Dear Kate,
When it feels that big, leave home.
RUN don't walk.
Leave the dishes in the sink. Leave the unanswered emails. Leave the shoulds and the have-to's and the musts and the endless to-dos. Leave the feelings of inadequacy. Leave the laundry in the machine and the dead flowers on the kitchen table. Leave all that crap all over the lounge room floor. Leave their spelling words and maths-mates and projects. Leave the pile of games that fell out of the cupboard. Leave the worries and the overwhelm and the deadlines.
Leave it all!
Walk out of the door and choose a direction. Any way will do.
Breathe deeply. All the way in and then all the way out. Even if the freezing air burns your nose and chest, get it in there.
Shake your arms and legs about and get the blood back into them.
Notice the tiny things. The oddly shaped things, the magical things, the new season things.
Admire. Respect. Love. Cherish.
Climb up on top of anything you can.
Meditate!
Hold hands and trust.
Shout! Laugh! Dance! Sing!
See it for what it really is.
And when you get back home you will see that everything looks different. Everything IS different. But still the same. The same but more manageable. More beautiful. More everything.
You'll be so glad you/I did.
xx
So good to see someone else feeling the same feelings. You just articulated that beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI so need to do this x
ReplyDeleteOh gosh....I am taking note. Boy I feel swamped...best I take a walk.
ReplyDeletePS Have you had a cold snap??? Everyone is so rugged up!
Yes!! It is freeeeeeezing here right now.
DeleteAnd the next week's forecast is not looking much better.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr….
I live on Norfolk Island...we've had lovely mild days...but we really need rain. My folks are holidaying in Canberra at the minute and said it's freezing there too...they were in Sydney the other day and it was practically a heat wave. CRAZY weather!!!!!!!!
DeleteJust as Deborah said, you have articulated this beautifully Kate. I know the feeling...this is me right now. Fresh air does make everything feel better x
ReplyDeleteThank you, I think I had to read this just now in this moment. Jutta
ReplyDeleteYes! This is my mantra too. Everything just looks different when you get back with colour in your cheeks! Isn't it funny how we need to keep reminding ourselves?! xx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Kate! Well said love, very well said!
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! The baby carrier/pram has saved my bacon many a time ... Not great for my housekeeping but essential for my sanity.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful Kate - I think this is my favourite post yet. And how silly is this cold weather! We're over it - where's summer!
ReplyDeleteperhaps this is where I've been going wrong, prioritising housework over self care and ggod mental health
ReplyDeletecheers Kate
I love that somebody else can leave the dishes in the sink, the laundry in the machine and the dead flowers in the vase on the table.... because sometimes we just HAVE to do other stuff. I love this post! Thank you for sharing it :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch good advice, must remember to take it more often. Its something we should all do from time to time!
ReplyDeleteBeautifuly said x
ReplyDeleteSo true. It is baking here so the warm weather should blow over to you soon.
ReplyDeleteGood luck re-stacking the games cupboard.... I hate hate hate that job. Too many pieces, to many different box sizes and shapes.
Oh what great advice! We just need that reminder sometimes huh?! Thanks Kate for your lovely blog.
ReplyDeleteSpot on. I should print this letter and make it into a poster. Thanks for sharing your Notes to self.
ReplyDeletexxx
Annette
My Rose Valley
Thank You So Much!!!
ReplyDeleteJeanet
I am still in awe that you guys are so COLD still! I hope it warms up soon, I always find (as much as I love cold weather) that the arrival and warmth and sunshine makes everything better. A walk in the woods might too, but we have no woods here ;) Leaving the dishes in the sink and forgetting, escaping, getting outside - brilliant advice :)
ReplyDeleteYes, things are always better when we come back from a woods walk with the dogs (except if they happened to find a pile of who-knows-what to role in)! I am a strong believer in going outside and getting a fresh perspective on life.
ReplyDeleteIt is so annoying that we are still wearing our puffer jackets. It's November. I am convinced I am starting to get that European SAD disease.
ReplyDeleteLove this :) xxx
ReplyDeletethis is one of the most beautiful blogposts I have read in a while. and a strong one too. thank you for those images and the words coming with them. thank you for this inspiration!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Bloke offered to take the girls out to the wood this afternoon to give me some time to myself but actually I chose to go out with them and everything felt better. Jo x
ReplyDeleteis is such good advice. Iive right by the sea and yet I don't walk along the prom nearly enough x
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, getting outside always calms me. Glad it helped you!
ReplyDeleteyes yes yes!!! i needed this! I needed to soak in those words, to see the beauty in your pictures! Beautiful post that i will hold onto when i need to run! x
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAh! Like a breath of fresh air! X
ReplyDeleteLovely! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the advice I need to follow!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love this so much!! So true and beautifully captured by your words and pictures. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWish I had known this when I was younger,everything does not have to be perfect.
ReplyDeleteI love how even when you are having a rant, you do it in the most poetic and inspirational way. Me, I just tend to rant with a side of whinge. mel x
ReplyDeleteThank-you. I needed to be reminded! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely blog post! Jane
ReplyDeleteThankyou Kate for your beautiful words and pictures. Its been a lovely, timely reminder.
ReplyDeleteand have a long bath...
ReplyDeleteOh Kate, you've got me crying. I've been doing just this. Today we blew off swimming and stayed at home. What, because this mumma is SO tired. I just can't keep up. I'm glad it's not just me and I'm glad that we really can just CHOOSE to do it a little differently.
ReplyDeletexo em
Thank you Kate. I needed that...
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful and perfect! I really needed this.. Thank you x
ReplyDeleteVery good advice! (Even though I doubt u intended it to be such!- xxx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Kate. I could feel the fresh air through your writing. I just shared your post on my Facebook page for my blog www.thesolsticewriter.com with the words 'A beautiful post from Kate over at Fox's Lane. Kate has a way of weaving her words ever so tenderly around her beautiful images. Sure to lift your spirits.' :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteSimple and magical advice - simply magical xxxx
ReplyDelete