Life is full of joy and pain…and a whole lot of in-between.

Every day feels jam packed from the moment our feet hit the ground in the morning, to the moment our heads hit the pillow. Sometimes the day ends and you wonder “where did this day go?” Nothing was remarkably amazing or horrible, it just kind of happened. These days happen more often than we like to admit and they can feel discouraging.

I’ve blogged in the past about living inside of a healthy tension. Which boils down to living somewhere in the middle of doing and being.

I’ve conditioned myself to thrive off doing. Getting things done and putting those red checks or highlights on my tasks. It feels really good to get things done and make progress. But I’ve also given a conscious effort to growing in the satisfaction of being. Growing in this way has required becoming deliberately aware of the good that is around me - the little things that bring happiness.

It requires slowing down and not pushing so much to get things done that there isn't time to stop and enjoy the fruit of your labor.

There is this song that we like playing and singing to our boys by John Lennon call Beautiful Boy. It has this line in it that stands out as a good reminder for me; “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

Life is happening right now (even as I write this blog). It’s so important to stop doing, be still, and enjoy the things around me. This blog is a collection of little things. Normal and seemingly insignificant pieces of my life that bring quick little bursts of happiness and remind me to stop and enjoy life instead of moving on to the next thing.

I’m sharing these with you in hopes that they will help you find things that pull you out of the busyness of life and encourage you to just be.

An Inspiring Workspace

The things on my desk bring me inspiration. They remind me of the reasons why I work. Just like life, things pile up and need to be taken care of. I love working hard in my space while seeing my boys’ art, their lego bits, notes, and reminders of the kind of person I want to be.

As the day goes on, my workspace gets filled with work papers, index cards with notes, and the boys’ school pages. It’s a constant reminder that things are happening and that things need to be done. Having items that pull me out of “go mode” and prompt me to have patience, be open to interruptions, and give my time freely to the ones I love helps me strike a healthy balance between doing and being.

The Back Yard

Whether in the frigid winter or the heat of summer, I spend a good amount of time in our back yard every single day. Over time, we’ve put a lot of work into these spaces. In some ways, it’s a lot of extra work to maintain and keep the space clear and livable. But having the freedom to walk outside barefoot, spend time in the garden, sit in our hammock swing, or having an impromptu lunch while the boys play brings so much joy. It allows space to stop and simply enjoy life together with my family.

Nightstands

For the longest time, we never had official night stands. We used stools, bookshelves turned sideways, or anything else we could find to hold our lamps, provide a place to charge our phones, or anything else that’s needed next to your bed. We don’t frequently buy a lot of new furniture pieces for our home, but we recently splurged and bought two matching nightstands for our bedroom. They’re the perfect additions that add to the enjoyment of simple moments - starting my day, diffusing oils, or getting ready for bed.

The Boys’ Room

I love my boys. I love them having access to the things they enjoy and make them happy. We remember our childhood spaces so vividly. We all spend a lot of time in this room cleaning up messes, talking about our motivations and actions, playing pirates and Star Wars, and reading together. I hope that they look back at their room as a place of imagination, love, and rest.

Chickens

In 2020, we brought 6 chicks home and raised them to be full-grown, energetic, egg-laying chickens. Each one of these ladies has their own unique personality. They’re a lot of work every day - but isn’t everything that’s worthwhile? In the last month, we’ve lost two of our chickens to sickness. Somehow, these little friends have not only provided food and companionship, but they’ve taught us about how delicate life is and to enjoy our moments with the littlest of things.

Garden

I’ve always enjoyed plants and working in the garden. A few years ago, I started a single raised box garden in our back yard. Each year since then, we’ve added more boxes and expanded our garden. I love being able to step outside and spend time digging in the earth, observing slow growth, and caring for each member of the garden. It’s an ongoing process of learning, keeping out pests, and exercising proper timing.

Hutch

Everything from the experience of buying this hutch with my friend back in 2008, to the collection of nicknacks around my Granny’s china - this section of our dining room causes me to pause with thankfulness and gratitude for the people in my life and the growth over the years.

Kid’s Books

It makes me happy to have supplies and the things you need at your fingertips. I keep this collection of books accessible to our boys. It makes me happy to see them paging through them on the floor in our living room.

Kitchen

Our kitchen is small. There’s no pantry, minimal counter space, and hardly any cabinets. But you don’t need any of those things to find joy in this room. I love the open view of back yard. It allows me to watch our boys play while we’re cooking, see the garden, and observe the chickens exploring in their coup. In the spring and fall, we open the windows and let the cool air in. It’s a small space, everyone stepping over each other, but we all find ways to work together and have fun.

Monica

There are no words! This dog has been the most amazing companion for the last 10 years. She’s loyal, kind, gentle, sleepy, snuggly, and the bestest friend you could ever ask for. She’s such a big part of our lives and she brings joy and love wherever she goes.

Photo Wall

Over the years, friends and family have contributed pieces of art to my photo wall. Some of these are original pieces created by amazingly talented friends. Others are from those who know how much I love plants and birds and have gifted framed art. I love looking at this wall and remembering the amazing people I have in my life who have all contributed to my life in significant ways.

Plants

By now, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that plants and nature bring me a lot of joy. This ever-growing green corner of our living room gives me life and energy. I love seeing them grow and respond to their environment. Some of these I’ve picked out myself, others have been gifts. Caring for them and seeing them thrive makes me so happy.

Watering the Plants

At the end of a hard day of yard work, I love taking the hose and watering down everything. It makes everything feel fresh and happy. I love seeing the wet grass and the drops of water falling off the plants.

Yoga

I try to do yoga every day. Most of the time it ends up being about 5 days a week. I love it so much. It feels good to take a few minutes to care for my body and stretch.

| Credits: Author & Photography - Jacintha Payne & Ali Henderson |