When I was (MUCH) younger and newly in my career, I didn’t give much thought to peace. Nor did I crave it.
I wanted excitement. I wanted to learn. I wanted the next thing.
And now? My brain still moves a little faster than my body. Or my pocketbook. The next thing still routinely pops into my head.
But here’s the grace of aging: I also crave peace. And now I have the time to enjoy it.
If I allow myself.
Because I don’t always need to be organizing a new space, decorating for the changing season, or checking the latest sales.
I can sit each day, enjoy what I’ve accomplished, and let that be enough.
It All Starts in the Morning
I so badly want those slow, peaceful mornings. Freshly brewed somethin’ and a devotional while watching the sun rise.
That is my intention. Every. Single. Day.
And it maybe happens once a month.
What!? you ask. I know.
Mornings are when my engines are revved. And I have three small predators staring me down, impressing their will upon me to open a can of wet and stinky food.
And then, of course, I always spill something.
I must intentionally slow my morning.
Brew the coffee. Feed the kitties. And then simply enjoy what I’ve done and the simple things I have:
- The automatic candles that light my kitchen in the morning.
- The under-cabinet motion lights that let me fill cat bowls without turning on harsh lights.
- The smell of freshly ground coffee.
- My pretty beverage bar.
- The candle warmer in my family room.
- My Florida vacation Buc-ee’s mug.
And just like that, I need nothing more. I’m in the moment, truly enjoying what I already have.
Sometimes Roxy graces me with her belly to pet while I’m enjoying said routine.
For me, it doesn’t get much better than that.
The Vacation Is Over
We recently saw friends who asked what our next vacation would be.
Wait! Don’t you want to hear about the one we just took?
The trip of a lifetime. Hello, Alaska!
Apparently, you do not.
But let me tell you: we don’t have the next trip planned. (Yet.)
We’re enjoying our own pillows at night and our own plates at mealtime.
Strolling the aisles of Trader Joe’s to see what old favorite or new yummy needs to make it into my cart.
Riding my bike. Driving my car. Using my own gym.
You know, those things.
After all the excitement of a big trip, it is lovely to just be home. The ordinary things that make up our days are pretty wonderful, too.
And I’m in no hurry to replace that feeling with another countdown to the next adventure.
The Project Is Finished
Our summer projects were pretty big. You might have joined me every step of the way, from the new paver sidewalk and refreshed landscaping to the new patio furniture and, of course, the pièce de résistance: the pergola.
We’ve put a lot of time, thought, and money into making our outdoor space more enjoyable.
Is it okay with my own self to simply sit on the patio? Or at least look out the window and admire it before planning the next big thing?
Yes. Yes, it is.
And, oh boy, am I!
There will always be another room to refresh, another decorating idea to try, and another sale that catches my eye. I know myself well enough to know that the ideas aren’t going away.
But I can enjoy what we’ve accomplished before adding something else to the list.
The pergola doesn’t need a companion project right now. It can just be a pergola I love.
Imagine that.
A Little Grace for This Season
Maybe this is my peaceful season. One full of grace and rest.
Or maybe this is my realistic season.
Either way, I’m learning to take things a tiny bit slower.
I still get excited about new ideas. I still want to learn, create, organize, decorate, and see what’s around the corner.
But I don’t have to act on every idea the moment it arrives.
I can enjoy the morning coffee. The familiar comforts of home. The patio we’ve worked so hard to create. The memories of a wonderful trip.
I can let what I’ve done be enough for today.
Do you find yourself in a similar place? Can you enjoy what you’ve accomplished and what you already have without immediately looking for the next dopamine hit?
I hope I can inspire you because I’m almost there.
Not quite. Almost, though.
Thank you for joining me today, and may God bless you and yours.
