I’ve not been writing very much on my blog for a while now.

Truthfully, I’ve simply not known what to write, unless it’s something I’ve felt a massive compulsion to write about. My creative juices for my blog just haven’t been flowing as much in the blogosphere. But I hope to be able to counter that in the coming months. It might not be every other day or once a week, but hopefully months won’t go by without posting.

Recently, I’ve been settling into trying to live a simpler life.

What does that mean exactly? Well, frankly, it means for me to not be as caught up with the hustle and bustle of city life. Yes, I am part of that, due to geography and accessing certain services.

But, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m trying to focus more on simplicity through sustainability and focusing less on materialism. Focusing less on putting my self-worth on materialism, more specifically. Which, is something many of us have struggled with at some point.

HOMEMAKING

I’ll be honest with you: I love homemaking. Yeah, it’s not easy and can be tedious at times. But there’s something really validating for me about getting the daily household tasks done. Knowing it’s done, so then neither me nor my boyfriend has to stress about it.

Both me and my boyfriend had a lot of influence from our respective grandparents growing up. Both sets of them were married between the late 1940s and 1950s. While I certainly don’t idolise those times (thank God for social progression since then, but we’ve a long way to go), we both look up to our grandparents in the love each couple have, wanting a lifelong love like that for each other.

On my end, the style, aesthetic and lessons from my grandparents, particularly my Nan (who sadly passed nine years ago) and my Grandpa (still living) has had a heavy influence on me.

The lessons on keeping a home that I learned from them and from general history of the time, resonates with me greatly. I don’t believe it is a ‘woman’s place’ to be in the home. A woman’s (or anyone’s) place is wherever they want it to be. Homemaking, whether one has employment or not, is not specific to gender. I fully support men and non-binary folks who like homemaking too.

My boyfriend absolutely can do all this and does. But since I already work from home, it makes more sense for me to be doing more of the housework.

And I enjoy it.

I like adding my homey touches and taking care of the home and people in it. I love the flexibility my work offers me, so I’m able to do both. And knowing I’m taking more environmentally sustainable steps i.e. putting the washing machine on a lower temperature, and investing in a compost bin to lower waste can make such big changes to not just the planet, but my mood.

FINDING JOY IN THE LITTLE THINGS

Which leads me onto this title: Finding joy in the little things.

Washing clothes on 20 degrees instead of 30, or enjoying the fresh breeze and sunshine as you hang up the washing, might not seem like much. But one thing I’ve learned over the last two years, is to find joy in the little things.

That’s where joy can really be found. In seeing the birds in the trees and the flowers blooming. Seeing a baby smile, having a tidy space and the laundry all folded and put away. Making new things. Seeing the beauty earth has to offer, and knowing the little changes we make can help contribute to its continuation, personally brings me a lot of joy.

Our main problem sadly is massive corporations making majority of the emissions we need to cut. I firmly believe stricter policy should be enacted so they pull their weight on turning to green energy. But until then, I can only focus on what I can do.

While I’m not green-fingered, learning about composting and saving any waste from going into landfill or being incinerated, is for me, in this world with its craziness right now, something for me to smile about.

FOCUSING ON GOD

Ok, I know this really isn’t for everyone, so feel free to skip this section if you wish to. You can believe whatever you like as long as it doesn’t believe in hurting yourself or others.

I’ve found for me, spending time to focus on my faith is exactly what I need. Dedicating time to reading the Bible and to prayer, just feels so right for me. Scripture does teach to focus less on material possessions, which I had been looking at for environmental reasons before converting.

But the focus on simplicity, or viewing materialism as less important from a faith perspective, helps me focus on what it important: Helping others. Loving God and neighbour (though if you’ve seen my Twitter, that can be difficult to when there are some nasty folks out there wanting to hurt others) I find it liberating. It’s helping me to be more present in the moment.

I’ve been focusing more on prayer. I pray every morning if I can through following a devotional. I’m trying to remember to pray thanks over my food before tucking in. I pray the Rosary when I can (I’m not Catholic, but the Rosary has a special place in my heart) and love visiting a local church for quiet prayer or a service (I try. I do like my Sunday lie ins! 🤣)

In following more simplicity, trying to be more present and prayer, I’ve been inspired by Religious Sisters. Specifically Trappistine, Carmelite and Franciscan nuns from documentaries of their lives on YouTube. While I’m most definitely not cut out for that way of life, nor wish to be, I really respect and admire the Sisters’ dedication to simplicity in service to others. The Trappistines in their balance of work and prayer, the Carmelites in their dedication to prayer for others and self-sufficiency, and the Franciscans in their community work and charity to the poor and needy.

Their example gives me valuable lessons as I go forward in practicing faith. That and the documentaries are just really relaxing! 🤣

What works for you? What little things bring you joy? I’d love to hear about it 😊 I hope you’re all keeping safe and well and hope wherever you are, you have a wonderful rest of your day 😊❤️

*Photo credit – Zara Home, Pinterest.