Today is Day 19 of 31 Days to a Healthier Lifestyle. The prompt for #5MFW #write31days is the word notice. It is still early on this Wednesday morning. I am sitting at my daughter’s kitchen table enjoying a cup of tea. Part of a healthy lifestyle is taking time to sit quietly and listen. What can I notice as I sit here?
With the house usually full of the sounds of five children, it seems eerily quiet right now. My daughter left to drop them off at school, and then she’s off to work for a client of her landscape business. This gives me a rare chance of being alone before heading home later this morning.
The sun has not made much of an appearance yet. In fact it is still fairly dark outside, though I hear the rooster crowing. The only other noise is when acorns fall and hit the metal roof, sometimes with quite a bang. Inside the only sound I notice is the computer fan.
It’s getting brighter now and more birds are joining the rooster in song. I’m reminded of this poem I wrote about the dawn.
Dawn
Sky first glimmers pale
Shadows become clear
Grip of darkness wanes
Daylight’s time is near
Waking from slumber
Robin and sparrow
Sing morning songs with
Wood thrush and crow
Early morning light
Burning brighter still
As the sphere of fire
Peeks above the hill
Sometimes we need to take a break from busyness and learn to be still. This is an important part of a healthy lifestyle that is often overlooked. You may think you don’t have time, but surely you can spare 1 to 5 minutes. It doesn’t take much to pause and refocus before getting back to work.
Can you take a few minutes today to be still and listen? If you do I’d love for you to share what you hear. You may be surprised at how much better you will feel.
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What a peaceful post you have written! It was calming to read through. It made me feel at rest. I loved the views you had this morning, lingering over your tea. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you, Judy! I’m glad you felt the peace and rest. Great to have you “visit” this morning.
Blessings to you!
Be still and know that I am God!
AMEN, Tara! Blessings to you, dear friend! xo
What a beautiful place for your morning tea! Last night I was so thankful to have left my window blind slightly ajar so that the glimmering moon shone onto my bed all night long. What a help that sliver of light was to me! And you are so right that it’s when we take a moment to notice those things, we receive a boost to our well-being! –Blessings and Hugs!
It was beautiful, Bettie, and just what I needed this morning. I love to have my curtains open a little at night so I can see the moon and stars, though right now my bed isn’t next to a window so I don’t see much except when the moon is full. At my daughter’s, though, the moon shone right down on the bed and it was lovely.
Many blessings to you along with hugs! xo
Today every time I tried to be still I fell asleep. I guess I noticed that I am tired. lol
You must have been pretty tired, Susan. Sometimes we don’t realize how tired we are until we stop, do we? I’m glad you were able to get a bit of rest. That’s important, too. 🙂
Blessings to you!
This day and age it is a real challenge to be still, in the quiet. Even in the quiet we hear our electronics beep, ring, vibrate and we wonder who? what? where? In order for me to really listen for HIM – everything must be turned off except my heart open and on for Him to speak.
Yes, it is definitely a challenge. It’s hard to get away where there is no noise at all, but we can turn off unnecessary things, right? That’s why I love to go upstairs to my rocking chair by the window. I light a candle and the only sounds come from outdoors.
Have a great rest of the week, Susan. Many blessings to you! xo
Oh YES and Amen Gayl! There is nothing like a good view and quiet space to restore the soul– my favorite part of the day is sitting near the window with my bible and watching the world wake up. Brings to mind Psalm 23… and I love your poem! Happy to be neighboring with you at #freshmarketfriday!
I also have a spot by the window where I read the Bible and pray. I used a rocking chair that was my mom’s and I have a table that was my grandmother’s. I love sitting there where I can see the outdoors when I spend time with God.
Glad you like the poem!
Blessings to you!
Beautiful! I love your poem! 🙂
Thanks so much, Sarah! Blessings to you!
Hi, visiting from the link up at 3dlessons4life. I really enjoy the quiet of morning too. Being still is a gift we too often do not take advantage of. The Lord meets us in the stillness with so many blessings. I love your poem capturing the beauty of the morning. I love the contrast of the noise of children and the silence allowing the sounds of nature to be heard at the beginning of this post. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of quiet stillness.
Thank you, Cheryl, for your kind words and encouragement! I have to keep reminding myself of the importance of being still and quiet. It does have so many benefits for us.
I’m rarely up early enough in the morning to enjoy the waking up sounds of the outdoors, but I’d like to change that. I just need to get myself to bed earlier so I can enjoy the early morning quietness without losing sleep. 🙂
Blessings to you! Have a great week ahead.