How I Deal With Contrast in Life
Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you well and safe wherever you are. The sun is shining here in Maine and the weather finally feels like it is turning. Stubborn ice is slowly giving way to the warming earth and I can feel the release of some of the tension I’ve been carrying around. Life has been full of contrast the last few weeks and I’ve been trying to approach unexpected hurdles with a better attitude. I tend to be a bit of a control freak about my schedule and plans; when these get interrupted I may look cool on the outside, but on the inside I am spiraling like a toddler who needs a nap.
Over the years I’ve gotten a lot better about being less reactionary to unwanted situations and going with the flow of life, instead of fighting it. This has taken a lot of practice and I am still a work in progress. But I’ve found that life is infinitely better if I can keep my thoughts in check and take a beat to assess what is really going on, versus what the hyper-anxious voice in my head is telling me. Yes, I am a joy and delight to be around when the unexpected happens.
When I start to feel overwhelmed by things happening around me, I try to take some time to refocus on my personal goals and general vision for my life - what I want to be, do and have. And how I want to feel in my life. Some might refer to this as the Law of Attraction, or faith, or being in the vortex. I think of it as giving myself a reminder that even if the present moment isn’t great, that it will pass. Good things happen all the time and I am not obligated to carry on in despair just because one area of my life is out of alignment.
Note - this isn’t about being happy all the time or ignoring glaring problems in life. Toxic positivity is just as bad as constant negativity.
When an unwanted situation comes up and there is an immediate action I can take to feel better, I take it. But if the problem is more in my head, like when I start to ruminate about all the things that could go wrong in life, I gently release the worry as much as I can. I get busy with other things and focus my attention on areas that bring me joy. Does this work every time? Absolutely not. Do I still carry around more anxiety than I want to at times? Heck yeah. But I am definitely able to keep a better perspective about what is happening and acknowledge that whatever the problem is, it’s a passing cloud in life and the sky isn’t actually falling. And, as an additional affirmation, I remind myself even if the sky did fall, I am incredibly resourceful and creative and could put it back together in some fashion. ;)
This Week’s Free Printable
All of this pontification about contrast and flowing with life rather than paddling upstream, as Abraham Hicks likes to say, inspired this week’s printable: A day planner that focuses on what you want in life, rather than all the to-dos, must-dos, should-dos that often weigh us down. In our quest to conquer our schedules we often forget about what really lights us up. So, I hope this printable helps you focus on your spark and light in life.
Along with making printables as a distraction from life, I’ve been enjoying a new channel on YouTube - Roaming Wild Rosie. If you have ever dreamed of escaping to the woods and living in a little cabin by yourself, you might like Rosie’s content. She recently purchased a little red cabin in the woods of Sweden and is fixing it up by herself. I found it was the perfect antidote to life at the moment.
I hope that your corner of the world is safe and you are able to take a moment and enjoy the approaching spring equinox and Ostara celebration. I’ll see you next week!
Recommended Reading
Slow Living Guide for Imbolc & Ostara
Welcome to Part Two of the Mabon House Guide to Slow Living: Imbolc & Ostara. You can read Part 1 - Samhain & Yule here.
Imbolc & Slow Living
Imbolc marks the midpoint of winter. The days are steadily growing longer and the sun is getting stronger. In ancient cultures Imbolc was a time to celebrate Brigid, Celtic Goddess of crafts, learning and healing. Early Celtic celebrations included lighting fires to warm the frozen land, hanging a four cornered Brigid’s Cross above doorways to bless and protect a home, and practicing weather divination as a way to predict the future. Similar to the idea of Groundhog’s Day, ancient Celts would listen for a lark to sing on Imbolc. If they heard the bird, it meant that the God had returned to the Goddess and spring would be early.
With lengthening days and more sunlight, Imbolc offers a time for clarity. You have rested through the early part of winter following Samhain and spent time with friends and family during Yule. Now is the time to plan and start moving toward your goals and cultivate a lifestyle that fulfills you. Take time to refine and reconnect to your daily practices, whether that is journaling, movement, meditation or other activities that nurture your spirit. This is a time to explore what you need to do and learn in order to fulfill your passion and purpose. Follow along on Pinterest for more Wheel of the Year Inspiration
Ostara and Slow Living
Ostara is the celebration of the Spring Equinox. Day and night are equal in length and from this point forward the days are longer and the air warmer. Like animals coming out of hibernation and the trees stirring with sap and buds, our natural inclination is to do more. This is a good time to take advantage of the warming temperatures and soak up the spring air after a long winter. Take note of how nature is changing. What is blooming? What is growing in your corner of the world?
After the rest period of winter it can feel good to move and be busy once more. And while Ostara is a time for more action and more activity, there can also be pressure to do.all.the.things when spring arrives. There's a rush to clean up the yard, spring clean the house, get your summer wardrobe ready, go on a vacation, etc… Spring cleaning, decluttering, and digging in the dirt are all great Ostara slow living activities, but ultimately slow living during Ostara (and the rest of the year) is about following your unique cadence, your natural rhythm.
10 ways to Live Slowly & a Free Checklist
You do not have to cross off a giant to-do list or produce Pinterest-worthy flower beds to enjoy the beginning of springtime. The season of Ostara is a good time to choose some projects that will bring you joy, not stress. Perhaps start a container garden on your front porch, rather than a giant ground garden that will take you all summer to maintain. Or apply a fresh coat of paint for your favorite spaces in the home, rather than a full remodel. Or prepare a special Ostara meal with fresh springtime ingredients, rather than hosting a large gathering.
Going inward, Ostara is a good time to set some intentions for yourself. Just as you take action around your home, what actions should you be thinking about in other areas of your life? What kind of actions will help uplift you? Bring you more joy? Help move you in the direction you want to go? This could be a continuation of what you started during Imbolc or something new in your life.
