Slow & Easy

“When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” - Buddha

Hello Dear Friend,

Slow and easy in the Southland...is the opening line from the song Southland and happens to be the line that has found its way into my mind on this fine Friday night. As the sound of thunder rumbles in the distance the sky illuminates to the disturbance in a delayed reaction and I feel like God is putting on His own fireworks show. Night thunderstorms are by far one of my favorite things about summer. Tonight the storm has cooled the overwhelming heat that July brings. The cooler air drifts through my open windows caressing my skin as I listen to the steady rain fall murmuring outside my window like a soft melody that’s inviting me to venture into dreamland.

It’s in my current slightly carefree state that you’ll find me propped up against some pillows and snuggled under some fresh, clean sheets, welcoming the coming weekend and typing out my thoughts in a letter to you. I hope you are well. I hope you are taking time to slow down and take things easy. I hope you have a readily thankful heart and are quick to see the blessings that have been gifted to you no matter how big or how small or the form they may take. It’s in these troubled times and my least favorite season of the year that I sometimes struggle to remember that my life is a gift, so is yours and it is meant to be viewed and lived as such.

So as we continue through these dog days of summer how about you leave your worries behind you for a while and let yourself get lost in the magic of the slow and easy life for a bit. Take some time to step back and refocus as you embrace the wonderful now. There is beauty in this world and it should be enjoyed. Now I’m a Great Lakes girl from the upper Midwest and we don’t have sweet tea but you go on and grab your sweet tea you know you want to. Go on!

Go out and lounge in a hammock and read a book or better yet, take a cat nap! Swing on that old tire swing in your back yard. Trudge down to your old swimming hole, grab that rope swing and ride it into the water. Sleep out in your childhood tree house. Take a tube ride down the river like you have nothing but time. Go fire up some BBQ on the grill in your backyard. Grab your guitar, ukulele, your harmonica or whatever instrument it is that you play and can carry easily and – sing songs around the campfire. See who can create the biggest splash while jumping into your pool. Engage in conversation, kick back and relax with a cool drink in hand. Never mind the extra calories go ahead and indulge in that waffle cone. Laugh often, make memories and love immeasurably.

The world needs your joy, it needs your passion, it needs your smile, it needs you to live your life with purpose, beauty and grace – it needs you to slow down and make time to enjoy the precious gift of living.

With love,

a Poetic Soul