As I sit with my morning coffee, the rain falls softly on the tin roof outside our living room window. It’s a beautiful sound. These are the moments that matter; the ones that cause me to pause and settle into momentary stillness.
Busy moments…
There are so many busy moments in life, aren’t there? Phone calls and messages to return, contracts to read, decisions to make. Big life questions to answer; important, life-changing choices to make. The world is loud and if we aren’t careful, we may miss the beauty in momentary stillness.
Everyday things…
John and I know we live a life that is different for many our age. Our intention to live outside the box didn’t come on the wings of a whim. Those decisions were methodical, strategic, and developed. But in the middle of our modern nomad life are days upon days, and weeks upon weeks, of normal everyday moments. In that way, our lives are much like anyone else’s.
One day you may find us lounging by the pool, enjoying lunch at a nearby cafe, or driving off to scope out our next potential move. Some days we drive twenty five minutes out of town to find amazing farmers markets, orchards, or roadside stands. Some days we stay at home and do the washing and ironing, pay the bills, and catch up on our favorite shows. Most days I’m found in my balcony gardens…watching the wind in the heucheras or tending the herbs. Then there are days, like today, when we sit with our coffee and listen to the momentary stillness of life.
The Farmer’s Wife…
I’ve been reading a book, The Farmer’s Wife: My life in days, by Helen Rebanks. It is quite literally one woman’s story about normal, everyday days. The author mixes recipes and memories most of us take for granted; stories of tagging sheep in the pasture, and recipes of lemon meringue pie. Nothing special…just those everyday things most of us don’t take notice of. She writes about her life at Cambridge University, “The students all eat in their dining halls, and the street cafes, sandwich shops, and restaurants are always full. In this world, old-fashioned domestic things like making good food have disappeared.” And she was right.
I fear we’ve replaced the satisfaction of the everyday tasks with a need for immediate gratification. But there is something about mixing a salad with fresh herbs cut from a garden you grew yourself, or slicing freshly made sourdough bread that took two days to ferment, or taking a long slow walk after a good spring rain, or watching the way a mourning dove rests peacefully among the flower petals.
The importance of life is found…
These everyday moments are where the importance of our lives takes place, isn’t it; in those moments we take for granted? Noticing the beauty of life can become precluded by the noise of the outside world if we aren’t careful. “Do this. Don’t do that.” “Post to social media nineteen times per day, or you’re not successful.” “Eat this diet; don’t drink that beverage.” “Be sure to count every macro.” And my personal favorite, ” You’re doing [fill in the blank] all wrong.” It is exhausting to live up to so many expectations. And that’s what they are: expectations other people (who may not even know us) place on us. Or rather – we place them on ourselves. Before long, we’ve hustled ourselves out of the joys of life altogether.
One of the best lessons I’m learning in this modern nomad journey is the absolute perfection I find in the momentary stillness. It reminds me that washing the dishes and reading a novel, creating an heirloom gift, and cooking a simple meal are the moments that actually matter. They are the moments that make up the majority of our days. And I fear we’ve lost the wonder in them.
Children grow up, work will always remain, the grass will always need a trim, there will always be five more pounds to lose. If we want life to matter – I mean really matter – we need to see the beauty of a job well done (even if it’s simply making the bed), we need to slow down and notice the sunset, enjoy a summer breeze while taking a walk with our spouse, or writing a hand-written letter to a friend we miss so much. The busyness will always be there. Find joy in the momentary stillness of life. Notice it. Embrace it. Absorb it. These are the moments that create the life of your dreams.
xo, Billie
discover more:
- Our favorite fiction reads: https://www.amazon.com/shop/forwardourmai/list/1YAF70ZI2ITJK?ref_=aipsflist
- Find inspiration in the mundane: https://forwardourmail.com/find-inspiration-in-the-mundane/
