Friday, March 30, 2012

Being Mindful

As children we are taught to mind our manners.
As adults, we strive to mind our own business.
As menopausal women, we try not to lose our minds.
Amen.

A word that keeps popping up in my head lately is
'mindfulness'

Yes.
My mind is full, that is for sure - but what I'm talking about is finding meaning in all the little mundane tasks that fill our days.
Finding contentment in our possessions, and not needing more.
Honoring what we have, appreciating the provision.
Breathing.
Thinking.
Recognizing.
Pausing.



It's true that our life is made up of moments such as these.
I'm hellbent on not missing them -

Right now, it's raining out, and it's all gloomy and thundery.
I adore it.
The grass looks so green it almost hurts my eyes to behold it.
My tea is the perfect drinking temperature.
I awoke to the scale showing under 5lbs to my goal weight.
Aaron is still snoozing upstairs, and I'm letting him.
The banty hens are right outside my window, scratching around by the clothesline.
It's Friday.
The weekend is here, full of promise.

It's a beautiful moment.

 You hear the phrase 'practice mindfulness' - and it's true - it takes practice.

At first, I almost let this moment slip.
I almost told myself I'm much too busy to sit down and write out my thoughts.
I have one hour, and I shouldn't 'waste' it like this.

Poppycock.
Writing these thoughts out, just reinforces it all in my spirit.

I wrote this on our Bootcamp forum earlier this week:

This morning as I was making the bed - I questioned how I could find 'meaning' in something like making a bed. I questioned why I make the bed. Well, it's tidy. Yes, that is one reason. Think deeper. I realized what a comfort it was to me to climb in a made bed at night. A clean, made bed. It's a simple pleasure. It brings me a sense of order and well-being. So in fact, the act of making that bed in the morning, is preparing my future. I choose to prepare my future (that very night) for a sense of well being.

Now, let's transfer that thought process to other things. Can you say that spending money foolishly is preparing you for the future? Yes. A future of lack. Can you say that eating the DingDongs is preparing you for the future? Yes. A future of diabetes. But let's not put a negative spin on this....

Today's workout is preparing you for a future of energy, strength and vitality. Today's clean meals are preparing you for a future of clear thinking, health and self confidence.






I think this is why I adore homemaking so much.
I do find peace in my chores.
I do find meaning in laundry, gratitude in dishes and nuturing in dusting.
I don't see them as 'chores', although I do use that word.
I see them as opportunities to give thanks for what I have, to love my family with a sense of order, stability and wholesome food.

It's my deepest desire that this little corner of the Interweb here can give you a moment to pause - count your blessings - encourage you to love your family - love yourself - take care of yourself - see the beauty that surrounds you - and get chickens.

Lots and lots of chickens.




32 comments:

  1. I SO appreciate your post today, Jayme. I purchased a book a while back, "Organized Simplicity" thinking this woman was going to help me whip this house in more order than what already exists. HA! This wonderful lady is helping me with virtually the same things you've mentioned here in your post today...from healthy clean eating (which I am loving thanks to YOUR influence)to finances, to a life purpose statement (which Carroll and I are doing together), to making as many of our own cleaning products in order to do our share of keeping the planet green, and organizing AFTER decluttering. I'm thankful for your influence in my life...glad we've always enjoyed homemaking but you have given my own life more dimension in that area.

    HUGS TO YOU, my friend!

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  2. This is my favorite blog post of all!! Amen. Selah. And all the rest. It's time to get together. My honeypot is almost empty. I have a book and a jar for you. Letsmakaplan!

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  3. As I went out this morning to grab the mail. I breathed in the cool air and was just so thankful for another day in this beautiful world.

    p.s.

    I have 5 chicken eggs ready to hatch any day in an incubator and I cannot wait!!!

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  4. As usual, I love this. There's nothing like a peaceful mind. God is not a God of disorder. ;) I think it's a bit like Philippians 4:8 also...thinking on praise worthy things. :) I have a couple of questions for you Jayme, do you sweeten your tea and what with? I'm seriously considering switching from coffee to tea. And, you mentioned in your interview with your coach that you were eating "stir fry." So, obviously you weren't stir frying in nasty soy sauce so how do you stir fry? Does "clean" soy sauce even exist? Just thought I would throw those two questions out there. :) Thank for all the inspiration!! :)

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  5. I don't think I've ever commented on a blog post...ever. But your eloquent words really moved me today. Just wanted to thank you for giving me some perspective on a day that would otherwise have far too many moments of "checking out." thank you.

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  6. Tbank you. I try to live with a grateful heart. I work in a negative atmosphere (corrections) but each morning, especially on these early spring mornings it is glorious to just stop and take a minute to be still and enjoy the birds and beautiful sunrises. Today it had shades of lavender. I try to stop my co workers when I can to take the time to look up and find peace in that short minute. It's the little things that matter, so true. Blessings.

