The Simple Things

Dress- Mint + Maple | Mukluks (Similar Here)

In my early 30’s it seemed the older I got, the more complicated life was becoming. To the point I felt life was in a blender, going a million miles a minute, upside down and becoming unrecognizable. I remember asking my mom if life was ever going to get easier and she just replied, “Today is the simplest day of your life going forward, the older you get the more complex it becomes…” And she was right, the older a person gets, life becomes busier and obstacles like illness or lose strike and at times we become bogged down to the point of paralysis with “adulting”.

I reflect on all of this with Thanksgiving coming up as it’s been a year since moving to the “House in the Woods”. For me it’s taken health concerns and putting together this home to slow the blender down and allow me to appreciate the simple things again. It isn’t easy and I’ve worked hard to try and keep myself cognizant of the list of things I’ve learned and re-prioritized for myself.

Staying True to My Core…Nothing pulls you back faster to your core values, family and friends than being “rocked to your core” by an upset in life. For me, it was my 4.5 lb tumor I nicknamed Rhonda. It gave me a lot of time to think about what matters most to me and it’s what I value the most that makes me happiest. There is something truly freeing and simplifying in sticking to your core.

It’s the Little Things, the Simple Things…. As a kid, most days after school we’d play outside, and it was these times of day that I got to experience the harmony and joy of being “one” with nature. It’s where I feel at peace, the reason I love outdoor sports and hunting. Later on I would learn this experience has a name, the Biophilia Effect (literally meaning, the love of life). Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson coined the term in his research that all living things have an “innate affiliation to other living organisms”.

And so I realized after much introspection that the urban life I had occupied for the better part of  15 years, wasn’t allowing me to recharge my batteries the way I wanted, so I got a dog, I moved to the country. Big changes to meet the simple little things I needed, 30 minutes outside at a minimum every morning and evening to walk, sometimes sit and listen to the wind and look at the mountains. It lets me figure out the days problems and find a calm in the frenzy of the day or week. Everyone I realize has their own, “Simple Things” that bring them back to zero, but this is what I have taken many years to realize is essential for me.

You’re Enough…   We are bombarded with images of “Perfection”on what seems like a million different platforms. It’s hard for any of us, women and men alike to feel like they’re enough. I blog about fashion and I know this is seemingly narcissistic on my part, but please understand it’s a creative outlet for me to showcase some fashion that I like. I realize I’m not the youngest, skinniest or prettiest out there but I realized, I just gotta do me and hopefully some people appreciate it. I once had a boyfriend tell me confidence is the sexiest attribute a woman can have. So that’s my only message, Do You- Self- Acceptance is a beautiful thing and it’s amazing how much a person shines when they nurture compassion for themselves and others.

No More Drama… On this I’ve drawn a HARD line in my life the last year or so. Don’t want it, Won’t Take it. Whether it is in my business life, personal or family life, drama only begins to exist if you feed it. It’s like a cranky little monster growling in the corner and the moment you tell it to get the hell outside, the simpler life becomes.

Keep Laughing… Let’s face it, unless you become a monk, life is always going to have complexities and stress and hard times. Laughter and using humour to look at your situation really helps me. Plus it relieves physical tension, stress, relaxes muscles and boosts the immune system! And for all those that get my text messages with the overuse of LOL, sorry not sorry (lol…..) 🙂

Anyways, thanks for letting me ramble and a Happy Thanksgiving to All My Fellow Canucks This Weekend!