take a moment - dance

A friend of mine emailed me this link today and made the comment that we all need more spontaneous dancing. Hear hear! It's advertising...but very clever.

Check it out. It will lift your spirits and hopefully inspire you to kick up your heels.

a new year

I spent the day painting the front windows. When you have plenty of time, painting is a soothing thing to do. Not that I really needed soothing - I've had such a relaxing fortnight. Before Christmas, Chris and I spent four heavenly days at my sister's beach house where we were completely isolated from the outside world.

As I painted, I thought about how each year seems to go more quickly than the last. And I started to contemplate the fact that so much of my energy is spent focusing on things that don't really matter and forgetting about those that do.

I acknowledge this often but still frequently slip into old habits. I'd love to remember the stillness that I felt today all year and remind myself of how easy it is to rekindle.

I just need to make time for the simple things that fill me with lightness like walking on the beach, having a real belly laugh, trusting (rather than feeling that I need to try so hard), soaking in the bath with the candles burning, having a picnic in the park, lying on my back watching clouds, listening to music with the headphones on, sitting in my garden with a cup of tea and my book.

I hope you find time this year for the things that bring you stillness. I wish you a peaceful and happy 2009.