Brew Slowly

I wandered around the garden this morning salvaging and replacing the remnants of last nights wind and rain.

As January draws to a close, I’m reminded of the stark, empty aspects of winter in comparison to the vibrant colourful autumn. For me, this aligns with feelings of letting something go.

The trees and plants may have let go of their flora and fruit last autumn, but they did so with purpose, with a focus on conserving their energy for these colder months, trusting the process, that spring will be along soon with its warmth and readiness for new. I’m learning so much from this natural rhythm.

Letting go of something we’ve poured so much of ourselves into can feel like stepping into the unknown. It’s hard to leave behind the familiar, especially when we’ve worked so hard to build it. But sometimes, even the things we’ve achieved, things we’ve been proud of, can start to take much more from us than they give.

Choosing to let go isn’t about giving up, it’s not about failure, it’s about you saying ‘I deserve health and peace’.

It’s not always easy, and it may come with its challenges and uncertainties, but when you choose to let go of what no longer serves you well, you’re making a brave and compassionate decision for yourself.

As winter teaches us, renewal comes when we rest and make space for it.

What are you holding onto that’s no longer good for you? What would it feel like to let it go?

Be kind to yourself if you’re stepping into a new season of your life.

Winter, at its core, invites us to sink into a slower pace, but it’s not always easy to let go of the pressure to be busy.

Today’s societal norm for speed and being permanently available, leaves us feeling burnt out yet anxious and uncomfortable to slow down. We fear judgement of being lazy, of not being enough.

But rest isn’t laziness, it’s essential nourishment for our mental and physical health. Just as trees conserve their energy in winter, we need to give our mind and body permission to rest, reflect, and replenish.

Find small ways to make space for rest. It could be curling up with a book, going for a quiet walk, looking away from your screen for two minutes or simply sitting still for a moment without feeling guilty (my husband is still learning to do this!).

Slowing down isn’t about falling behind, it’s about inviting in what your body and mind need right now.

How will you make space to rest today?

The middle of the week can bring a sense of overwhelm. Have I done enough? Am I running out of time? Will I get this finished? Familiar?…

Let’s take a little time today to slow down and check in with ourselves. How am I feeling? What do I need right now? What do I need less of? What can wait?

There’s something powerful in taking the time to reset in this way when we’re overwhelmed. Maybe today’s reset is as simple as giving yourself permission to let go of one thing that doesn’t really need your energy today.

Midweek resets don’t have to be big, they just need to be intentional. Pause, breathe deeply, exhale slowly, let go of just one thing… Reset.

How will you reset today?

Finding Balance…

As we settle into the week, it’s easy to let busyness, demands and worry take over, our to do list grows and the pace quickens. Finding balance isn’t about how we do it all; it’s about knowing when to pause, what to leave for now.

This January, I’ve needed to take a cue from the season. This winter has taught me the value of slowing down and conserving my energy, ‘wintering’. Even in the middle of a busy day, I find small moments to pause and reset.

Find your balance; between tasks or if you’re swamped by worrying thoughts, take a minute to sit and breathe deeply. Let your shoulders drop and your mind settle. If you can get outside for a moment, feel the cool winter air on your face. These short pauses can help you re-focus and feel more grounded, calmer..

Balance isn’t about perfection, fitting it all in; you can find balance by consciously adding rest into your day, one small moment at a time. How will you find your balance today?

Monday mornings in January…. Are you one of many feeling a bit heavy from the cold, the darkness, and the lingering dampness of winter?

We fall out of bed and on autopilot we rush straight into the demands of Monday. Instead of jumping into the week, try starting your day a little more slowly.

Open the curtains and take even just a minute to notice the peace and quiet of winter, open a window or go outside with your coffee, stretch, look up, slowly and deeply breathe in the crisp air, notice nature, dormant, resting, feel the soft rain, let it wake you up slowly.

Connect your body and mind to the natural rhythm of the season and the day, start your week feeling grounded and calm.

This week, try setting your alarm a few minutes earlier, let winter remind you to ease in.

How will you start your mornings this week?

🥰

Sadness came to tea last night
as she’s often done before
but I didn’t let her in this time
I stopped her at the door

“I’m off to meet with friends”, I said
“your timing isn’t right
I can’t allow your atmosphere
it’s not the place tonight”

but sadness wouldn’t take the hint
her manners lack finesse
her pace was slow and heavy
yet she kept up nonetheless

and even when I took my place
amongst my laughing friends
she squeezed herself right in-between
her boldness never ends

and I was sure my friends would see
this spectre at the feast
and somehow think me lesser
for inviting such a beast

but no, their warmth was undeterred
as if nothing was new
I think perhaps they know by now
I sometimes come as two

and even sadness seemed to glow
a lighter shade of grey
to know that she’s accepted
seemed to lighten up her day

so let your sad accompany you
don’t think her hard to bear
no need to face her all alone
just pull an extra chair.

