Experience Joy In Everyday Moments
with Small Pauses
Hello Friends! I can’t believe how quickly the summer is flying by! I’ve been soaking in the sunshine as much as I can. Our summers are much too short to not live fully in nature before winter arrives. If you are experiencing summer, I hope you are drinking in all her warmth and easy pace as well.
We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we'll also have a lot more joy in living."
Thich Nhat Hanh
Small Pauses Bring Joy!
Today, I want to touch on a topic near and dear to my heart. It’s the act of taking small pauses everyday to live more presently. As you know life can get complicated and filled with long to do lists. Time speeds by and before you know it, some days become blurred with your focus only on the business of life.
I have always taken note of small daily occurrences, but a number of years ago I decided to be more mindful of these moments. They have proven to be especially nurturing and joyful when life throws you curve balls. But in general they provide small gestures of joy and delight that culminate into feelings of deep gratitude for the simplicity of life.
A pause slows down our busy day and brings us back to a present moment. It brings us back to joy and groundedness, that only mindfulness can provide.
So What do Small Pauses Entail?
They are an array of varied moments, small delights, reflections, visual beauty, a sense of awe that come in many forms. They create a small moment of ease and delight for a short time and can often be noted as incidental happenings.
They make us aware of the small events in our every day lives we might overlook if we were not conscious of their presence. Small Pauses can easily be overlooked. They are not loud occurrences and often present themselves in a subtle manner.
You must possess a heightened awareness in order to experience their beauty. Like cultivating a garden, they are seedlings that over time present a bounty of joy and awareness.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
― Mary Oliver
Many of my pauses are directly related to my connection with nature. Whether it be observing delightful occurrences such as a hummingbird whizzing past my window, reading nature related poetry or being immersed in nature while I draw or paint.
I thought I would share a few of my Small Pauses here from time to time. I would love if you shared a few of yours as well in the comments below. They can be minute or longer stretches of time. The important point, is to be present.
So tell me, “What moments of delight or joy have you witnessed today?”
P.S. Years ago I kept a Blog documenting my Small Pauses. You can read my archived Blog Here.
P.P.S If you are on Instagram, I host the tag #smallpauses. Feel free to tag yours!
A High Perch
Written reflection and painting created on location in Powell’s Pt. Provincial Park, Nova Scotia. These are longer pauses I experience while working on location that I have come to yearn for—-they bring so much joy!
Below you will also find an audio recording of yours truly reading my reflection. I hope you enjoy!
Audio Reading of “A High Perch”
A High Perch
After cooler days, it is a joy to welcome summer temperatures again. I have trudged through a rickety pathway with my painting gear to arrive at one of my favorite views in the park. The distance is muted with the morning's haze. While the rising sun flicks merrily along the ocean's surface, happily touching crests of water. Seagulls dart about enthused with nature's gentle day.
I have set life aside and entered nature's world and easy rhythm. Her ignorance of man made time is a welcome relief. I will follow her lead today and gracefully move from one moment to the next.
Debbie Lamey-MacDonald ©
Wishing you lovely Small Pauses in the coming days! May they bring moments of joy and clarity.
Warmly,
Debbie xx
Special Offer: A High Perch is available on my website with a special offer for my valued Subscribers, before I mention it on social media. You can find details here.
Wild and Free, 14x11in. Oil on cradled wood panel. Painted from Direct Observation. Available here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me.