Things that calm me
Finding peace in thoughts and in everyday things.
Yes, you are surrounded by calmness. Most days, it may be hard to believe, but I don’t blame you. The world seems to be moving at a thousand miles per hour. We all have a to-do list with a thousand things to strike off and no matter how much we do, it never ends. But believe me when I say that you don’t have to throw your phone away and drive off to a secluded cabin in the woods to feel calm. You don’t have to wait for the next break or season of life to feel at ease. All you need to do is cut yourself off from chaos (even if it’s for a few minutes) to see that there is beauty right where you are. You can choose to feel calm at this very moment. I journaled over two days about the thoughts and things that calm me in this season of life. Since most of my work is inspired by my journal entries, it would only be fair to share it today. These are not big things, but I hope they inspire you to search for things in your life that calm you.
Afternoons.
I have always been drawn to afternoons. Afternoons are the quietest time of the day. Sun is at its brightest, roads are not full of cars, and you can hear the birds chirping. It is a reminder for me to slow down amidst the chaos. Something changes in me during the afternoons. I don’t know if it’s the quietness more than the sun or both, but I feel more alive.
Being a beginner.
The other day, I saw a one-year-old trying to walk for the first time and I thought, “What a privilege it is to be able to walk.” Something we don't even think about before doing now was once one of the most challenging things we had to learn. Every task we are a beginner at right now won’t be as tough in future as it is now. We get to be a beginner at certain things only once in our entire lifetime. We might as well enjoy it while it lasts.
A slow morning.
Life feels different on days I start my day slow. I have more energy throughout the day, a sense of hope. There is something about opening your eyes and not immediately rushing to catch up with the world's speed. I want to live as many mornings like this as I can in my life.
Colours.
We recently celebrated Holi in India, popularly known as the festival of colours. I haven’t been a fan of playing Holi for a while now, but seeing people pass the street in front of my house, covered with Gulal (powdered dye) made me realise how much the colours I see around me (and never pay much attention to) contribute to my calmness. The minute you finish reading this post, look at the colours you are surrounded by and appreciate their beauty. Notice how they soothe your eyes and your mind.
Knowing that I still have time.
So many of us live with the idea that it’s now or never. The truth is, if it is not now, it can be in the future. The pressure that accompanies figuring out every aspect of my life right at this moment makes me uneasy. But knowing that I have time (you do too!) allows me to take a sign of relief every now and then.
If you enjoy reading Unwind, I would love it if you consider recommending the publication to your readers. Simply go to your Dashboard > Recommendations > Manage > Add recommendation > Unwind.
THIS WEEK’s RECOMMENDATIONS
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Silence by
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Saving this beauty. I would love to share it in The Encouragement Files, our weekly gathering of things that inspire us, if that would be okay. Here’s last week’s so you can see my cheeky request in context:
https://encouragementmanifesto.substack.com/p/encouragement-files-f28
Thanks so much. Barrie and JoJo
Beautiful post. Thank you for the recommendation as well!