Hey friends and happy day after Mother’s Day!
After a long season of book writing and other things that have kept me especially busy this year, I have given myself permission to just slow down and rejuvenate a bit. It’s not the same as taking a real vacation (although I’d love to do that, too!), but it’s good to make the time and mind space to let myself just BE present in whatever moment will refuel me, rather than always being busy DOING what needs to be done (or what needs to happen to keep up with a deadline).
I love my job and have been beyond grateful for opportunities to do what I love for the past eleven and a half years, but there are definitely projects and seasons as a small business owner that are especially challenging to keep up with.
And when you are self-employed (or just ambitious!), if you have a lot of great opportunities for growth (which is a good problem to have!) it can be hard to take time for a real break in between projects. But as they say, you can’t pour from an empty cup so it’s important to fill back up.
So sometimes you just have to decide you’re going to guard that time for yourself, even if you have to slow down or even drop a few balls in order to get time away. I remember needing to give myself that same permission to take time for myself in so many seasons of life!
To be healthy, happy, creative and even productive, I think we need to keep regular rhythms between rest and work. Productivity can be so fun and very rewarding, but time alone, time with our favorite people, time to refresh, it’s all so important to our well-being.
It’s not always natural for me to slow the pace (especially since I love what I do!), but it’s so refreshing to have (make!) time to wander neighborhoods again just for fun, to sip coffee at a more leisurely pace, and even to just putter around the yard (yes, I can’t wait to show you how our yard is coming along! I have so much to show you!!!).
Yesterday I got to relax with my family doing some things I LOVE to do, it was a perfect Mother’s Day!
We started the day at Storyville (their almond milk latte is my favorite coffee in the world!), followed by a walk on Alki Beach in West Seattle. The sun was shining and it was absolutely gorgeous out!
Aren’t my kids cute? :)
After the beach we decided to head over to an area I enjoy driving and walking around. Madison Park is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Seattle! The homes and landscaping are so beautiful and inspiring. Several of the streets overlook Lake Washington so the views are stunning, too.
I will have to go back and take more photos, but I snapped a few to show you!
I can’t imagine a better way to spend the day, enjoying time outside on a lovely day with my sweet family (well, and drinking coffee and looking at houses, ha!).
Hope you are taking time to be present in moments that refuel you, too, sweet friend!
What have you been doing lately to make time for yourself?
More Drive Bys on The Inspired Room:
Highland Park – Dallas Drive By
Queen Anne + Magnolia Drive By
Summer Drive By in Portland, Oregon
Cannon Beach Cottages Drive By
or scroll through all of my past drive bys here!
Beautiful family. Glad your Mother’s Day was filled with so much love.
I know the feeling of slowing down. I have been in a whirlwind myself the past few months.
We have been doing a few home improvements and visiting my Mom every other week in the nursing home.
I have a few more things going until the end of June then I will be rethinking my blog & businesses as well.
Have a wonderful Monday.
Much love ❤️
Rose
Thank you, Rose! <3
Those whirlwind seasons can take a lot out of you so I hope you make time to refuel!
What a beautiful day with your family! I loved seeing the selfie of you all! The blooming things were gorgeous! Glad you had a good Mother’s Day.
Thank you, Linda! I hope you had a great weekend, too. xoxo
I’m coordinating a wedding which is happening this Saturday. After that I will need to think of a way to take some down time.
I think this neighborhood you show here has a lot of charm!
Good for you, Deanna, we need that down time, don’t we?
OMG what beautiful houses my favorite is the first one with the white fence with rose cutiut on the gate sigh? your kids are so cute can’t believe your son is so grownup btw where are those pups?? I see you had a wonderful mother’s day as did I and it is good to get in a slower pace from time to Time just to regroup. Thanks for sharing your life with all of us.
Isn’t that so charming?
The pups were with us, but they were a little rambunctious (ha) so we didn’t get their photo yesterday. They’ll likely appear on the blog this week though, so stay tuned! :)
I used to have a yoga teacher who said “We are human BEings, not human DOings” when she wanted us to just relax and empty our minds. I think of that often: just BE sometimes.
I also can’t believe how grown up your son is either! I’ve been with you so long he has grown up before my eyes!
I agree, learning to just BE is so important!
(And yes, I was looking at a past drive by that seemed like only yesterday and there was a photo of my son when he was 10, my how time flies!)
North Admiral neighborhood in West Seattle near SW Atlantic is also a great place to look at the water and see some beautiful grand homes. ?
I definitely need to do a drive by there! I found a dream house for sale near there once and it was just stunning!
Seattle does have some lovely neighborhoods. I hope they keep their beautiful charm as so often I am noticing the NW contemporary box replacing these gems. I live in an old cottage on Vashon and our weather is so enjoyable right now.
Isn’t it just perfect out? I wish Seattle had more regulations (and common sense) about what would be appropriate for remodels and new builds when it comes to maintaining the charm of original neighborhoods!
A neighborhood tour of lovely homes like those would be my idea of a great Mother’s Day activity, too! What a lovely day with your family! The homes remind me very much of the ones in the suburbs of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where I grew up–although not in the “fancy”neighborhoods where those huge old Tudors and English cottages are. It’s good to hear that you make time for just “BE”ing. As I’ve gotten older I realize it’s one of the most precious things we can do for ourselves. Enjoy!
I almost didn’t want to look knowing this gorgeous area of Seattle is way out of our price range – but they are inspiring!! Glad you have a good day with your precious family. BTW, the founders of Storyville lived here on the island for awhile. My hubby was project manager for their remodel. Wonderful people!
Check out the tax assessed value of vacant land and ????
You have an absolutely beautiful family. The homes are lovely, but your family takes first place. Congratulations to you and your husband for the great job you did.
I SO AGREE with you!! Cute kiddos and just luv “house tours!!!” Mom’s Day rocks!! franki
Thanks, Franki!! :-D
We were there this past weekend. Our 6-year-old granddaughter loves the play park in Madison – the one with the little zip-line car and the animal sculptures. It’s truly a sense-heightening experience to walk through the neighborhoods. Thanks for posting some pics of the homes – lovely and inspiring.