this is a recap, of sorts, of my 30 Days of Slow Living challenge i started last month!
towards the end of my 30 Days of Slow Living project, i didn't lose steam, however i did slack off in posting specifically as much about it. mostly because, for me, i found that a huge part of slow living is getting off of my phone.
so a lot of the things i was doing ended up un documented and just-for-me. which, to a certain extent, is something i'm always trying to find the balance of.
the encouragement and inspiration that can be found in sharing beautiful things you find in life with others, but not to the extent that you are always living through a screen.
but i did want to do a bit of a summery in regards to a few of things i did during these past 30 days and some ways i integrated slow living into my life, in some new ways and also some old and familiar ones. i don't have 30 in all, because, remember, some of those things ended up being just-for-me, but here's a few for you to chew over if you need some promptings and ideas of what it could look like to start living more slowly.
- knitting for myself and not for work
- keeping a little jar of lavender by my bed to smell off and on throughout the day for feelings of calm and clarity
- walking more often to the tiny free libraries around richmond (which i've started to document here)
- leaving screens behind and heading outside to read in the grass was the order of the day on more than one occasion
- visiting The VMFA to take in a new exhibit
- spending a morning painting
- taking a morning walk by the river with The Sailor, despite an impending busy day.
- and then just ignoring responsibilities altogether one day and going sailing
- spending a weekend, unplugged, with some very dear friends (in a yurt no less! lucky us, i know...)
- opening a too-long-neglected book
- learning how to develop and print my own film in a darkroom (finally) i've started to chronicle this adventure under #thedarkroomdiaries (of course...)
- adopted some new plant babies to take care of
- writing some letters and postcards to some special people
- paused to admire the changing light and shadows that the coming of Spring brings
- buying myself a bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner just because
- taking time to practice extra yoga in the morning
- breakfast and a book in a detox bath (i think this may have been the first time i took a bath in the morning. usually that's an end-of-the-day thing you know? it was such an excellent way to start the day though)
- setting the intention to start my mornings s l o w. enjoy the coming in of the morning light. making healthy breakfasts. reading a book before starting work. putting on some calm and inspirational music. it's made such an immense difference in the consistency of my days
- spun some yarn
- calling friends more instead of texting them. just all around being more intentional in my communication
- cleared out a cluttered corner and made it pretty
- just stepping away from everything and taking a walk (this happened on several days. really need to maintain this. i feel so much more present after a walk outside)
as i said on instagram on my last post, i want the #30daysofslowliving hashtag to be a constant thing, not just for this past one-time 30 day time period.
i want you guys to jump in on it whenever you are feeling the need to re-set, and be able to get a little bit of accountability in regards to living more mindfully and intentionally if you need it.
i know that i myself can foresee doing another 30 days later this year after the rush of summer gets going and sweeps me up, as it is known to do.
so if you want to have a conversation about these sorts of ideas and concepts, i will definitely be checking the hashtag from time to time to check in with all you wonderful people!
you can also always email me, which a lot of you guys have been doing lately and makes me so incredibly happy. i have loved the conversations we've been having and talking to all of you passionate and purposed filled people.
let's keep it up.
xo