on simplicity

I choose a simple life. Today my goal was to make candles, and I did. Sweet beeswax candles are one of my favorite things in the world. Apparently I’m fairly predictable on this candlemaking thing.

It’s ironic that I live in the midst of a busy downtown neighborhood. Cars whiz past our house all day long, and we find shelter in the small pleasures of the home. The kids play in our little backyard, exploring nature in whatever small ways they can, and I might sit nearby carving or knitting.

In the simple days, we can focus on the learning of a new letter, on the making of candles, or the space and time for free unstructured play. What a gift to be able to give my children: the gift of play.

I choose not to run from here to there, dropping off and picking up. We have hours and days without anything planned or anywhere to be. We have fallen into a sweet little rhythm over here. One that allows us to be at home a little more than we used to be. And I’m not kidding myself into thinking that it will always be this way.  I know everything changes.

Honestly, I’m a bit of a hermit and would gladly spend days alone at home, and never get bored. I know my children are not like that.

I had completely forgotten that my word of the year was simplicity. I’d say about four weeks ago, this surreal sense of calm overtook me. Now really, life with children is anything but calm. But somehow, I have managed to find the calm in the midst of it. For now anyway.

It has taken me a long time to get here, to this place of intentionality, but it feels so good and comfortable.

As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude; poverty will not be poverty; nor weakness weakness. ~Henry David Thoreau