When things get a little topsy turvy around here and I stop to ponder on the chaos that is, I most often than not find myself reflecting on the rhythm of our days and weeks. Sometimes it's that the rhythm needs tweaking as feelings and needs dictate and sometimes it means an all together change is in order as life's little adventures present themselves. A changing rhythm takes a wee period of adjustment for this Mama. It reminds me of when Miss Zahra was a toddler and we'd settle into some form of rhythm and routine with daytime naps, mealtimes, getting out and about, 'mama'-time, study...and all the rest that goes hand in hand with family life, and one small change or developmental milestone reached would throw that peaceful, 'knowing what's coming at you ' kind of rhythm into disarray for a short time. One certainly learns the art of flexibility when living with small people. Through all the changes that our daily walk through life has taken us, there have remained a few contants, small things of comfort that make the transition to a different rhythm smoother. Small things that stand firm in times of flux. The first thing that comes to my mind is comfort food, or even the act of preparing comfort food. I've noticed I head straight to the kitchen and my preferred method of comfort food preparation, baking, when life is throwing me a curveball. I've now discovered that one of my all time 'don't feel like preparing dinner' favourites can be baked. It's pure genius. So I've been thinking about it over the past week and have come up with a list of little things of comfort. In no particular order here's my shortlist...
Black and Greens Mayan Spice Dark Chocolate
Clean Laundry
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Fresh cut flowers throughout the house
Popcorn
A cup of tea
A very new favourite... homemade berry frozen yoghurt
sitting in sunshine
King Island Double Brie
a hug
hot soup with crusty bread
walking in the bush
freshly baked bread
being in the mountains
flourless chocolate cake still warm from the oven
rain
gardening
family meal time
making
moving to music
and generally slowing down
What small things bring you comfort?