Hi Hunter. I hear you. Life, whether slow or fast is fluid. It's very much like the way the ocean shifts from turbulent rip currents to a stalled out squall. I think you are on to something. When life isn't slow, can we still find peace? Can we take "slow" with us through a busy season in life?
When I was 28, my mom had a near death accident and I became her full time caretaker. While she was in ICU, I imagined myself in a 🌀 hurricane. My life felt like hurricane force winds, yet I found peace in the eye of the storm.
For me it was always looking for Christ at work in every situation. Knowing he was at work allowed me to rest, no matter what I was in the middle of. When life gets crazy, I remember peace.
Remaining in the eye of the storm means that I still move. If I stop I will get sucked up but if I move with it centered in peace it is calm.
I hope that your high seas find some calm soon, so you can go back to floating. For now, hang on, baby.
Thank you so much for the love, Jess. I'm so sorry about your mom and all the stress you experienced from that. My grandmother has been living with my parents (who we live next door to) and has been going through a lot of health stuff so I've been supporting my mom a ton in caregiving for her. It's been a round-the-clock experience for all of us but we're also honored to take care of her in this way. But it definitely throws the self-care to the wayside, and then having my toddler when I'm not with my grandmother has been very full on, amidst a few other things. I know that you know how hard that can be with all you went through with your mother. Thank you for the reminder of finding peace in the eye of the storm. Xx
Also, that time in my life was so hard that my adrenals did take a big hit. I experienced adrenal burnout and it took years after to be diagnosed. If you are experiencing extended stress, I hope you can take care of you. All of those action items you wrote, are great little reminders. 💕
Thank you for your honesty! It can be so hard to show up and write when we feel like we are failing at the thing we are trying to write about. But your words of slow living as a mindset always helps me come back to moving more slowly, it isn’t easier with a toddler but I keep coming back to it.
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Emma. I am really grateful my words have been helpful for you, even when I'm not feeling like I've been putting my best foot forward.
So interesting to hear your take on this Hunter! Its so easy to be hard on ourselves and see slow living as something to 'achieve', when your right, its really about taking small moments every day to be present. I'm sure your doing wonderfully :)
"I’m beginning to realize that maybe slow living is about adopting a way of life that isn’t swayed by the hustle and bustle that we can so easily get sucked into, but remembering there is calm within us and we can tap into it whenever we need. Maybe it’s less about what it looks like and more about what it feels like."
I think this is very true! For me, slow living means something along the lines of having enough time for the things I care about, being present in the moment, and feeling at peace. I assume that a lot of the feelings I associate with slow living might stay accessible even when life gathers speed?
Thank you for sharing! I think a lot will feel the same now and then. This is real life as it comes and goes. What helps me is being grateful. Being grateful isn't always that simple when you're feeling exausted, overwhelmed, sad, etc. But there's always a cup of tea (of coffee), a little flower or feather right in front of you. I've had some days where even being grateful was too much. In that case I forced myself of thinking what did went well that day, who was nice to me, what was beautiful, ...
Ahh yes, Hilda, being grateful is crucial, isn't it? I actually just finished up my post for tomorrow that is all about these little moments to be grateful for. Such a beautiful reminder.
Witnessing you here Hunter, the slowness for me is in the micro moments always, as you say, intentionally taking a pause to be present in the bits in between. You can show up here (or not) in whatever way feels nourishing for you, and we will hold you in your whole messy truth. Sending you love xxx
It’s like when we stitch all the slow moments together we’ve slowed time down just enough to see our beautiful life. Some weeks are faster, some decisions don’t align as well but I always come back to slow-er because that’s what makes being in the entrepreneurial space at the same time as parenting young kids and taking care of Dave possible.
You are doing beautiful work Hunter and these reminders are so timely for us. ✨✨
Yesss, Claire. This is so true. It's the overarching theme and the bigger picture. Thank you for that reminder. I've missed being connected with you all here but am slowly (haha) finding my way back. Xx
For what it's worth, Hunter, I think you are doing just what you should be. Life can feel a little tedious at times, even when you are doing all the right things and appreciating it all. Don't get hung up on that. Don't compare yourself to anyone else, even yourself, or where you want to be. Just continue doing what you are doing!! It IS magical. Sooner than you believe, you'll realize you're right where you wanted to be and if you aren't doing the things you are doing, then you might miss that you're there. XO
How beautifully indulgent does fiction feel? Ahhh! The most recent I read was the Goldfinch. Took me weeks but it was stunning writing, at the time I was over the heaviness of ‘how to be better’ type books.
We say blessings before a meal, it helps us connect with each other and the food before we eat, helps to bring some sense of slowness to the day, however wild it’s been!
Hi Hunter. I hear you. Life, whether slow or fast is fluid. It's very much like the way the ocean shifts from turbulent rip currents to a stalled out squall. I think you are on to something. When life isn't slow, can we still find peace? Can we take "slow" with us through a busy season in life?
When I was 28, my mom had a near death accident and I became her full time caretaker. While she was in ICU, I imagined myself in a 🌀 hurricane. My life felt like hurricane force winds, yet I found peace in the eye of the storm.
