleaned up my diet and filled my body with nutrients. I did yoga and took long baths. And I also took a break from my devices. I needed it, and I am happy to report that I feel amazing!

Taking a week to focus on what was most important in my life was the seed planting that I needed. It has cultivated a new path for me, for which I am very excited. It’s not a short-term fix, it’s the beginning of changing the way I live my life from here on out. I am letting go of the “should do’s” and creating more of the “want to’s” and that has been revitalizing. It has allowed me to plant the seeds of love and passion, the things that make life beautiful. It has also allowed the “weeds” in my life not take up so much of my garden.

Written by: Krystle Rhea; Just Breathe Mama