Life is full of miracles 😊✨

This image 👇 contains so much more than a piece of paper. 

It represents love, kindness, surprises, and so much more.

 

In a previous job I travelled widely including a regular commute from Brisbane to Ballarat - a journey involving waking before 5am to drive, fly and catch a bus/train arriving at the office sometime after 1pm tired, hungry, and usually freezing. Travelling is hard on the body: standing in queues, sitting for long periods, hauling luggage, struggling to find great quality food (which is even harder when you have food allergies).

One such day, on arrival Lindy (my Admin Coordinator) made a surprise offering ... a bowl of lentil and veggie soup she had made ensuring it was fresh and gluten free...   

I’d honestly never tasted a better bowl of soup in my life! Hot, nutritious, and made with loving intentions it was a simple act of kind thoughtfulness, but for me it was truly a miracle. Of course I requested the recipe, and like all great recipes, it had been annotated with her special touches, which IMHO is why it’s so damn good!

Over the years I’ve made this simple soup often and it has carried me through some of my toughest times. From my Mum’s final days in hospital when we stocked the visitor’s lounge fridge with daily portions to heat and eat so I could spend as much time by her side as possible, through to the most recent batch supporting a slow, steady recovery from Covid. And with a busy time ahead, a small investment of time over the weekend ensures that every day there’s a yummy, nutritious, hot meal available for every day of the coming week.

Life is filled with good things, surprises and miracles. Some of them are big, audacious and obvious, and others are simply hiding in plain sight. One thing’s for sure though, if you don’t believe in miracles, they might just slip by without you noticing. It is when you recognise these treasures that they seek you out, and life pleasantly surprises you at every turn.

If you have any miraculous stories or recipes please do share them here!

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Simpson desert blooming. © Renee Chamberlin all rights reserved. 

One step ... towards balance ☯

We are energy. Life is a streaming. In the natural flow we give and receive, we ebb and we flow.

In nature, everything seeks balance. Many of us however have moved far away from the natural order of things. Not only have we removed ourselves to some degree from participating in nature, but we have imposed society’s rules and expectations on ourselves, often unconsciously.

Take just a minute to recall this week, how much time, energy and care have you devoted to others: your work, your family, friends, even strangers - and how much have you given your beautiful and worthy self?

For many of us, our focus is more outward than inward. Nothing to be guilty about, this is how society raises and trains us. It in many cases is the cultural ‘norm’ ... glorifying busyness and wearing self deprivation as a badge of honour is encouraged, even celebrated.

I also dedicate much time, care, and energy to supporting others. 

And, I take small steps to balance the score by deliberately identifying and participating in simple ways to care for me.  

This morning, I opened the blinds to observe the sunrise and welcomed a delicious yin yoga practice in front of the toasty warm fire, finishing with a short meditation. 

I hugged myself and then I hugged my dog J

 

It doesn’t have to be huge, hard or time-consuming. In fact it’s the little steps that you are more likely to actually do. 

It can be as quick and as simple as saying one kind thing to yourself, and meaning it. Enjoying your coffee without your phone. Stopping to take three conscious breaths. 

You could make all list of all the things you love, that really make you smile and feel good, then use your list for inspiration when opportunity arises.

 

I love the ‘pay it forward’ movement, but it’s time to start also paying it backward! Recognising your innate goodness and rewarding yourself for all that you do for and give to others and the world.

If you’ve read this far and this post has either a) pushed some buttons, or b) piqued your interest ... I highly recommend this book: The Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson.

So what is one, small step you can take for yourself today to start evening up the score and moving towards balance?

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 Simpson desert. © Renee Chamberlin all rights reserved.