The Simple Joys

The other day while I was doing my grocery shopping I made a choice...I don’t know why, because usually when buying corn I grab the convenient pre-packed stuff that is cleaned and cut. But the long cobs of corn in their husk, for 50c each, grabbed my eye. After a few seconds of indecision, I chose the corn cobs.
A day later, I took out the ingredients for my slow cooker soup, oh the joys of getting dinner over and done with at 9.30am. Don’t get me started on the joys of a slow cooker! As I started to peel away the husk of the corn, I was totally moved! I felt like a child again, how long had it been since I had done this, or even looked at a fully husked cob of corn...It was such an enjoyable feeling, the texture, the soft silken strands, the sound of the husk coming away from the cob, the smell of freshness. I realized how I had almost bought my usual plastic-wrapped pack. If I had, I would not be experiencing this, this moment in time, this pure, simple joy. It is meditative, to be able to enjoy such a simple experience. It made me feel wholesome, and too, it made me feel great because I was creating something wholesome for my family. It got me through the later challenge of what my children thought of having soup for dinner!

Many of the people that I read, listen to and talk with, discuss meditation in a very relaxed way. To meditate does not necessarily mean you have to sit with your legs crossed, back straight, with a completely clear mind, ohmming away blissfully. A meditation is just being in the moment, in the “now” as Eckhart Tolle and others speak of. Be right in that moment, and enjoy it for all it offers, sight, smell, texture, emotion, and it will make you smile to realize how simple little joys can improve your day! It is a great tool for achieving that “in the now”. We should accept the past, not stress about the future, be aware of them both, but don’t obsess over either of them (because that sure ain’t gonna change them!) Be in the present, right now.

Another thought this brought up for me, was that the whole convenient, pre-packed, grab it and run products available for us busy people, robs us of the simple sensory delights, the meditative moments, the wholesome feelings we can add to our day by choosing the cob of corn.

This week I think we should choose one wholesome whole-food to replace one of the handy, frozen, canned or pre-packed options we usually go for...for me, I am going to replace the packet of frozen spinach for my korma that I make in my slow cooker (there I go again!), with a big, real, fresh bunch of spinach!

suzy x

Where did this begin?

Here we go, with our blog, where did this begin?

For me it started 3 years ago.

I was working long hours, I'm a freelancer, working generally for 6 months of a year. I felt overweight, exhausted mentally and physically, had 2 young children, 4 & 5 yrs old, and was dealing with a chronic pain issue. Wow...good times! A colleague gave me a copy of "The Secret" to watch, I was so ready to open my mind to this new concept, and became very excited by it. To this day, I think "The Secret" was a fantastic vehicle, made so available to many, to switch us on, and I am grateful for that, and even able to ignore the absurdity of scenes such as staring at a diamond necklace, and wishing for it! I quickly moved on, to more books, like minded people and conversations, finding all the avenues opening up. "The Power of your Subconscious Mind." Now this book was revolutionary for me! The first chapters being about pain, showing me there was a better way to affirm what we want, and truly feel we have it (no, not the diamond necklace!). I felt I was gaining some control of this life. I became very aware, that happiness is a choice. To be able to choose happiness, that was the trick...to be able to use the affirmations, and get to a place, where I believed what I was saying and felt blessed and happy.

I can taste my happiness, people see it, it is real, and surprises, in the best way, daily; now that is a beautiful life!

Is it an an on going daily battle-hell no! It is about using tools, and being aware, and giving space, having acceptance, it is about sooo much! It is breathe, it is water, it is quietening a busy mind, it is Green Tea...and having a sense of humour. It is about what you want, what you deserve, what you can look upon and know that you have lived this one life in the way that it deserves, it is a beautiful life, you just gotta know that and grab it!

suzy x