I took this from a slightly different angle because I wanted you to see my Dahlias. This is the first time I've planted tubers and didn't realize they got so large. . . .
I'm sure you're not surprised that what I've been thinking about this month is Tasha Tudor. Our Chapter is gathering again this month to discuss what sort of activities we want to pursue. I sent them home with a list and asked them to add to it. I'd like the underlying purpose of our group to be to take joy in the little things in life. To do that you really must slow down. Tasha said she never hurried and others attested to the fact. I'm at the point in my life that I can do that without any repercussions. When I was younger it would not have worked for me unless I let go of some things. I wonder what it would have taken for me to be willing to slow down so I could enjoy the little things back then.
We live in such a goal-oriented/money-making society that in order to "keep up with the Jones" work always comes first. After a grueling day at the office/factory and the often long commute home, we're too tired to do anything but sit in front of the TV all evening--except, of course, not if you're a woman who works outside the home. Then you're probably doing laundry, bathing and putting to bed young children, helping with homework, grocery shopping, cleaning the bathroom, running the vacuum cleaner, taking the dog/cat to the Vet, taking the children to the doctors, and hopefully, with hubby doing his share. I really don't know how "modern" families handle life like this!
Tasha kept plenty busy with all her chores, many done without modern conveniences in the early years of raising her children. She did all this in addition to illustrating/writing books. I think the difference might be in the fact that she did all this at home. She could stop one thing and pick up another as she liked in many cases. There was no commute involved. She was available to her children on the spur of the moment in a crisis. She also gave them chores of their own to do and I'm sure they often worked together. Being busy isn't the problem. It's having to hurry in order to meet someone else's schedule.
So I was wondering. Do you take time to notice the little things? One of Tasha's favorite poems is by Evelyn Underhill:
I come
in the little things,
Saith the Lord:
Yea, on the glancing wing
Of eager birds,
the softly pattering feet
Of furred and gentle beasts.
I come in the little things,
Saith the Lord:
Not borne on the morning's
wings
Of majesty,
but I have set My feet
Amidst the delicate and bladed
wheat.
I come in the little things,
Saith the Lord. Amen.
Do you notice the birds outside your window? The newly emerging plant in the Spring? The first colored leaf on the tree in the Autumn? Do you pause to look at the sunset before your close your curtains in the evening? Or look at the sky when you open them in the morning?
My question this month, then, is what do you think you might do to help yourself slow down and notice the little things more? What do you need to give up in order to have the time? What change in your thinking/life do you need to make?
This photo was taken earlier this morning when it was still in the low 70's. It's 91 degrees now!
Don't let a moment be lost. . . .
The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach isjoy.
Take joy.
- Fra Giovanni
Oh, I do relate to this post! And Im at that time in my life where, yes, some things get put to the side for a bit (dishes in the sink...vacuuming until its near crisis level, some days even getting a moment to get a bath!) I think taking a moment to "take joy" is the antidote to 'keeping up with the Jones." I try to notice the little things each and every day and find something to be grateful for, even in frustrating moments. This quote is one of my most very favorites! I think of it often!
ReplyDeleteHeather, I know you have little ones. I'm so glad you've adopted this philosophy already. You'll never regret it. As they say, the dishes in sink won't be remembered, but taking time to examine a flower petal with your child will! ☺ I know you can get to the end of the day and not feel you've accomplished anything......but if you put noticing flower petals on your To Do list, you'll have the satisfaction of having accomplished something!
DeleteGreat post, and raises an interesting point. I can answer, "Yes! I do all of those things" and more, so why do I always feel rushed, flustered, pressured? This question began to rise within me a few weeks ago, so seeing it here is very timely indeed. My answer, the problem that causes me to feel all of those things ~ social media! It eats into my day, so I do have to rush, become flustered to get the daily tasks done. I've withdrawn from FB and I think I offended many {who maybe don't understand} because I asked them to stop tagging me while I take this time out to reclaim my time and get me back to me. So, I simply need to give up social media for the time being. I cannot reclaim those hundreds of lost hours, but I can reclaim the balance ~~~ in the meantime, I'm enjoying listening to the birds, watching the earth slowly turn to Autumn, and hearing the music of the wind in the trees as I try to slow down and become more like Tasha ~~~waving~~~
ReplyDeletep.s. giving up social media is not easy!!!
