Back to Basics

This morning I stirred awake a little before 5am. Ben still sleeping, I went downstairs to make a cup of tea. It was already getting light and the birds were already singing their beauty into the garden.

I love how easy it is to wake up early at this time of year, even when it is a relatively dark and wet day like it is today. It’s a good reminder that our bodies are designed to move with the seasons. As important as a regular routine is, it’s also important that our routine shift with the seasons.

I long for a world where we honour the seasons and our rhythm within them once more. It has never made sense to me, for example, that if we work in an office, as I once did, that we should start and finish work at the same time throughout the whole year. Why should we not start earlier in the spring and summer and later in the autumn and winter? Why should we not work shorter hours in the autumn and winter when it is darker and our bodies naturally have less energy?

There is so much about the modern world to be grateful for. And there is so much about the modern world that is way off track.

After my morning cup of tea and breakfast, I made time for twenty minutes of gentle yoga. Just a few slow stretches really. As I do not feel wonderfully well in my body lately, I am humbled to realise that I need to go back to basics. I believe that something within us always knows what we need for ourselves and I knew that I needed to begin again with building a routine that would support my health and healing.

I also knew that I needed to start with one small thing and not to overwhelm myself with too much, too soon. And so I have started with twenty minutes of yoga each morning.

It is not fancy yoga or difficult postures. I just do some basic stretches to open my body and help soothe my nervous system, which needs a lot of soothing right now. I am so grateful that I was able to practice yoga in London for several years with a wonderful teacher. I always hear his voice guiding me whenever I’m on my yoga mat. It’s a beautiful reminder how what we offer to others carries on with them in their lives, even if we are not with them physically.

I also went for a short walk down the lane this morning whilst it was still quiet. It was very wet outside, but I like it when it’s like this. I have always found the rain comforting.

And now here I am, at my computer, writing this. Soon I will drive to the village to pick up a prescription for my elderly neighbour and then I will do a couple of hours of cleaning at his house which I have started doing recently. And when I get back I need to bake some bread as we are almost out and I will see what other jobs there are to do.

Love and courage,

Leah

P.S. A link to my Etsy shop if you would like to order some watercolour wildflowers 🙂