Not wanting something is as good as having it.
~Naval Ravikant
~Naval Ravikant
When we started strapping our bikes onto the back of our car, we started exploring all the trails + paths in + around our city. We have a map with all of the bike paths on it, and we highlighted each one after we rode it. We wanted to see them all.
At some point we started to say that we'd really just like to return to one trail. We felt like we should be more adventurous, but neither of us were ever disappointed when the other said they'd like to go there. We ride that trail under leafless trees as soon as it is warm enough not to freeze our faces. We ride it after flood waters recede + marvel at how far the river debris has been carried. We ride it laughing through the rain, because we can't be deterred. We ride it as the tall grass soars toward the sky + the milkweed swells to bursting. We stop to listen to the deafening applause of dried corn husks + to spot that bird that isn't usually there. I love riding my bike. I love feeling the power of my legs, feeling the wind scream through my helmet, seeing the snakes sunning themselves on the warm pavement, hearing the birds + squirrels chatter, dodging walnuts + osage oranges, and crunching through dried leaves. We talk to the dragonflies that accompany us + thank the tiny white flowers that cheer us on as we climb that one big hill. When we returned from visiting my dad in the hospital, I saw the 23rd Psalm that comforted him in this place. I saw the green pastures + still waters. The snake was the shadow of death we knew loomed close. And...there was a promise of rest. This place, like many in this country, bears a name that recalls some sort of massacre or conquest. At some point, we decided to rename it what it is for us: the Way of Life or the Mode de Vie. It's alive with life + death + rebirth + healing + love + interconnectedness. We love this place. It restores my soul. Love, Jane  I've always loved an advent calendar. It feels like a warm hug around the holiday season, when I fill it with intention. An advent calendar can also feel like just another thing to do + maintain. Instagram + Pinterest give us the impression that everyone is having so many magical experiences which easily translates into pressure to do more + more. I'm advocating for something different.
i made this little booklet for an advent calendar workshop i gave this week (+ for you) :) This is a great time to take a moment to think about how we want this holiday season to feel. We may be used to thinking about how we want our people (children, families, parents, partner, friends) to feel. We want to think about that too, but first let's consider how we want to feel. Maybe come up with 3 to 5 words or phrases. When you think about the holiday season ahead how do you want it to feel to you?
For some of us, our minds will go toward what we don’t want to feel first + that’s such a good starting point. Those thoughts can provide a contrast that moves us toward words that embody intention rather than dread. Next, let's think about the people that celebrate with us. How do we want our people to feel this holiday season?
When it comes to putting an advent calendar (or a holiday gathering) together, the trick is to combine these two priorities. It's impossible for me to know how those questions have been answered, but my hope is that this one thought is a relevant offering in that direction: simple pleasures.
I love to think of holidays as bringers of delight + wonder + peace + hope + connection...and my desire is that we can all experience this. Simplicity just might be the key. The things that bring joy to a small child still create delight in us as adults, if they have space to be noticed + savored. Things like taking a moonlit walk, singing loud in the car or noticing when the snowflake streetlights come on for the first time still bring me such pleasure.
This holiday season doesn’t have to be every single day making cookies or bringing a cake to the neighbors or going ice-skating. It can be fun to sprinkle a few of those activities in, but we have all winter to do these things. I've sent Happy New Year cards instead of Christmas cards, when I haven’t gotten them done in time. Valentine's Day works too! :) An advent calendar can be as simple as 25 hershey's kisses in a bowl...one for each day. It can be 25 hand written things appreciated about the recipient (extra points for silly) clipped to a ribbon. It can be a little star that moves along a path of numbers. My simple offering is to ask: What are the simplest ways that I can offer delight + ease (or whatever your priorities are) this holiday season? Whether an already-made advent calendar is waiting to be filled or a new one is about to be made, fill it with simple pleasures + prioritize the feels. Love, Jane  With finishing stitches put in as the maple tree in our yard turns blazing red + snowflakes dot the forecast, this (finished!) quilt feels right on time. This weekend, I'm:
Sounds like an outline of posts I could write. :) A few more goodies: Once in a lifetime moment. A tool for living. Tradition toward sustainability. Wishing you a weekend filled with what nourishes your soul. Love, Jane  Gratitude encourages us to recognize the quiet richness of our lives.
 This quilt has been a long time in the making. I found it as a quilt top, and I'm not sure why it was never completed by its original creator. It's possible that they weren't happy with the puckery edging, and finally gave up on fixing it.
I knew I'd like the look of the larger modern shapes alone, if I just removed the wonky edging. But as someone who has made a number of quilts + wants to be a good caretaker of this one, it was hard to decide to cut into this topper that clearly took a LOT of time to create. Another issue was that I didn't know how I wanted to use it. As it was, it was too small to cover our bed + too big to be a couch quilt. I also considered gifting it. Today was the day to make a decision. I want this thing to get used. I want to use it. I could imagine sitting under it on the couch + having it lend some golden light to the room too. So, I cut the edging + two rows off. Sitting in the sun under its weight hand stitching the binding this afternoon felt good. I listened to A Simpler Life from The School of Life while I stitched, and though I don't agree with everything in it, this quote seemed like an affirmation: It's only a sense of purpose that allows us to see how much of anything is enough. I find this helpful in finding peace in so many situations:
Sometimes the more-than-enough is what's holding us back. Love, Jane |
on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
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