Soft. Simple. Spacious. Serene.

Words to live by, when I remember.

Happy Sunday friends! Just a short note and photo today.

There is this little book, maybe you have heard of it or even watched the Netflix show, about finding joy in your home.

The author, who I will not name in case it makes you stop reading (naturally there are some haters and some who just think it’s ridiculous…) asked me to first stop and meditate on the way I wanted to feel in my space. The prompt, if I remember correctly, was to resonate with feelings, words, and visuals. I have experience doing these kinds of inner reflections and journaling exercises from many years of yoga retreats, so my words came through in a clear, knowing voice: Soft. Simple. Spacious. Serene.

I came across this “life-changing magic” when my kids were both under the age of five and therefore my house and life felt a little out of control. I’d never been a homebody, and this idea of making a home/making a family wasn’t easy for me.

I think of this now because, ten years later, the shared family calendar tells me that today is blocked out for “Spring Cleaning.” What that implies, in the modern era, is getting rid of stuff. Clearing out some of the overabundance. Making space for soft, spacious, and serene.

Yesterday afternoon, a Friday at the end of a typically full week, I took a long walk to enjoy the sunshine, then was messing around on my yoga mat. It took me a little while to get settled. My phone was handy, which doesn’t help, but did mean I took the photo above and sent it to a friend who has been on my mind.

I like the photo. It reminds me of something I heard, or maybe read, in my 20s when I first really dove into concepts of mindfulness, meditation, and paying attention: Noticing shadows and reflections is a gateway. These regular, common plays-of-light are invitations, portals, and opportunities to be more aware, more grounded in the moment, and more present with the reality and beauty of the world as we move through.

Let the things that catch your eye be a sign.

Allow the little things to have meaning. Take a deep breath. Wiggle your toes. Pay attention.

Soft. Simple. Spacious. Serene. I forget, and then I remember, and then I forget. It’s like that. But I continue to be grateful to Marie Kondo’s invitation, which has only gotten more relevant as the years have gone by, to pay attention to the way that our private and personal spaces influence our lives. Create the space that invites you to be the person you want to be. Make your space a place that will reflect the life you will be grateful for, like the simple play of light on the wall.

Ok, and with that reminder to myself, I’m off to do some spring cleaning. Thanks as always for reading!

PS: The Holderness Family videos make me laugh out loud. This one will explain Marie Kondo’s philosphy and the New York Times bestseller “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.”