Looking for some Ostara Inspiration (I mean, who isn’t?) Be sure to check out the free Mabon House Ostara Course.
8 Things I'm Not Buying in 2022
Disclaimer: This website uses affiliate links, meaning: at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate or other affiliate program participant, I earn from qualifying purchases. Mabon House only features products that I believe in and use myself. Thank you!
My theme for 2022 is Simplify and embrace slow living. Three of my four kids are out of the nest and my youngest is a junior in high school and my years of active parenting are swiftly winding down. To prepare for the next phase of life, I’ve started making some changes including a slow downsizing of all my possessions to make space for new things to come.
Following my January No Spend Challenge, I have a good handle on what I actually need vs things I want. I’ve already spent a good deal of time decluttering and organizing my home, room by room. Out of this exercise I now have a working inventory of things I have, but had kind of forgotten about. And I have a greater awareness of things I tend to buy and never use, like pretty thrifted dishes or things that I already own in plenty, such as notebooks and pens. So.Many.Pens.
As my year of Simplicity continues, I’ve come up with a list of all the things I am not buying in 2002.
Office Supplies
As noted above, I own no less than 50 partially used notebooks, journals and pads of paper. And I have a gazillion pens. These are probably my favorite things to buy and an easy and cheap impulse buy from WalMart. So the deal I made with myself is no new stationary until I’ve used up what I have. Which will most likely get me through 2022 and beyond.
June 2022 Update - Solid Win. I have made my way through about half of my existing stationary. I did purchase a new personal journal from my favorite book press company. Because journaling is an integral part of my self care routine, I do count this as a (very nice) necessity.
Greenwashed Products
I saw an ad for $30 all natural zero waste deodorant. $30?! As the sustainability /zero waste movement gains popularity, marketers are figuring out ways to capitalize on consumers' desire to go green. I think using less chemicals is always a good thing, but I also think that for those of us on budget (like, literally, everyone) the benefits don’t always outweigh the costs. If I really want to try a more natural product, I would rather try making my own first.
June 2022 Update - This is mostly a win. I did purchase some zero waste detergent sheets. These were a bit pricier than buying a jug of traditional laundry detergent, but not having ANY waste felt like a good trade off, as I could compost the cardboard box. As much as I like to think I can just whip all of my own cleaning and beauty products, convenience and saving time is a factor. Plus, I thought these sheets worked just as well, if not better, than traditional detergent.
New Clothes (Fast Fashion)
I’ve gone up and down in weight for the past couple of years. Last year I bought several new outfits from ThredUp, and so this year I really don’t need anything else. My weight has stabilized and even if I go up or down a bit, most of what I own will still fit fine. So, while I enjoy clothes shopping, especially from ThredUp, I am going to try really hard to wear what I have. And if I do decide to purchase some new outfits, I will most likely source them second hand rather than buying from fast fashion brands. If you’re new to ThredUp, here is a post I wrote about how to find the best deals for your size and style.
June 2022 Update - Mostly a win. I have been diligent about wearing what I already own. However, as summer approached and my work went to a hybrid office model, I realized that I needed some better warm weather options. I had lived in yoga pants and my son’s old t-shirts for the past two summers. So I did invest in some new dresses from L.L.Bean (not sponsored, I just really like their summer dresses and #maine). I would have happily purchased these dresses from Thread Up or any other second hand shop, if I could ever find them. But they are next to impossible to find used, because they are so comfortable and are made to last. As with most of LL Bean clothing, I will wear these dresses for the next 4-5 years, so I thought it was worth the investment.
Home Decor
Second to notebooks and pens, home décor is my other favorite shopping hobby. I love scouring thrift stores for unique items I can repurpose or upcycle. And I have this weird obsession with table settings. I love Blue Willow china like it’s one of my kids. But as I prepare for an emptyish nest, I don't need to be bringing in more stuff. I’m more interested in using what I already have to create fresh looks in my home.
June 2022 Update - Solid Win. I have not bought anything - new or used - for my house this year. Plus I managed to declutter A LOT of things over the spring.
Holiday Decor
This past holiday season I only used about a quarter of my holiday decor. Most of it sits collecting dust in the basement. Since this is the second year in a row that I’ve used only a fraction of my holiday decor, I skipped the holiday clearance sales.
June 2022 Update - Let’s be real. Who buys holiday décor in the first half of the year? The real test will come this fall. I will keep you posted.
Wrapping paper
Buying wrapping paper seems really wasteful, given that it can’t always be recycled. So, I’ll use up what I have and then swap to sustainable wrapping like cloth, paper or baskets. I will also repurpose some of my pretty table linens and doilies that rarely get used for gift wrapping.
June 2022 Update - Win. Win. Win. I even upcycled an old atlas into some wrapping paper, after watching this fun video from Rajiv Surendra (he is like the Millennial Martha Stewart). Here are my finished gifts (not as nice as Rajiv’s, but they’ll do).
Greeting cards
I am sensing a theme here - I really love paper products. I have enough Thinking of You cards and Birthday day cards to get me through the next decade.
June 2022 Update. Also a win.
Subscriptions
I’ve already cut some of streaming services, magazines and software I’ll never use. I have a couple of core subscription services like Audible and Canva that I use regularly. But my Microsoft office can go, as can Spotify and my paper magazine subscriptions that I bought when the Pandemic started.
June 2022 Update - Getting there. I have not renewed any subscriptions this year, including some streaming services. Is anyone else on the fence about Netflix?
My no spend challenge is just one way that I try to practice more Intentional/ Slow Living. Grab your free Slow Living Thought List and let me know in the comments or over on Instagram what you are doing to slow down, let go and create a life that you love.
Follow the adventures