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  7. I just want you to know, that I enjoy your blog posts so much! I patiently wait for each new one. Have you always been so insightful...or has the lack of sugar...cleared the fog from your brain. Less than 5 lbs away from goal...I'm happy for you...and truth be told...jealous! I am struggling with my eating...I know what I need to do...I know how I feel when I do it right...and sometimes I even think of you as I am ready to take the bite...and yet food at the moment is winning...I just don't get it!
    Sharon

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  8. Thanks for the dose of perspective...often the hours between 9 and 3 are filled with "chores" and thoughts of what needs to be done. Those are often mingled with thoughts of, "It looks like I didn't do anything all day." and "It's more than I can keep up with!" Yes...it's time to pause, be grateful, and enjoy every minute. Oh and agreed...buy chicks...those girls are a joy! -Mary

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  9. Thanks so much for this post, I was trying to talk myself out of getting back on the internet after my workout (I am proud of myself). And then I found this post...bless you, I needed to appreciate all those little 'chores' I needed to see them in a different light..especially love the 'bed making' simile. It does make a difference when I crawl into a freshly made bed at night..It feels like all is right with the world!

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  10. What a great post, Jayme. I, too, find peace and pleasure in the mundane things of life. Sometimes when I am in a hurry I forget that I need to be thankful for EVERY moment of this much lived-in life. Blessings to you today...and watch out for chicken poop when you hang your clothes out...cuz we all know what happens out amongst the birds in the yard! xo Diana

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  11. Thanks, I really needed to read this post today.
    x

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  12. Jayme, what a lovely post...and so true. My son often asks why he has to make his bed when he's just going to rumple it later anyway and now I can give him a better answer than 'because I said so' Yes, so true...loved all your thoughts.

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  13. I took a moment to check your blog and came away refreshed and refocused- THANK YOU!!

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  14. Where I live I can't get more than five chickens, but next year I have decided to do it. I grew up on a farm where each year my dad bought 100 baby chicks who supplied us with eggs and meat all year. I, too, am finding contentment in not always trying to get more "things." After you get more things you have to find room for them and eventually you have to get rid of things. Your blog is helping me keep centered and to keep off the weight I have lost. Nothing tastes so good as being thin.

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  15. I love the way you give us simple things to be proud of and the all revolve around our homes. This is one of my favorite posts!
    Hugs!
    Marianne N.

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  16. Y.O.U. You are such an encourager. Thanks, my friend.

    Love this post.

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  17. Thank you for the beautiful reminder that we are to SOAK UP every minute of every day we are blessed to live. Finding pleasure in the everyday things is one of the keys to true happiness. Life is mostly made up of mundane moments. When we can savor those moments, well, like takes on a new joy, a new meaning. Congratulations on being so close to your goal. You are truly an inspiration. Blessings to you!

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  18. Oh Jayme, what a wise woman you are!! Mindfullness is so important!

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  19. As a stay at home mom, I could not agree more! Have a great weekend.

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  20. Love, love, love this post Jayme! So true. All those thoughts are in my head but I have a hard time expressing them on 'paper'.

    I did my first Yoga session yesterday at home watching a DVD and this post reminded me of what, I think, the instructor was trying to get across.

    I DO love all my chores. I usually count my blessings while doing them.

    And I already have chickens. 27 to be exact and 10 Khaki Campbell ducks that also provide me with entertainment, enjoyment and eggs!

    Have an AWESOME weekend!

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  21. Good show. Have had fun reading thru your last several months of posts...so INCREDIBLY happy to know Aaron is done with public school and pursuing his dream. (my Grace will get her GED this month).

    So happy you're happy (though I never knew you to NOT be happy!) I feel the dark clouds that surrounded me are beginning to receed a bit, and I may enter the land of the living again soon. Got me a counselor, a nutrition plan, a job, and working on a new attitude as I prepare to say hello to my grandbaby girl in 4 short weeks even as I say small goodbyes to my mama each time I see her (the cancer is taking it's sweet, painful time to take her completely.)

    Maybe I shall finally haul my carcass to your doorstep again this summer...miss you.

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  22. I believe this is your best post. It's got me thinking that I need to put parts of my life in perspective.Going to go back and read it again! Thanks!

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  23. More so than any other post, this one is why I keep coming back here even when I don't normally make time for blogs. Simply said yet just how I feel as well. Simple words are often the most powerful ones. Thank you!

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  24. Beautiful post, but can I substitute 2 cats and a dog (plus a granddog at the moment) for chickens? They teach us many lessons and make us laugh so much! You have inspired me on so many different levels! Thank you!

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  25. Waaaaaaaa!! I feel like a you are reading my ungrateful, complaining heart Jayme.

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  26. The Lord gave me "Content" for my word this year. (I never had a word for the year before this....He knew I would need it this year)
    I find I am more "content" when I am doing the very things you speak of.
    Making the bed, sweeping the floor, cooking a meal.
    Mindfulness....it reminds me of Philippians 4:8...one of my favorite scriptures. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

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  27. Jayme, Of all my chores..I like laundry best. I hate housework...but I hate a dirty house more. LOL. I love your chickens. Smiles to you, Susie(She Junks)

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  28. Just what I needed to read this morning. Thank you. Anne

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  29. Thank you Jayme for expressing the feelings we sometimes find hard to share. We all have the same moments in every day, hopefully we fill them with purpose and meaning. I spend my moments listening to the crops grow, the bugs munching on the vegetables, the sounds of animals bedding down for the night, and the contented sighs of my family after a hard day's work. Thanks for reminding us to acknowledge the blessings of every day. I

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  30. Aaahhhh. I have had a week of mindFULLness. On Friday evening I sat in a rocker on the porch in the middle of a thunderstorm, breathing deeply and grasping desperately for mindfulness. Thank you for this post. Thank you for taking that hour and sharing your voice. I feel more determined, more relaxed and ready to slip into my clean, neatly made bed after reading this. Have a wonderful weekend, Jayme!

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