Today is supposed to be a scorcher. More than once, I’m reminded of how thankful I am for central air conditioning, even though I live in the northeast. The sun promises to be bright, the humidity high and the day to be an intense one, weather-wise. But life-wise? Hmmm… That’s going to be a whole lot more lowkey.
I woke up this morning with renewed purpose to keep our lives calm, comfy and, of course, cool. One does well, I reminded myself, to stop and at least admire the roses. (I can’t smell ‘em, because they’d make me sneeze.) And today? It’s as good of a day as any to simplify and settle. As the thermometer hits 90 today, my goal is to lower the noise and let in only what needs to be. What needs to be today? I’m rug shopping.
I know, it isn’t what one would expect but I’ve got to be honest here: rug shopping is a thing for me. Living in a rural area, buying a rug is not exactly an easy process. I could spend a full day driving three hours to run around to stores in an urban area to find something, often without success. Just doesn’t seem worth the effort. Or, I could shop online to a few trusted brands. Now that is a much more pleasant experience. The only rub there? Well, have you ever tried to send a 9X12 rug back? Heck, have you ever tried to put a 9X12 rug back in the bag it came in? Enough said. The rule of online rug shopping is pretty hard and fast: you must be sure.
At this point, I’m down to six candidates, but it’s really only likely four. By the end of the day, I’ll probably have a winner. Along with three half-hour meetings, a few sets of notes and some weekend planning, that makes for my not-so-full-ish day. And I’m okay with that. Life really needed to slow down and through a constellation of hot weather, life circumstances and a renewed perspective, I’m in shut-it-all-down mode.
As I ponder that balance between home and work life, outside vs. inside, stimulation vs. calm, I realize there is a dichotic dance to life and I’m right there in it. Sometimes I embrace the crazy, exciting and chaotic; sometimes I shop for rugs. Today? I’m shopping for rugs.
While I’ve tried to adopt a mantra of simple peace for my life, I’ve shared here that the struggle is real. There are times when simple peace feels so darned elusive even when I search high, low, backwards and forwards. Conversely, there are times when simple peace just comes and stays and I don’t feel like I actually worked for it. Those are pretty great times. And then, there are the times that I simply choose simple peace. Those times? They are actually the best because they seem to be the most pure and the longest lasting. No big spoiler here: these days I’m choosing simple peace.
In the past few days and weeks, I’ve made some pretty healthy changes around here. First, I cut out the weekday drinking. Granted, it was only one cocktail, glass of wine or beer per evening, but it was every evening. And it was collecting in various ways. I was waking up a bit sluggish and the extra calories were beginning to show. One Monday night in late June, I decided I was “soberish” during the week. It stuck. Then last week, we decided to try my sister’s trick of cooking only every other day. Essentially the goal is to make enough for leftovers the next day. I don’t do a lot of heavy prep meals but even that change – of cooking once every two days was a good slow-down-your-life activity. Finally, this week I’ve wanted to quiet down all of the noise I let into my life and just do healthy things at home. I’ve been doing yoga each morning, going for walks when its cool enough and generally keeping our home calm and quiet. The result? I’m in a good place simply by choosing peace.
Today is one of those days when life will slow us down even more. It’s my Friday (and my hubby’s Friday eve) and I have already shifted into my weekend mode. This weekend its just us chickens here at home and we kinda need that. A little project work, a little star gazing, perhaps a campfire and definitely some Tour de France and this weekend promises to cap off that soul-settling that I’ve been doing for the last few weeks.
Next week? My focus is going to be on cleaning up my diet and getting even healthier. But my approach to all of this change has been very slow and steady and I’m so grateful that I did that. I feel calm, in control and, most of all, happy.
Life is good here at home… deck project and all.
The Yuppie Homesteader 