I'm glad you checked in here, Debs! ☺Perhaps it would help to set a timer when you're on the computer. I know just how easy it is to stay on following one link after another! The key, as in all things, I believe, is BALANCE, as you've said. In July, when I took my computer break, I only checked my e-mail once in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, and looked only at the Blogs that I'm most interested in. On Facebook I unchecked "get notification" on just about everyone except my close family. If I had extra time only then would I look in on the other people. It helps to be an organized person so that you are more efficient. Then realize some things don't have to be done (like make your bed when no one will see it, unless, of course, it matters to you because you'll see it ☺) Prioritize is another strategy. Making lists with ABC columns, with A being the only column that HAS to get done that day. It always feels like you've accomplished something if you can check it off a list. And like I told Heather--put the important things like listening to the wind on the list--A column--and you'll enjoy your day more fully and not feel guilty about what doesn't get done. As they say, why do today what you can put off till tomorrow. ☺
DeleteThis is a great blog post and a great comment- I too feel that social media interrupts my day and causes me to lose too much time that I don't get back. But, having said that, I love to connect online with people who have similar interests as I do, because I haven't found many in real life.. Cutting back is a great way to do find balance though- which is something I am working on! Taking time out to enjoy the little things in life is a wonderful habit to establish- one I have taken up whole-heartedly. I also do a gratitude journal at night, which helps me stop and evaluate what is truly important- mostly it's always little tiny snippets of the day that I remember as being wonderful. And I truly wish I lived near you so I could join your Tasha Tudor group!!
DeletePatricia, I'm so glad this post is touching people. It's never too late to change our ways. Once you discover True Joy in life, it becomes obvious that nothing is ever really wasted. Our missteps were stepping stones to more knowledge we needed before we could make a better choice. Gratitude journals are a great way to keep track of all the things we can be grateful for. Be sure to include tough things, too, because there are often "diamonds" hidden in them. For instance, the week of my Tasha Tudor gathering there were several additional stressful events including witnessing an automobile accident which caused me to bite my tongue. It hurt every time I tried to eat all week, so I barely ate. Consequently I lost 3 pounds! ☺ Now I'm motivated to keep losing the extra weight I've been trying to lose for over a year. It's not that I'm grateful someone was involved in an accident, but that at least some good came out of the stress of having to witness it. I love connecting with people on-line, too. I consider everyone who leaves a comment a friend! But, I'm in the same boat as you in that I've not found people who live nearby with my same interests. That was one of my motivations to start the Maryland Chapter of the TTMS. It will be great to have girlfriends to go places with and do crafts with. Which State do you live in? Has a Chapter formed in your State yet?
DeleteCathy, I love this post! It is so important that we "take joy" in every moment we are granted on this earth. One of the favorite parts of my day is visiting the gardens around our home. It is such a joy to visit the flowers, trees and shrubs. We have lived in our home for 41 years and have planted everything that surrounds our home--except the old trees that were saved before making way for our home. These plantings are a part of me. This time of year, I must admit, is hard as the heat is taking its toll on many things. We need a good rain. Maybe we'll be lucky this afternoon with a cooling shower. I honestly don't know how young women today hold down jobs and keep a home and family. Time must be given to take joy--so important. ♥
ReplyDeleteMartha, do you have a photo album on-line of your garden? I love to see it. This hot and humid weather is supposed to break by Sunday up this way. I'm using my air conditioner run-off water to water my plants!
DeleteMe too, Martha! Would love to see your 41-year old garden - then and now. I don't do Facebook or Instgram but at the continual urging of my niece - "Aunt Janet I KNOW you would just love it..." I recently started Pinterest and I must admit I'm enjoying it. I just pin things I like but it is fun looking at all the creative things out there in the country right now. Pinterest would be a great place to post garden pictures. I have a huge GARDEN board myself and even though I'll never have a home big enough for the garden I want to have, it's still enjoyable to look over everything and dream!
DeleteCathy and Janet, I have to admit I do not have any online pictures of our gardens. I need to do just that to share with friends I have made here. I'm not really all that tech savvy---My daughter thinks I should start a blog, but I hesitate as I don't want to be tied down to a "job." My gardens look a little tired this time of year. Even though I do supplemental watering, there is nothing like a good rain! I will begin to take photos and hopefully share with you all. I do not own a fancy camera either, so I don't know if my photos will be share worthy. ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen, if you are able to get some "share worthy" photos I'd be glad to post them on my Blog. I have a Dropbox account, or you could just e-mail them to me a few in each e-mail. I know that if a file is too large it won't get past Comcast's restrictions.
DeleteDearest Cathy,
ReplyDeleteI do agree with your thoughts, and must say that I do not do "the modern world" well at all!! We do not have TV and I still do not have a cell phone (hee)! The internet is nice because for the most part you can choose your way around ( but that can get in the way of other things if we are not conscious of our time ) ;-)
Where we live we are surrounded by Amish and Menonite people and it kind of rubs off in a nice way when you shop in their country stores and produce stands and such. They live that "slow down" wholesome life and I often think of Tasha when I see the women walking about in their bare feet! :-D
I am soooo BLESSED to live in this community where the fast pace is not even expected!
(I do wish I lived nearer to you though to be in your Tasha Chapter)!! Hee !!
