Soulful Sunday #12: Slow Down

Welcome to my twelfth instalment of ‘Soulful Sundays’. A weekly share where I post a roundup of soulful reflections, each including recipes, songs, quotes, blogs I have read and/or any other inspirational discoveries to sooth the soul.

For me, Sunday’s have become a day of quiet contemplation and simple pleasures. A time to reflect on the week gone by and to consider my hopes and dreams for the week ahead.

My hope is to extend some love outward and to share some simple pleasures with anyone who cares to receive them.

Soul Reflections

Finding the balance between Doing and Being is something I wish to focus my attention towards more in 2017. That, as well as CONNECTION, which I blogged about on my website in my recent post: 3 Tips To Get Clear About The New Year.

But why do we often feel guilty when taking time out from our busy schedules? Why, as a nation, are we so addicted to Doing? I’m not immune to it myself, but I will be making space to find more balance this year. I want to be CONNECTED to Life. To feel and connect with each moment, each breath, every experience good and bad. And I know that the only way to achieve this is through my mindfulness practice. Part of which involves spending time in nature.

So wherever you are on this sacred Sunday, slow down. Breathe. Take a guilt free moment to simply Be. Whilst it is important to ‘get stuff done’; it is equally important to embrace the art of leaving things ‘undone.’

Soul Strolls

This week saw my partner and I take a camping trip to Yanakie by Wilsons Prom. My blogger friend and favourite travel writer, Miriam Blaker at Out an’ About  inspired me to travel there after seeing her beautiful images and camping trip documented here.

As I walked along the beech, I thought of Miriam and how wonderful it was to be walking the same shoreline she walked, taking photos of the same skyline she admired, and sharing my dreams and wishes to the same vast ocean she undoubtedly spoke to from her heart. I have connected with Miriam within this colourful community of beautiful online bloggers, but walking in Miriam’s footsteps felt both whimsical and magical, as though connected by nature itself. I know one day we shall share a red wine and some great food somewhere in the great outdoors. In the meantime, I will be traversing her footsteps across time and space as I continue to be inspired by the beautiful places she has travelled within Melbourne; the perfect travel brochure for an English rookie like me!

Here are just a handful of the wonderful sunset pictures we captured at Yanakie.

Yanakie shoreline

Beautiful sunset at Yanakie

My little Jellyfish friend xx

Writing my dreams in the sand for the ocean to envelope

Mark admiring the sunset

Trying to get my sandals back on hehe

Soul Food

We have been experiencing some extreme heat in Melbourne, and the other week it was extremely muggy and hot with rain breaking through here and there. With the humidity I needed something easy and quick to prepare so I made this Rainbow Chili Couscous in under fifteen minutes. It was delicious!

Soul Sounds

This week I am sharing a meditation track called ‘I Know The Trees’ so that you can drift off to the sounds of nature. You can find it on Spotify by clicking on this link here.

Soul Sisters

Today I am sharing Deb’s gratitude post from  Once Upon A Hot Flash. I just love Deb, she is such a shining ray of sunshine and if you haven’t come across her Daily Gratitude posts yet, then head over to her blog. Gratitude is something we can all foster in 2017, and Deb is the perfect lady to remind you to express gratitude for the simple pleasures in life!

And on that note I wish to say thank you to my blogger friends, to connections old and new, and to embracing the art of ‘Being’.

In love and light

Hayley xx