Day 357/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
It's the dawn of Christmas Eve and my heart is full. After all the preparations, shopping, baking, decorating, wrapping that I managed to do with a beautifully minimalist and measured spirit so as not to be wasteful nor consumer driven, I have this week enjoyed the rewards of time spent well with friends, good friends.
There's something about a feeling of time standing still on Christmas Eve. It feels like the big event is just around the corner as we anticipate the tidings of tomorrow, Christmas Day.
The birds are musical, the leaves in the trees are gently swaying and rustling, my cat stirs from her sleep snuggled into the crescent of my knees. There's produce to harvest from the garden, and the last of Christmas baking to complete before a relaxing finish to the day.
With a long Roman Catholic tradition behind me, in practice and heritage, it's as natural as day and night for me to reflect on the nativity scene and the celebrated birth of that special man known to us as Jesus. What an insightful life he lead and shared with humanity at a time when they seemed to have lost their way.
And here we are.
As I reflect on the state of our world today I can't help thinking we've taken some wrong turns. The damage we have done to our soils, our oceans, the air we breathe, the poor, the homeless, the discriminated against, the disabled. I'm hopeful that humanity is awakening to their reality with the support of the Corona that has forced a more inward looking approach.
In the meantime I am joyfully immersed in my simply abundant life, and the beauty that surrounds me. My Christmas wish is that you too will find your way to experience a simply abundant lifestyle.
Merry Christmas! 🎄
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.