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Being

Having an old, 1930s, fixer-upper can be kind of overwhelming sometimes. Especially to someone who loves the ambience of a completed room. Even so, my husband and I torture ourselves every Friday with the same laughable question. What shall we do this weekend? Sure, at first we might dream a bit. How about sleeping in? Maybe we could go play at the beach? Or we could go to the movies! How about hiking on the river? Then one of us, usually me, jolts us back to reality. Don’t be silly. We have a house! We aren’t jetting off on a weekend vacation! Now, of course, it isn’t all work and no play. We have kids, so of course every waking moment and dollar cannot be spent on the house. We just have to set the pace. Which for us can be summed up in one word: snail.

Moving at a snail’s pace is against my nature. But really, snails are on to something. They move slowly enough to see the beauty along the way. They aren’t complaining about what they don’t have, or what needs to get done or how much they can cram into one weekend. They don’t get overwhelmed with life. They are just inching along, but somehow, eventually they get where they want to be.

Sometimes I find I am so busy trying to keep up with life that I forget to enjoy the beauty that is right in front of me! All I can see is the mess, the to do list, the schedule, the goal. Does that ever happen to you? You are thinking “I will really be happy when…” and then when you finally arrive at the “when” you have already replaced it with a new goal or restriction on when you can slow down and enjoy life? Even though I love to putter, and that is not exactly moving at a breakneck pace, I am still feeling the sense of accomplishment because I am usually DOING something. And DOING is not the same as BEING.

So, instead of filling your head with ideas of weekend projects, things you could do or buy, or ways to create a more lovely existence, today my friends I leave you with the challenge I am giving myself.

Live the lovely existence you already have around you. Instead of always DOING something, try BEING.

Don’t CREATE if it is at the sacrifice of actually experiencing it.

Live in the moment this weekend. Even if it is just a few moments, SAVOR them!

Consciously take time to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of what you have and what is around you.

Sit in your most beautiful chair and just be happy. Read a book in your favorite room. Savor a delicious cup of coffee with a friend. Use your favorite china. Roast marshmallows. Play a board game. Snuggle up to your favorite person. Take a walk and marvel at the beauty and peacefulness of nature.

Laugh. Smile. Love. Savor. Treasure. Be.

That is my goal for at least a small part of this weekend. I’ll let you know how it goes.

photo: Victoria Magazine

7 Comments

  1. Abby from The Blissful

    Amen, sister! This is exactly what I needed to hear today. You’re singing my tune. Thanks for the reminder to slow down and appreciate every little thing I *already* have. Creativity is a wonderful thing, but not at the expense of the beauty, pleasure, and importance of what already has been created for us. Hope you have a *wonderful* snail-paced weekend, Melissa.

    Reply
  2. melissamichaels

    Thanks Abby! I hope the same for you! Let me know how it goes!

    Melissa

    Reply
  3. Becky

    Love this posting and the sayings. My favorite is, “Tomorrow is not promised to anyone..live each day to the fullest.” BTW, I tagged you, Nice Lady! Have a wonderful weekend, xo, becky

    Reply
  4. melissamichaels

    Very kind of you, Becky! Thanks so much and you too have a wonderful weekend!

    Melissa

    Reply
  5. Linda macDonald

    Hi Melissa,
    Thanks for visiting my blog and, in turn, allowing me to find yours. We deifintely seem to be cut from the same cloth. I laughed about you and and your hubby discussing what to do in terms of projects. My hubby and I find it hard to sit still and are always planning projects. Today, however, we went downtown and sat outside our favourite cafe and enjoyed our coffee. We discussed how it is nice to actually have nothing project-related planned for the weekend, yet how we still feel restless because we are not building or painting, etc.

    I hope you, too, have some element of rest to your weekend!

    Linda

    Reply
  6. Beck

    Hi! I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying reading your blog and how much I relate to this post.
    I stumbled across your site in a google search about cozy home or the like. I’ve just bought my first home- a unit- and I have been looking for inspiration. Boy have I found it. Thankyou!
    God Bless,
    Beck in Australia! :)

    PS I’ve linked this post to my blog with your site address too- I hope that’s :)

    Reply
  7. Rose

    Oh THIS is SO ME! Like I said in another comment on your blog, we ARE kindred spirits! :) I see SO MANY things that need doing at our home and things not getting done it depresses me because I can’t stand it not looking nice. I have to step back and just pray and be still. LOTS of praying. lol
    Sure am enjoying your blog!

    Reply

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