Saturday evening thoughts

21/07/2018 | Carole

Lately I’ve been musing on what home looks like. I’ve written on this topic before but coming at it from a different angle this time. In the past five years I’ve called Barnstaple, Plymouth, Bradford, Vienna, Trondheim, Shipley, Lancaster and most currently a little town called Ulverston home. I love the quirkyness and all the little independent shops and most recently the opening of this place Cut The Wrap. As amongst many things I’m doing my best to cut down on my use of single use plastic. I use a metal water bottle instead of throw away plastic ones. The same goes for metal straws instead of plastic ones. In actively working to reduce my use of single use plastic I’m realising that sometimes it a hard task as so many things are packaged in plastic when there are other options.

I’ve had quite a few people recently say that I’m quite nomadic. Which given my tendency to move locations makes sense. I often find myself feeling really restless. But having less days like that lately. Which is refreshing.

I’m learning more and more how important meaningful community is. And that is something well worth investing in. Both in person and in the digital world too. I’m also realising more and more that I need to carve time to spend on those things that calm me (for me thats knitting, baking and time spent outdoors). In those moments it’s easier to be present and in the moment rather than amongst crowded thoughts.

Going to sign off for now but I’ve a feeling I’ll be back to add to this post again.

Scribblings (some thoughts)

04/08/2017 | Carole

I haven't written anything in depth for a while on here. I thought it was high time I did.

I'm kind of in between things again. This happens often for me at the moment. When one season is coming to an end and another is waiting to begin. I sometimes find myself getting very restless when this happens and a little impatient. When I need to remember that it's a marathon not a sprint.

Also what might feel like a detour to you. I'm learning that they are just part of the journey. That each moment follows the next and all can be learned from and are spaces to grow.

When I've so many thoughts going through my head. It's hard to find time to process stuff. But when life gets unpredictable I'm learning that I still need to make time for myself. Instead of being stuck in the cycle of work/home/sleep and repeat. I've been stuck in that cycle for too long. It gets me exhausted and it's no way to live.

I'm working at having a life that works for me. Where there is plenty of space to be me. It's no fun spending your life in a box that someone has put you in. You don't need to stay there. You don't need to fit into someones idea for your life. For me it's important to have down time. To create ways of dealing with stress in a healthy way and preferably to have less of it. Also not piling blame on yourself. Often times we need to be kinder to ourselves and in turn we'll be kinder to others.

Life doesn't need to be lived in the fast lane. There is something to be learnt from living life slow. Life to me feels more meaningful this way. In appreciating nature, walks in woods, making things and the satisfaction that brings.

At the moment to combat that I do my best to make time for things that calm me for me this looks like walks, photography, knitting, time spent with good friends, traveling.
That would equal a much happier Carole.