Donna Ashworth
‘Sadness comes’

From Growing Brave 🌱

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/0h6ASuCQ
US: https://a.co/d/cboRlcn

The art is by Galya Popova

Much love to all, let us strive to be kinder to ourselves and others.

Sundays can feel bittersweet. A day we’re meant to rest, Sunday often brings a creeping sense of anxiety about the week ahead. The ‘Sunday Scaries’ regularly find their way into our house.

If you’re feeling that familiar tension, remind yourself you don’t have to face the whole week all at once. For now, all you need to do is focus on today, this moment. Sunday is still here, giving you precious pockets of time to slow down, breathe and renew your energy.

Here’s a short mindfulness practice you can try this evening to ease into the week ahead:

Find a quiet, comfortable spot to sit or lie down.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose, slowly exhale.

Bring your attention to your body. Notice the way it’s supported by the chair or floor beneath you. Feel the weight of your hands resting in your lap or by your sides.

Imagine yourself holding a warm cup of tea or coffee. Picture the steam rising, feel the gentle warmth of the cup against your palms.

With every breath in, imagine the warmth spreading through your body, calming your chest and any knots in your stomach, as you slowly exhale soften your shoulders and relax your jaw letting any tension go.

Say to yourself, I don’t need to deal with everything right now. I am safe, I am calm, and I will take tomorrow one step at a time

When you’re ready, slowly open your eyes.

Take this Sunday to recognise and commit to your need for rest. Let go of worrying about tomorrow and focus on the quiet moments you have right now.

How do you find pockets of rest on a Sunday?

Most mornings, especially on Saturdays, I spend 30 minutes in our dojo at home, 20 practicing Tai Chi and 10 for yoga. These flowing movements help me feel grounded and connected to my energy in a way that’s both calm and strong.

Tai Chi teaches us that strength doesn’t always come from force, it can come from softness, balance, and moving with intention. Each slow, deliberate movement encourages us to work with our energy, not against it.

It’s a lesson we can take off the mat too. Moving more slowly doesn’t mean we’re being lazy, it’s where we can find strength, clarity, and balance. It’s a good reminder to try to flow through a moment rather than pushing or rushing.

How can you bring mindful flow into your day? Maybe it’s moving with intention, focussing on your breath, or simply pressing the pause button to stop and reconnect with yourself.

Fridays…. As another January week comes to an end, it’s easy to feel the push and pull of everything that still needs to be done; work expectations, the washing and ironing, cleaning, food shopping! Weekends can quickly fill up with catching up and racing to tick things off the to do list.

But even in the thick of the busyness, look for those small moments just for you. Pause with your cup of tea before rushing to the next thing. I love a wander in the garden with my first coffee of the day, still in pyjamas, slippers and a coat! Sit or stand for five minutes quietly, noticing what’s around you. Breathe deeply, slowly, let yourself rest, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Rest doesn’t have to be elaborate. You can find it in those tiny pauses where you simply stop, breathe and ‘be’.

This weekend, see if you can create space for a few of these moments; moments that remind you to slow down and care for yourself, even in the middle of all the fun and games.

How will you make space for rest this weekend?

BrewSlowly

I was late cutting back the shrubs in my garden last year. Walking around the garden with a cup of tea this morning I noticed how straggly and messy they looked, and needing order in life I felt a strong urge to cut back and tidy them up. Against my norm, I’m resisting because I know winter isn’t the right time. Trimming them back now would weaken them, what they need is to rest in their messiness until spring.

It got me thinking about how we can feel the same way. In winter, we might feel restless, noticing areas of our lives that look and feel “messy” and wanting to make big changes. But just like the straggly shrubs in my garden, perhaps consider that now is a time to pause, save energy, and be patient.

Winter provides us with an opportunity to nurture ourselves quietly, saving our energy for when we’re ready to come out into spring. It’s okay to hold off on big, energy demanding decisions or projects for now. Trust that the right time for change will come, in the same way spring always does.

What are you waiting patiently for? Are there areas of your life where you can let things rest for now?

As a confident introvert, this resonates deeply with me. I’ve learned to accept and lean into the ebb and flow of my energy and the importance of creating plenty of safe, calm spaces where I can retreat to be myself and power up again. It’s not about being shy, moody, unsociable (despite some people perceiving that!); it’s about protecting my peace, my health.

If you’re an introvert, what helps you feel safe enough to be your authentic self?