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

 

Soulful Sundays #9: Creativity & Connection

Welcome to my ninth 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

This week in Melbourne it’s the Untitled Literary Festival; five libraries, nineteen events and seven days of guest Authors, speakers, and creatives. A dream for anyone who loves the written word. As you can imagine, my diary is pretty booked out this week!

Surrounded by so much inspiration and talent, it got me pondering what it is that I love so much about the literary world and creative expression, in any form really.  For me, it always falls back to the same four fundamental components: connection, exploration, inspiration and imagination. I realise that not everyone may write or create for the same reasons, but for me, these four elements embody my love of creativity and writing.

Connection: Through my writing journey, I have found great connection with countless souls, many whom I consider great mentors and friends. And yes! That includes YOU! Most importantly, I have found connection with my Self. That inner voice of truth that often becomes buried beneath the mental chatter and confusion.

Exploration: Writing is an exploration of the soul. An excavation process, if you will. And the treasures we uncover provide the inspiration for creativity. Through our creative journey, we explore our inner and outer worlds with a sense of newness and wonder.

Inspiration: Inspiration can arrive in many forms, a verbal queue, a fleeting moment, the quiet whispers of our souls, a glaringly obvious recognition, a song, an image, a scene…inspiration is everywhere. We must simply be open to receiving it.

Imagination: Once inspired – or as Wayne Dyer would say; ‘In spirit‘ our boundless imaginations are set free.  Imagination is creativity’s playground.

Whenever I feel creatively blocked, I know it is because I have lost connection in some way, with myself or with others. Once I reconnect – exploration, imagination and inspiration just seem to flow. What are your reason’s for writing/expressing your creativity? What are the core pillars that keep you connected to your truth?

Soul Strolls

Here are a couple of snaps taken on my daily walks this week. Summer is arriving here in Melbourne, and my what a beautiful summer it is. Longer evenings, warmer weather and glorious flowers in full bloom.

Soul Food

Anyone who knows me will know that I am slightly (very) obsessed with peanut butter. I recommend natural, whole-food peanut butters over conventional peanut butters, which usually contain added sugars! So when I found this healthy (yes healthy) vegan peanut butter ice-cream recipe, I had to share. Did someone say peanut butter ice-cream? Yep – she sure did! Nom nom nom.

Soul Sounds

This week I am sharing a piano track for focus named Sleeping Lotus by Joep Beving. I love the sound of the piano, this track is beautiful to listen to whilst in the bath, house cleaning, or simply relaxing and of course, whilst being creative.
**for some reason I cannot embed the track at the moment, so if you use the link for now, I will attempt to embed the video again tomorrow.

Soul Brothers

Today I am sharing A Wish For Writers by Charles French over at Charles French Words Reading and Writing. A simple yet inspiring message of hope for us to persevere with our creativity.

May you all be blessed on this creatively inspired Sunday,

In love and light,

Hayley xx