Dear Reader:

The older I get the more I realize how important it is to niche out time in each day for reflection…to have a quiet place one can retreat to for some introspection.

One of my favorite artist’s Kelly Rae Roberts is in the midst of figuring this out too. She made the plunge this past year to move herself and her family (with her parents following in suit) from the bustling city of Portland, Oregon to the small artistic town of Three Sisters to slow down her life and provide a different perspective for her young son growing up in a small town versus a large city.

It has definitely had its challenges but at the same time Kelly is already seeing the differences in their before and after life-altering move as they begin settling in. She writes:

“Embracing quiet and the stillness that comes with adjusting to life in a tiny town has been super soul nourishing. The evenings are SO QUIET. The neighborhoods are filled with sounds of birds and wind, with deer and wild turkeys just hanging around. The stars are incredible, the sky wide open and black with silence.”

Kelly talks about realigning her objectives in life and how a lot of it involves unlearning – “The sloooowing it way down, the meandering for found hearts, the cloud watching, the overall consciousness of living a different way. A lot of unlearning. A lot of quiet. Feels good.”

It does take courage to make the changes in our lives to bring us the inner peace we all so seek daily. No one wants to run the risk of trying to do everything all the time, even with the best intentions, only to realize when we over-spread ourselves trying to do good…sometimes we end up ‘good for nothing.’

We have to take time for ourselves and not lose our identifies in the process of living.

Kelly Rae Roberts is offering an on-line workshop to those interested in “exploring the duality of life. How to care for ourselves and still honor the responsibilities we’ve chosen.” This dilemma speaks to many, if not all, of us.

Personally my special time these days is going out on the deck around 7:30 P.M. and watching the lights come on the deck and garden…one by one. It is my good-night ritual to the garden, the sanctuary, in my life. This is when I take time to reflect and plan how to be open to others while not losing myself in busyness.

So until tomorrow…Take time to make time to honor yourself and thank God for your special passions while finding ways to give back to those around you in the process of living life to the fullest.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*I spent last night in Mt. P to be ready to pick up Rutledge and Eva Cate …Today is our big day…we are doing a local scavenger hunt in Summerville, lunch, and then off to the little theater to watch cousin Ady in the Dr. Seuss Musical in town. Aunt Kaitlyn is joining us for lunch and the theater…should be a fun day!