Musical suggestion for this post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUIyYrH_5yM
I know people think talking about the weather is just small talk, but I personally LOVE weather changes. For instance, isn't it just that much easier to wake up when the sun is literally pushing against your blinds, just struggling to get in? Then you throw up the blind and it hits you hard...but gentle at the same time...and you just know that today will be a good day.
I used to live in a city that only had two types of weather:
-Sunny with cloud cover
-Rain, rain, rain.
I lived in this city for nearly two years and I used to think it was such an ugly place...it was always so grey or wet or just plain dim. I think if you live anywhere without pure sunshine for long enough periods, you would think the same thing. However, when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds for brief intervals, a transformation seemed to take place. The once dim, grey city transformed into this gorgeous array of colour and beauty and light! The change was extraordinary! Everyone who has lived in this city will know exactly what I am talking about. It's truly wonderful shedding a little bit of light on something can do.
I have big plans for this sunshiney day. Plans that include bike riding, walking, reading outside, laughing, and generally being joyful the whole day through. I do have to work tonight but I believe I will push that thought out of my mind completely until the time comes. Time to focus on everything that is good, right, and bright. Today, I am free to just enjoy God's splendour; the splendour that is always present, but hard to notice without a little drop of sunshine concentrate.
Be well.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
"Peace goes into the making of a poem as flour goes into the making of bread." -Pablo Neruda
Musical suggestion for this post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZEXbSdiar0
For fun, some people like to ski down a mountain.
I like to cook a meal.
For relaxation, some people get a massage/manicure/pedicure.
I bake bread.
When one thinks about the word 'relaxing' baking isn't exactly the first thing that comes to mind. Most think, 'Baking bread? No way. Too much work...the mixing, the kneading, the waiting...it takes hours!' That is precisely why I love it. I love doing projects that take long periods of time, whether it be sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, painting, gardening...I myself am not exactly a fast-paced person. I walk quite briskly but that is probably the only thing in my life that is brisk. In the years previous to my 22nd one, I used to admire haste. Haste to go to University, haste to find The One and get married, haste to have babies, haste to buy a house and establish one's self, haste to get rich, and haste to retire. I was so focused on getting somewhere, ANYWHERE fast that I completely forgot the reason for which I was going. I was overlooking things/ places/people that truly mattered because I was in such a hurry to GET THERE.
Well my dear readers, when I woke up at the age of 21 and observed my surroundings for the first time in a long time, I realized that I had missed out on some vital years of my life. I made myself a promise then and there that I would slow down and do things properly...that I would take time to appreciate, take time to make some memories. Take time to be my authentic self.
There are so many beautiful, simple things in this life and thanks be to God for reminding me of them every single day. Like baking bread. It is so relaxing to me to watch the ingredients combine into dough, then use my sense of touch to knead the dough...while the dough is rising I can catch up on my reading or listen to some thrilling music. I finally shape the dough into loaves and into the oven they go! The smell alone of the baking bread is worth all the time it takes to create, I promise you. And few things in this world are as delicious as a freshly buttered, warm slice of homemade goodness.
In this day and age it may seem impossible to take anything slow...but I encourage everyone to just try it. Shut off the iPhones, Blackberries and Facebook and turn on your imagination and creativity. My personal suggestions for a few slow, rewarding activities?
-Start a garden indoors. Buy some pretty, deep pots, potting soil and seeds of your choice. Beans are a no-brainer to grow!
-Find a nice cozy spot, brew some tea, grab a bowl of apples and just read a book. Read for at least an hour.
-Go through your closet thoroughly and remove everything you haven't worn in six months. Bag it up and donate it to local thrift stores, Sally Anne's, Good Will etc. You will feel so much better afterwards.
-Bake cookies of any kind. My specialties are ginger softs (opposite of ginger snaps) and chocolate kiss cookies. Make sure your butter and eggs are room temperature before you start though! PS. Don't forget to eat at least 2 cookies!
-Watch an old movie. Now I know some people might think watching TV is lazy but that doesn't count when it's a classic. I suggest Philadelphia Story, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Singing in The Rain, and Sabrina.
