How are you living a soft, calm life today? It's a beautiful spring-like late winters day, and I've been ironing a few blouses, pottering around at home fluffing things up. Equal parts chores and play.
Sometimes I find all that is required is to think differently. I can catch myself hurrying in my mind and simply decide to move in a soft, lovely, leisurely manner.
I still get just as much done but it's so much nicer.
Also, if you always feel like you should be doing more like I do (even though you don't know what 'more' looks like), just accepting that you are enough exactly as you are right now is so liberating.
I've been saying this to myself a lot lately, because I often feel a little Charlie Brown grey cloud of doom over my head, following me around.
I don't know why!
So I just say: You're okay. There is nothing to worry about. You're doing okay. Enjoy your life. Be happy.
I often take the angle of talking to my five-year-old self. If I see her unnecessarily bothered, I can calm her. It's the same for my inner chat I find.
So anyway, if you needed to hear this today, know you are not alone. Maybe there are many of us who have this ticker tape going on in their mind, warning us not to get too comfortable lest something goes wrong.
Give yourself the gift of a soft, calm life by the way you think, and also how you live, by simplifying your schedule, tidying and beautifying your environment, and having seasonal sifts through your home.
It's nice to have a new season approaching, spring here, and autumn for my northern hemisphere friends. It gives a freshness to everything.
Tell me what you are doing today in order to live a soft, calm life. For me, I'm sipping a relaxing herbal tea as I write this. I felt like some hydration, and something warm. It's lovely. In my Starbucks Hawaii mug to remind me of our holidays there!
I spent a happy afternoon reorganising my bookshelves last weekend. I've been wanting to do it for a while, so when the energy was aligned I took every single book off, dusted the shelves, and put them back one by one. The big shelves here are in our hall.
I’d just read Marie Kondo's comic version of her book, called The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up (who knew there was such a thing!) and she said NOT to open the books. I only opened a few, haha! She said you should be able to tell by the cover if you want to keep them or not.
I hadn’t intended on doing a declutter but ended up with a few bags that have already departed.
These smaller shelves are in my office, for books that are too tall for the hall shelves, plus my collection of Ralph Lauren books (and a photo of my siblings and me).
I always like browsing other peoples bookshelves and a reader said she’d like to see mine so I thought why not!
They hold a mix of personal development/success, French and Italian chic, fashion and style, recipe books, soft romantic lifestyle, and healthy living.
None of my own (Fiona Ferris) books are on these shelves (I keep a few of each title in my office just to have on hand).
I want to do a secondary shift around (but probably won’t 😂) because at the end I was getting a bit tired and just wanted it done.
Is there anything worse than starting a project, making a big mess, not finishing it, and waking up the next morning to face it all over again?
I think not!
That’s why I only like to start something I can see myself wrapping up that same day. It’s too depressing otherwise!
Would recommend Marie Kondo’s manga book if you need a little refresher. You might even find that your library has it. I read it online with Libby and have her original book on Kindle.
See them both here at Amazon:
The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up (comic book - it’s really cute and quick to read!)
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up (original book)
And as always, happy reading! I shudder to imagine a life without books! If you are a book girl I know you’ll understand. I just feel so happy when I see my bookshelves!
Wishing you a lovely start to your week.
Fiona
PS. You can read or listen to my book 100 Ways to Live a Soft, Calm Life on Amazon here, or go to fionaferris.com for additional purchasing/listening options and to see my other books. Ask your library to order it in too! They can get the paperback and the audiobook.
[My Amazon links are affiliate, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase using them. There is no extra cost to you. I really appreciate it if you choose to use my links - thanks!]
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