Simple in Small Ways

Slow Morning Coffee

There are plenty of ways I can make my life and the life of my family slower in big ways, but I'm interested in the small ways in my everyday to connect and slow down.  I'm tired of feeling overwhelmed with lists, commitments, responsibilities, should's and projects galore.  I know there are some things I can't remove from the responsibilities or commitments but perhaps I can find my simple in small ways.

I'm searching for the small ways to connect with my family and create simple space for myself to be playful and light.  My goal is to have less anxiety and stress with my daily life and to simply enjoy more of my family, life and myself.  This is part of the #banbusy challenges by Shawn Fink of The Abundant Mama Project

Simple Ways I have connected to my kids that have slowed me down.

Playing outside with them-not just watching but playing.  Some activities that I find are good fits for me have been to join in making chalk drawings, playing hopscotch and I have been known to participate in a few rounds of Zombie Tag.  I want to stay true to myself.  I have tried connecting with my boys by playing Legos but I find that I'm just not that interested in building Legos.  I do love creating art with them though that is more my speed.  Part of this journey is finding what works for you.

Chalk Drawings with my girl

My kids like to doodle with chalk on the driveway.  This is one sunny day my daughter and I were drawing together.  Beside out driveway we have rocks and we usually get our hopscotch rocks from there but on this day we were slow enough to notice a number of ladybugs.  In this picture we were able to count 3 but there were many more.  I find spending time with kids one of the best ways to slow down as they are naturally curious and ask about all kinds of stuff.

Counting Ladybugs

Which leads me to this next photo.  If we were not going slowly and taking our time counting the ladybugs I would not have had this discussion with my daughter.

Daughter: "Look Mama that ladybug is carrying the other ladybug. Why they do that?"

Me: "Well I guess the one ladybug is tired and the other ladybug is giving him a lift somewhere."

Daughter:  "Where are they going?"

Me:  "Good question.  I'm not sure.  Probably back to their home maybe.  Come on lets go back to counting them."

Daughter: "Um, ok."

I wasn't ready to have That talk with her yet.

What you can find when you slow down.

Small simple ways I have slowed down for myself is simply to make more time for myself.  I love to read, write and create.  I love, love, love when I can have my slow morning coffee while reading, or doing a bit of writing.  I write in a daily gratitude journal and that little bit has connected me back to myself and to the positive things in my life. I often read Wherever You Are There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the morning with my coffee and it is one of those books that you can just pick up, flip open and read a quick piece and I recently read the piece on Voluntary Simplicity which fit perfectly with this idea of banning busy.

Wherever You Are There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Quote from Jon Kabat-Zinn

I have noticed that the more we focus on slow as a family the more connected we become which will be important as the kids get older.  Before long we will be in the tween years and our kids will need us to be connected to each other.  I also feel less stress in general.  No longer sweeping overwelming feelings of I just can't get everything done.

I'm going to continue to find my simple in small ways.  How do you or your family find your simple in small ways?  Would love to hear from you. 

If you would like to join the Ban Busy Challenges or check out other posts about banning busy go here.

Cheers,
Bonnie