Last week at my retreat, instead of offering a craft, as I did in January, I created reading nooks around the studio and brought a collection of my favorite books on parenting, creativity, spirituality, seasonal crafts and what ever else caught my eye as I was packing up.
After our yoga session, between journal-writing and our sharing circle, I invited people to explore the books that I brought. Some people took advantage of the cozy sheepskin rugs (borrowed from my children’s room) while others brought the books back to their blankets.
I joked that I wanted it to feel like rest time at nursery school…take a book that interests you and curl up and enjoy it…and we all agreed that there needs to be much more nursery-school-esque nurturance for grown-ups.
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Some questions for you to reflect on. Please feel free to respond here, on your blog, in your journal, or simply hold these questions in your heart.
:: What are you reading/listening to that is inspiring you?
:: How are you creating time for quiet and rest and self-care in your busy days?
:: Do you have a special place in your home or work space for quiet and rest?
:: How are you building breathing space into the upcoming holiday season?
{Want more breathing space? See past posts here. You can also see my ever-growing list of favorite books here.}
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Happy weekend friends!
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This is such an inspirational post and im reading it at the right time…as it’s been some down time for me these days and i am slowly climbing back up from this rabbit hole. Would love to explore your books and pick one up to read at your cozy reading place!
I’m currently reading Kate Jacobs: The Friday Night Knitting Club and i really adore that club they created. I think im still trying to figure out how and when i should create time for quiet and rest and self-care…sometimes i tend to forget…still trying to figure how to balance my time. I would say my special place in my home is my little creative workspace and my room.
Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
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That’s such a lovely idea Erin – and I agree that we need more nursery-esque time in our busy lives. There’s a dear picture book that Abby has – “I Like to be Little” – I cannot remember the author – last name begins with Z – and it is about a little girl who gives her mum all the reasons she prefers to be little – and it is so similar to your reading corner – there are so many things we are expected – and expect! – to give up in order to be “grown up”. Silly really – is it is so valuable for our children to do these things, we should make the time to do them too!
Thinking about your questions … sadly, i’ve read nothing for ages. I fail to make the time during the day to do this. I love reading and have always been a huge reader but lately I leave it to read in bed – and then I just fall asleep – and I’m watching way too much television – yucky! As for quiet and rest – we currently have nowhere for quiet and rest – this is one thing I am really looking forward to with our move – I want to create a home that has opportunities for resting, for reading, for playing, for creating and somewhere lovely to just sit. I think I will have to wait until then – it feels utterly impossible here :-) Thanks for the thought provoking post Erin – you often get me thinking and this is good!
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And from someone who was at your retreat, what a lovely reading corner it was.
I am reading, (at a snails pace), Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It is truly one of the best books I have ever read and it will dictate how I plan and prepare food from the spring on next year.
I am currently going around the house and creating each space with only the intention of what it’s purpose is. Which meant toys, except one basket that I prepare each week, left the living room and went down to the playroom. we have such a small house that having toys, computer, table, tv, books all in one tiny living room wasn’t creating any breathing room for me. It was affecting my behavior towards my family so i decided to change it. The kids and Patrick (who is unhappy about the computer going downstairs) are adjusting and I can already feel the family behaving and playing differently.
The retreat gave me such a sense of entitlement to finding soft space for me and for my family. We even created a beautiful glass bowl with goldfish, plants and rocks to keep us calm and centered.
Here’s to soft space Erin…
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I like the idea of a nice soft cozy spot in my house, but my house is the size it is so I make sure there’s coziness within each room and I cultivate coziness within myself so that within any moment I can access that calm comfort of a soft sheepskin. I head outside when I need breathing space. The soft cushion of pine needles or moss and the fresh smell of the air relaxes me, settles me, centers me.
As for inspiration I read a lot right; now it’s The Secret Power of Yoga as a spiritual text. But I must admit, I try to remind myself that some inspiration needs to come from within. So, I am listening to the voice of the Creator that resides within my heart.
These are great questions and such perfect timing as yesterday was 11 11 11. -
What a lovely idea! I personally love downtime and your retreat sounds heavenly.
Since becoming pregnant I’ve been giving myself permission to cat nap in the afternoon and it’s soooo good!
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How nice to get a peek at your bookshelf!
Right now I am reading “The Witch Must Die” which is about the psychology of fairy tales, and it is FASCINATING! Also, I cannot stop listening to Laura Gibson.
I generally take my girl’s nap time as my quiet time. Right now I am working on holiday gifts during that time, so I can be done early this year (that’s the hope anyway)! So I guess that’s how I am planning on having breathing space in the holidays. I plan on calling it quits on major holiday crafting and shopping a the end of the month. Whatever isn’t done won’t get done. I really want to be able to ENJOY the season with my kids this year.