And don't feel guilty! I'd like to have a word with the person who said that taking things slow was the same thing as being lazy. Actually, I wouldn't have a word with that person...I'd probably just give them a slice of freshly baked bread, smothered in marmalade and butter. That will shut them up.
Be well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZEXbSdiar0
For fun, some people like to ski down a mountain.
I like to cook a meal.
For relaxation, some people get a massage/manicure/pedicure.
I bake bread.
When one thinks about the word 'relaxing' baking isn't exactly the first thing that comes to mind. Most think, 'Baking bread? No way. Too much work...the mixing, the kneading, the waiting...it takes hours!' That is precisely why I love it. I love doing projects that take long periods of time, whether it be sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, painting, gardening...I myself am not exactly a fast-paced person. I walk quite briskly but that is probably the only thing in my life that is brisk. In the years previous to my 22nd one, I used to admire haste. Haste to go to University, haste to find The One and get married, haste to have babies, haste to buy a house and establish one's self, haste to get rich, and haste to retire. I was so focused on getting somewhere, ANYWHERE fast that I completely forgot the reason for which I was going. I was overlooking things/ places/people that truly mattered because I was in such a hurry to GET THERE.
Well my dear readers, when I woke up at the age of 21 and observed my surroundings for the first time in a long time, I realized that I had missed out on some vital years of my life. I made myself a promise then and there that I would slow down and do things properly...that I would take time to appreciate, take time to make some memories. Take time to be my authentic self.
There are so many beautiful, simple things in this life and thanks be to God for reminding me of them every single day. Like baking bread. It is so relaxing to me to watch the ingredients combine into dough, then use my sense of touch to knead the dough...while the dough is rising I can catch up on my reading or listen to some thrilling music. I finally shape the dough into loaves and into the oven they go! The smell alone of the baking bread is worth all the time it takes to create, I promise you. And few things in this world are as delicious as a freshly buttered, warm slice of homemade goodness.
In this day and age it may seem impossible to take anything slow...but I encourage everyone to just try it. Shut off the iPhones, Blackberries and Facebook and turn on your imagination and creativity. My personal suggestions for a few slow, rewarding activities?
-Start a garden indoors. Buy some pretty, deep pots, potting soil and seeds of your choice. Beans are a no-brainer to grow!
-Find a nice cozy spot, brew some tea, grab a bowl of apples and just read a book. Read for at least an hour.
-Go through your closet thoroughly and remove everything you haven't worn in six months. Bag it up and donate it to local thrift stores, Sally Anne's, Good Will etc. You will feel so much better afterwards.
-Bake cookies of any kind. My specialties are ginger softs (opposite of ginger snaps) and chocolate kiss cookies. Make sure your butter and eggs are room temperature before you start though! PS. Don't forget to eat at least 2 cookies!
-Watch an old movie. Now I know some people might think watching TV is lazy but that doesn't count when it's a classic. I suggest Philadelphia Story, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Singing in The Rain, and Sabrina.
And don't feel guilty! I'd like to have a word with the person who said that taking things slow was the same thing as being lazy. Actually, I wouldn't have a word with that person...I'd probably just give them a slice of freshly baked bread, smothered in marmalade and butter. That will shut them up.
Be well.
A New Creation
This is a strange feeling. Strange but exhilarating! I feel transported back through time to 2005 when writing was the blood in my veins, the apple of my eye. This is an introduction of sorts...strike that. This is a MISSION STATEMENT. I feel it is necessary to tell people that this blog is not going to be typical...in fact, I do not intend to write on topics that will merely get me views and comments. No, fair people, this blog is for me. My thoughts, my dreams, my goals, my downfalls. You can follow along if you like, though I do not guarantee you will always like what you read, a few of you may perhaps...relate? to these things written.
My grade 10 and 11 English teacher used to make us do a 'Free Write' in the last ten minutes of every class. She would tell us to take pen to hand and write. Just write. No stopping. DEFINITELY no thinking. I found that through this exercise, what I wrote was much more simple and real than any grandios, flowery thing I could ever jot given more time. And so, good people of the internet world, please consider these humble episcles as nothing more and nothing less than a bloggish 'Free Write', straight from the heart (the true house of creativity), not the head.
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