Calm

Calmness is not a character trait, it's simply a skill. You have to decide that it matters; that the quality of your presence would be better if you slowed yourself down and were really connected to people and to the moment you are living in. Then you practise until gradually it becomes part of you. It benefits everyone around you - they feel peaceful and happy in your presence...It's well worth cultivating.
Calmness is made up of certain actions - breathing deeper, dropping your shoulders, settling your muscles, feeling your feet strongly planted on the ground, focusing your thoughts on the job in hand in a steady, easy way... Even just counting three or four breaths, in and out, will slow your heart beat and calm your mind down...
...Everything is better - the taste of food, the scent of flowers, the feel of the shower warm on your skin. You will find that time slows down and you can think more...

From Raising Girls by Steve Biddulph page 20

I love the idea of calm. But I am not by definition a very calm person.
But in amidst the chaos that was this past week, I decided to try harder. To make a conscious effort to be a calmer person and make a calmer home.

Here's my calm list so far;

• exercise for half an hour a day
• go to bed a little earlier each night to read
• try to get organised for the next morning the night before
• be conscious of lowering my shoulders
• pick my battles carefully
• make time for each of my girls and their homework (as much as I disagree with it)
• try to clear and clean out our home space
• breath deeply
• try to stick to the to do list
• try to be organised with food and laundry
• keep an up to date calender for all to see
• fill in and send back school notes as soon as I get them
• try not to feel other people's feelings for them 

I think it will be a bit of a work in progress. Some items will be easier to stick to than others. But I am on to it and looking forward to seeing some changes around here.

I did entertain the thought of writing out my crazy list too. The list of things spinning around my head at the moment threatening to make me hyperventilate and fall over, but I decided not to. The crazy gets enough of my time and head space, I need to restrict it. I need to control my crazy and concentrate on calm. Yes I do.

How about you? Do you keep calm amidst the crazy chaos?

Is my list the same as your list? Do you have a list? Do you need one?

Do you have some extra tips for me to add to mine?

I hope you have the most wonderful weekend friends.

I hope it smells divine, tastes delicious and feels fabulous.

Bye xx