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These are some great questions and I look forward to exploring them. Thank you very much for this post and bringing up some very thought provoking questions that will no doubt lead to some well needed time to be!
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I’ve recently set up a prayer space with a San Damiano crucifix and icon images of the Holy Family and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I have a small prie-dieu where I kneel for morning prayers including the rosary. In Montpelier, I like to go to the little side chapel at St. Augustine’s for Eucharistic Adoration. It is a little oasis of peace!
I’ve been reading about the lives of the saints and martyrs and many conversion stories. I especially enjoyed a book called Prodigal Daughters, about baby boomer women like myself, who came home to the Catholic Church after spending many years away. (I was heartened to learn that many had wandered further off the reservation than myself yet still found their way home!) I just returned from an inspiring Cursillo retreat for women and am still processing the experience. Hoping to read more spiritual works by Henri Nouwen. -
I have a copy of Raising Your Spirited Child, which I see you also have. It’s respectful of children and helpful through difficult phases.
And Linda, I love Henri Nouwen.
I am always reading. A lot of middle-grade/young adult novels. Adult literary. Non-fiction historical accounts. Books on CD in the van. Reading is an intentional way to think about life. Just finished The Shadow of the Wind (adult literary) and A Stolen Life (mid-grade). Just starting Bury Me Standing (about the Roma/Gypsies).
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Mmmmm. I love reading on sheepskins.
Lately I am trying to be more rigid with after school routines, i.e. no going to someone else’s house to play or inviting anyone over until everyone: washes hands, has a snack, does homework, and reads quietly. I get to read during that time too. Lately I have been reading a lot of baking and soup books. We all sit on sheepskins and usually everyone gets so into reading that before we have a chance to invite other little boys over, it’s dark and time to make dinner. (Darn!) I love this about the early darkness.
I wish I had gone to your retreat–I feel like a fool to have missed it.
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erin, you visited my blog recently, so i think you know how perfect your questions are for me right now. thank you for your favorite books link. i am eager to check it out. i am soaking in everyone’s suggestions right now!
:: What are you reading/listening to that is inspiring you?
everything, but blogs and parenting books especially. my read right now is raising your spirited child. oh is it ever striking a chord and gives me positive hope for connecting better with my little love on her level!:: How are you creating time for quiet and rest and self-care in your busy days?
i am staying up too late. truly. i am not getting enough sleep, but i am getting husband, reading, and crafting time in those hours. my little ones keep me otherwise very very busy.:: Do you have a special place in your home or work space for quiet and rest?
we have a very small house, but it is generally peaceful and i enjoy every room, even my old, worn kitchen. but my little craft corner is carved out of a finished basement/walk through (to garage) room that is generally my brother’s room when he is with us.:: How are you building breathing space into the upcoming holiday season?
we are keeping it simple. everything homemade (enjoyable for me). we have learned no one else seems any happier when we extend ourselves too much to accommodate them and store bought (expensive) gifts don’t seem any more well received, so we are learning to do what is right for our little family and just do it positively and joyously and generously.be well and have a lovely weekend!
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com -
What a great reminder! I was at the retreat and what I took from it was so simple, yet so difficult to find time to do: breathe deeply, drink water, eat nourishing food, exercise a little, laugh, sleep, repeat.
So, I’ve been trying to take 30 minutes a day – during a nap, at night, when the kids are occupied, whenever – just 30 little minutes, to sit and drink a cup of tea and look out at the falling leaves, or knit (yes, I started again!), or read something (anything), or talk with my husband (not about the kids or bills).
I usually work at night, so I haven’t been taking these moments for myself because “I have too much work to do.” But what I’m finding is that I am much more productive if I take some time for me first.
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a very good reminder. I have started to think about breathing space for the upcoming season. Mostly scaling back my expectations for myself and focusing on what is most important to my family.
Nicola, I like what you had to say “we have learned no one else seems any happier when we extend ourselves too much to accommodate them and store bought (expensive) gifts don’t seem any more well received, so we are learning to do what is right for our little family and just do it positively and joyously and generously.” Wow, what a good lesson to learn.
Nice post Erin. Got me thinking and gave me pause in my rainy Saturday afternoon (going through everything I starred this week in my reader).
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:: What are you reading/listening to that is inspiring you?
… The Astonishing Power of Emotions and The Vortex
:: How are you creating time for quiet and rest and self-care in your busy days?
… morning meditation and anytime meditation — I meditated yesterday at the Zoomazium (an indoor playspace!)
:: Do you have a special place in your home or work space for quiet and rest?
… no and yes… my meditation bench is in my office and I often wish there were a whole room I could dedicate to rest and quiet
:: How are you building breathing space into the upcoming holiday season?
… not traveling, homemade gifts, just our close family on the day of…
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