Today I had the choice: stay inside and continue to feel tired, unsettled and irritated by the mess in the house, or go out and do something for me.
Somewhat begrudgingly, I strapped the baby in her carrier and walked out the front door, hiking up in to the canyon near our house. We spent time in the woods, looking at the leaves blowing in the wind, feeling the air from the ocean ripple across the path. I reminded myself it was just one step at a time and I could stop when I got too tired.
My baby ended up falling asleep in my arms just as the sun was setting, so I found a beautiful spot on the edge of a hill to sit down on the earth and watch the sun go down over the ocean. I could feel the nourishment of the earth pouring in to me and became present to the sounds of the birds, frogs, and wind all around me. I just sat there in silence; listening, watching, opening. Connecting deeper and deeper in to the earth with each breath. I allowed the layers to unravel and just be with whatever needed to let go, and it became a beautiful space of pure love. It was in that space that we sat, cuddled together, feeling deeply nourished and replenished.
Its amazing how a simple shift in setting can do wonders for our bodies, minds, and hearts. Sometimes all it takes is a simple choice to walk out the door.