For me it was always looking for Christ at work in every situation. Knowing he was at work allowed me to rest, no matter what I was in the middle of. When life gets crazy, I remember peace.
Remaining in the eye of the storm means that I still move. If I stop I will get sucked up but if I move with it centered in peace it is calm.
I hope that your high seas find some calm soon, so you can go back to floating. For now, hang on, baby.
Hugs and prayers
Thank you so much for the love, Jess. I'm so sorry about your mom and all the stress you experienced from that. My grandmother has been living with my parents (who we live next door to) and has been going through a lot of health stuff so I've been supporting my mom a ton in caregiving for her. It's been a round-the-clock experience for all of us but we're also honored to take care of her in this way. But it definitely throws the self-care to the wayside, and then having my toddler when I'm not with my grandmother has been very full on, amidst a few other things. I know that you know how hard that can be with all you went through with your mother. Thank you for the reminder of finding peace in the eye of the storm. Xx
Also, that time in my life was so hard that my adrenals did take a big hit. I experienced adrenal burnout and it took years after to be diagnosed. If you are experiencing extended stress, I hope you can take care of you. All of those action items you wrote, are great little reminders. 💕
Thank you for your honesty! It can be so hard to show up and write when we feel like we are failing at the thing we are trying to write about. But your words of slow living as a mindset always helps me come back to moving more slowly, it isn’t easier with a toddler but I keep coming back to it.
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Emma. I am really grateful my words have been helpful for you, even when I'm not feeling like I've been putting my best foot forward.
So interesting to hear your take on this Hunter! Its so easy to be hard on ourselves and see slow living as something to 'achieve', when your right, its really about taking small moments every day to be present. I'm sure your doing wonderfully :)
Thanks so much, Molly! You are absolutely right!!
To me, slow living is honest living. It’s living in truth…thank you for sharing yours 🙏🏼
Mmm, this is so beautiful. Yes, Eliza. Thank you for that reminder.
I love the title!
"I’m beginning to realize that maybe slow living is about adopting a way of life that isn’t swayed by the hustle and bustle that we can so easily get sucked into, but remembering there is calm within us and we can tap into it whenever we need. Maybe it’s less about what it looks like and more about what it feels like."
I think this is very true! For me, slow living means something along the lines of having enough time for the things I care about, being present in the moment, and feeling at peace. I assume that a lot of the feelings I associate with slow living might stay accessible even when life gathers speed?
Yes, Louise! I feel the same. It's so much more about our mindset than anything else. Thank you so much for this comment.
You're very welcome, Hunter!
Thank you for sharing! I think a lot will feel the same now and then. This is real life as it comes and goes. What helps me is being grateful. Being grateful isn't always that simple when you're feeling exausted, overwhelmed, sad, etc. But there's always a cup of tea (of coffee), a little flower or feather right in front of you. I've had some days where even being grateful was too much. In that case I forced myself of thinking what did went well that day, who was nice to me, what was beautiful, ...
Ahh yes, Hilda, being grateful is crucial, isn't it? I actually just finished up my post for tomorrow that is all about these little moments to be grateful for. Such a beautiful reminder.
Witnessing you here Hunter, the slowness for me is in the micro moments always, as you say, intentionally taking a pause to be present in the bits in between. You can show up here (or not) in whatever way feels nourishing for you, and we will hold you in your whole messy truth. Sending you love xxx
Thank you so much, Lauren. So grateful to be in this space with you and on this beautiful motherhood roller coaster!
It’s like when we stitch all the slow moments together we’ve slowed time down just enough to see our beautiful life. Some weeks are faster, some decisions don’t align as well but I always come back to slow-er because that’s what makes being in the entrepreneurial space at the same time as parenting young kids and taking care of Dave possible.
You are doing beautiful work Hunter and these reminders are so timely for us. ✨✨
Yesss, Claire. This is so true. It's the overarching theme and the bigger picture. Thank you for that reminder. I've missed being connected with you all here but am slowly (haha) finding my way back. Xx
✨✨✨ you have some lovely IWD posts to catch up on when you’re ready xx 🫖
Magic in slow ❤️
Absolutely!
For what it's worth, Hunter, I think you are doing just what you should be. Life can feel a little tedious at times, even when you are doing all the right things and appreciating it all. Don't get hung up on that. Don't compare yourself to anyone else, even yourself, or where you want to be. Just continue doing what you are doing!! It IS magical. Sooner than you believe, you'll realize you're right where you wanted to be and if you aren't doing the things you are doing, then you might miss that you're there. XO
How beautifully indulgent does fiction feel? Ahhh! The most recent I read was the Goldfinch. Took me weeks but it was stunning writing, at the time I was over the heaviness of ‘how to be better’ type books.
We say blessings before a meal, it helps us connect with each other and the food before we eat, helps to bring some sense of slowness to the day, however wild it’s been!
A great post! Comes perfectly in time for the weekend! 🌞 Thank you for sharing!