I believe that every single event in life happens as an opportunity to choose love over fear.” – Oprah Winfrey

Much has been said about blogs being the edited version of ourselves, but I’ve found that those blogs don’t hold my interest for very long. Sometimes you just want to know where someone is really at.

Those ‘perfect’ blogs make me wonder. If you turn the camera slightly to the left, is there a pile of laundry on the floor? Do books clutter their desk or dishes fill their sink? Is their life really a bright sparkle of creative joy complete with glitter and new crayons or do they sometimes eat tubs of ice cream or sit in the shower and cry? Can they always find a clean tea towel when they need one?

Me? I’m in a quiet headspace right now. I am experiencing a run of strange luck and I am having trouble keeping focused on what I need to do. So far 2010 has kicked my ass a little bit. My heart is tired and let me tell you folks, there are definitely dishes in my sink. So that’s where my heart is now. What about you? Where is your heart at tonight?

My brother sent me this song and said it was right up my alley. Turns out he was right! In fact, timing-wise it was just right. I hope you like it too. I’ve also got a little happiness in the works – pop back later in the week – I’ve made you a present!

xo

“Whenever you are sincerely pleased you are nourished” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

polaroid by Susannah Conway

We must have said it a dozen times over the weekend. The word ‘nourished’ tripped off of our tongues accompanied by gratitude and love. It amazes me how little we focus on nourishing ourselves – on checking in, creating meals with love, buying the best ingredients we can afford, sitting down together with thanks and awareness for our blessings – and either ignore our needs, or focus on the needs of others.

I came from a family that used to say Grace before dinner. In today’s increasingly secular western world it is a rare thing to still find someone saying a prayer over their meal. As I was sitting at our table on Saturday I felt the urge to say a word of thanks. I was overwhelmed by the effort that had gone into the meal. I wanted to say thank you to Leonie for cooking it, to the farmers for growing it, to the spirit of the plants and the animals that gave their life for it and for my friends who were sharing it with me. When you stop to think about how food gets to you, it is really quite incredible. We are so blessed.

I made a decision that day to try and remember to experience food in a more sacred way and to begin to be more consciously grateful for it. It’s quite hard at times. My piece of toast in the morning doesn’t get the same attention as a plate full of food, but it all takes practice. I firmly believe that gratitude is never wasted. I might not say a traditional prayer over my dinner, but if I can keep conscious as I eat it, I hope I can experience grace.