The necessity of Silence.
In the midst of motherhood and the constant pull of information and media.
I thought I would try something new and add a few other fun tidbits at the end of my newsletter. It will vary from books I am reading, music I enjoy for different activities and emotional states, a funny MOMic (Mommy comics) here and there etc. I am going to play around with it and see what happens! I hope you don’t mind!
In the last couple weeks I have added a few extra things to my life in the form of a tv show and a new book. Now, these things are not bad things, but what I have found is, gradually, over the course of a few weeks, I have gotten a bit jumbled up. My brain is unfocused and distracted by everything and nothing. I remembered the last time this happened. I read, faster than I could process. I watched, without thinking how the content would affect my perspective, being that the show was of apocalyptic scenario I should know better. The name of the show doesn’t matter but the theme of the end of the world along with the heavy topics of the book I am reading, pulled be too far away from my main values in life. Hence my argument with myself about the two most important things in my life in my previous post “Dear Motherhood and Creativity”. I was emotionally driven and could not quite shake it.
So today is a Quiet Cleanse. Today I will not listen to any words from another so that I can hear my own passing thoughts. Organize them, discard some and completely shred others. It is like a spring cleaning day for my mind and soul.
Today is a day of clearing the chatter and all the excess that has piled up. Opening the clouds to the clear view of what I am doing with my life.
Activities to support clearing your mind and RESETING. (These are also on my self care list)
Wash your face. (If this is all you can do to reset, so be it)
Outdoor walk (A walk right after a washed face is like starting your day all over)
Writing/journaling
Painting
Yoga Nidra - Slow flow Yoga
Cleaning and organizing. - This is an excellent way to clear your mind but it needs to be a manageable size project so to not get overwhelmed and defeat the purpose. Our belongings tend to give us more things to think about, and if they are a mess, your brain can feel like a mess. Also the pride of getting something done always feels good.
An at home spa treatment = Giant hot Bubble bath + face masque + candles and low lighting + favorite lotion = perfect solo spa sesh in the privacy of my own room.
I am a mother, I am a creative, I am. At the essence these are me.
My children mean the world to me but if the world becomes too loud, I cannot hear the whispers of their needs. I love being a mother and some days I struggle, resisting what is in the day to day. Wishing I was visiting my creative creature side instead. There is time for that. I have made time for that. There are days where I have to practice to prioritize my motherhood. I wish to lean into those days fully every time, clear on my intentions to be a present, listening, caring mom.
If I have three top priorities in my life, I can manage that. I can compartmentalize when I simplify. When I add things, I need to 100% mindful that the content could add or take away from those three values. Mindful Motherhood, Creative Expression and Spiritual growth. Full stop. This is where my heart lives and I do not wish to send my heart elsewhere.
I give myself the permission to focus on my values and priorities. If I live within that, I am in full structural integrity and living authentically to my own being. I give myself permission give myself silence so I can elevate my voice, sending understanding throughout my whole body. I will be still and and calm and feel into my center so that I can live from the knowing I reach there.
Today happens to be MY day. Where I can give myself silence and visit my creative projects. Wahoo! This is where the magic is in art, I can choose where I want to go today and I wish to return to my own imaginary land. One of all the things I love. I have been gradually working on this place and whenever I visit, I am transported. A land where ground level is only the surface but the real journey is below and above.
I have been thinking about this land and what I am doing with it. I do not know if it will ever become a book or maybe some will be framed. But what I do know, is no one can tell me what to do with it. I can decided to add canvas and extend the landscape. I can dig into the earth to reveal the hidden structures inside. I can move into vast space and imagine past the cosmos. There is no limit to this world, unless I say so. Maybe, I will add to it until the day I die. I don’t know, but it will be my choice.
BOOK CORNER
I am currently reading POWER, by Kemi Nekvapil. It is a great read and I am recommending it to all women. I will however say that some part could get heavy and if you have a tendency to get down on yourself when you start creating an imaginary To Do list then give yourself time to get through this. I started reading and I was on binging speed. I get very pumped up by books like this, giving me a sense of urgency in my bones. I need to be mindful and digest what is being said and what my real job here is.
I also think I was excessively excited to read this because it was give to me/us by Elizabeth Gilbert as a next read for her book discussion. If she tells me to do anything, I am on it. There are a few people in my life that have given me guidance through their books and lives and I pounce on it like a cub trying to catch a mouse. I need to have their words and hold onto them like they are gospel. I see clearly what happened to me, I prioritized what Ms Gilbert told me to do without pause or question. I kept moving through the book but then I started to turn it off, put it aside and notice how the subjects were infiltrating my body in a way that called for my time to understand.
Here we are, recommending a book while also recommending silence. It is about balance….I am still practicing. And for goodness sake, what’s the rush? Oh, cultural imprints to do more, be more, learn more.
INSIDE MY SKETCHBOOK
Here are some sketches of my week with the girls! I have finished three large sketchbooks in the last year or so. This last one was ALL sketches of my life with the girls and I feel the beauty of these sketchbooks and what my daughters will be able to open one day. They will be able to see their mother in these pages. How much I love(d) them and tried my hardest. They will get a unique perspective into their own childhood and their own mother. How I focused on the day and created my way through it. How I built upon the knowledge of the first sketchbook that led to the second, third and now the fourth.
CREATIVE VIBES - Tune into the spiritual.
This song makes me feel connected to myself and my path forward. I hope you enjoy her!
MEDITATION - Responding to life instead of Reacting.
I made today for silence, but the return of my youngest and my mom to the house for nap interrupted my flow. So in order to reground a bit before moving forward with my day, a bit of spiritual practice can put be back in the right place. Reacting VS Responding is at the top of my mindfulness practice. To stop reactive behavior and respond wisely. I tend to respond emotionally and I know that is part of who I am but I want to slow the response. Tara Brach has a calming voice to me. This is what I listened to today to addition to my daily morning practice.
I wish you all the best. I wish you all silence and listening.
With kindness,
Rae
I am sharing your journey of responding instead of reacting. It is a learning process. Journalling has helped a lot with that. As has my personal Tarot practice. I'm finding it is about cultivating compassion to others but also to ourselves.
Thank you for the book recommendation.
I love love love this!