But I am very glad that I have found your Blogs!!
Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!
Many Blessings, Linnie
Hi Linnie. I was not aware of the Amish until the early 1990's even though we are only 2 hours from Lancaster Co., PA, where there is a large settlement. It had come about when I read The Oxcart Man to my little boy and told my husband I wished we lived like that--where the whole family worked towards supporting the family. That's when he told me about the Amish. Once I discovered them I read many books about them, even subscribed to their "magazine" for a while. They are wonderful writers. I've visited other settlements on our travels in Ohio and Indiana. We also have a few Amish here in Maryland. I would love to live amongst them, although, not in Lancaster County. That area has become much too commercialized. You are very fortunate to live where you do.
DeleteHi Cathy,
ReplyDeleteSlow down......sounds so easy! And yet here it is already September....how did it get here already. Apparently it came too soon, because it is still HOT outside. LOL
I still work outside the home and will for at least three more years, so there are still deadlines to meet and time schedules to follow. I LONG TO BE HOME! there will be much celebration on my first day of retirement.
It was not always so, since I was a stay at home mom and I look back on that time with such pleasure! Time to bake, time to cook all day, time to garden. And I was in the middle of my life with horses then. Friends would come by and say "do you have time for a trail ride?" Well, I always had time for a ride! It was there I felt closest to God. And in my barn doing morning chores and listening to horses munch hay and all those wonderful sweet smells. Time to just sit and watch the horses in the pasture and kitties playing, dogs at my feet. Time to just be.
Thanks for this post to remind me that I probably need to take time even now to just be. Maybe when the weather cools off I will head to the porch and sit with a barn cat on my lap and just watch the leaves fall off the trees! But I need to clean the porch first!!!!!!
Chris W
Chris, your comment made me chuckle about just sitting and watching the leaves fall off the trees! ☺ I've spent the morning getting ready for my company for lunch (my boys and their families) and while I wasn't exactly rushing, I do have a schedule I need to keep if I want to be ready before everyone arrives which means deviating at all from my tasks was not an option! (although, you may notice, I did check my e-mail and am commenting on your comment now). It shows we WILL make time for things we love if we're paying at all attention to our own needs...... I could have done the vacuuming yesterday and then I could have sat and watched some leaves falling off the trees today (from the heat in our case). I don't know why I save so much to do on the day people arrive! I loved hearing about your life when you were a stay-at-home Mom. I hope you do put that on your To Do List to sit on the porch with a barn cat, but really, the porch doesn't need to be cleaned to do that! Just don't look down and approach it from inside the house.
DeleteI've slowed down a good deal since retiring but should also point out that I was never racing at breakneck speed like most of my friends with homes and families were. In that respect, I was lucky. Lucky enough to have the time to think, to consider the Big Picture and to notice and appreciate the little things. And even with all that time, there were still a lot of things that went completely past me. But with age does come wisdom, at least sometimes and about some things. I think your point about Tasha being home is completely right. Not being away from home and children for a great part of the day made it possible for Tasha to do more, and deal with less from the outside as well. Think of the memories her children have, and that Tasha herself had, of good times they all had doing normal, ordinary tasks and jobs around the house and farm together. Have to agree with other comments here about social media interfering so hugely with our time for other things. I'm involved in almost no social media except occasional e-mails with a few friends - is that considered social media? - and this is because I strongly suspect I would spend a whole lot of time doing it if I ever did start.
ReplyDeleteE-mail has replaced letter writing, so that's a good thing! ☺ One can't write too many letters in my opinion.
DeleteOh what a beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteYes I do look & smile at so many things, I appreciate the rabbits, little birds & squirrels outside my window early morning. We have two pet rabbits, Peter & Benjamin & such funny little fellows they are to watch. We moved from a large house to a small cottage to make life more simple but with five children still at home it is still busy but wonderful. I don't have that big house to clean though!
I love your little friends on your window sill.
Fondly Michelle
Michelle, you are surrounded by such bucolic views that I think it must be hard to get any work done! Did you stay in the same community when you moved? Yes, I have to content myself with Beatrix Potter figurines instead of the real thing. Your bunnies must be lively fun for your children.
DeleteI think your point about Tasha T. working "from home" is a good one. The days that I am able to stay home all day seem slower. I am able to take the time to gaze out the window at something, even today I am so enjoying the cloudy weather (yes!) . . . but it takes choices and being intentional to really slow down. Staying away from the computer is one important way to find more time to slow down. Super thoughtful post, Cathy, thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis post has really hit a nerve it seems with everyone! I think with the computer, perhaps we need to put it in the category of a treat where we save it until later in the day after we've done our chores and found time just to relax and be. After we've done that to our heart's content, then browsing on the computer or chatting on-line can be enjoyed for its own merits.
Delete