I love how quiet my house is at certain times of the day. No one needs anything; the rooms are still and peaceful. I try to capitalize on these moments whenever possible, even if they’re hardly any time at all. I can get overstimulated pretty quickly, especially after a long day of work or an exhausting weekend, and I often find myself craving calm.
Over time, I’ve learned that the conditions of life are rarely, if ever, “perfect,” and if you wait for the perfect moments to allow yourself the space to unwind or rest, you’ll always be waiting. As it turns out, when you need stillness most is when things are less than still.
Stillness can be scary for a lot of reasons but it’s necessary for so many others. It’s important to be open to the discomfort that may come from pausing, resting, or turning inward; to get comfortable checking in with ourselves and being still enough to listen to our thoughts, feelings, and needs.
If you wait for the perfect moments to allow yourself the space to unwind or rest, you’ll always be waiting. As it turns out, when you need stillness most is when things are less than still.
I have been doing my best to remember you can intentionally create spaces in your daily routines to go to when you need a break, whether it’s a specific room in your home or a nearby spot in your neighborhood.
This June, our contributors will be writing about how to find micro-moments of stillness in the everyday, the benefits of setting (and following) routines, and whether we really need closure as much as we think we do. I’ll be sharing my answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our home, a reveal of our yellow bathroom, and the five-minute practice that helps me reset throughout the day. We can’t wait to share this, and plenty more, with you throughout the month ahead.
This month, the theme of stillness is all about learning to embrace the mess and figuring out how to find stillness within it (à la a kitchen remodel…); it’s about learning that you can find moments of stillness, even in times of chaos.
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Kate is currently learning to play the Ukulele, much to the despair of her husband, kids, and dogs. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
