Be where your feet are. A year for seeking stillness and letting go.

Christmas evening walk. And this was my view.

Cotton strips in brick red, powder blue, ocher and brown. So beautifully still and seemed to bring me moments of peace and slowness. I found them a week ago in a small shop where I usually buy sewing cloths. Seeing them, I decided they would make a great addition to my Christmas tree ornaments. So I had spread them on my old working table, turned them into thin strips and replaced my ordinary rustic strings on glass baubles and brass bells. I always get a thirst for creation and creativity before Christmas time. But I also get a desire for rest, for walks, for peace, for slowing down, for going to countryside to be with my family, for reading books with a cup of hot tea, for pulling out warm blanket, turning off the lights and lighting another beeswax candle. I'll admit, last three weeks with all the decorating and making ornaments and creating gifts for my little one, it is starting to feel a bit overwhelming.

Therefore, after all this creativity and creation, I indulged in slowing down. And right now I'm still enjoying Christmas lights and talking with my loved ones. In all that creation, in all these waking tales I write, in all these ways to simplicity, rests my story. A story of me, of my life in pictures and words as I wander through all these nature and life seasons. Stories interwoven between well known hills and meadows, but also many stories from hills and meadows I'm still getting to know. Stories of motherhood and finding great love in that season of life. Stories of seeking and finding ways to simplify this life and home I live in. Stories of love, of sorrows, of all the paths life brings. Many of those stories, many parts of me started here. Where I'm standing now. On this tiny hill, with views of plum orchard, far away forests, pastures and winter fields. I have spent this Christmas by slowing down sitting in a kitchen with peaceful air, drinking ginger tea, looking at the thick fog outside, soaking all these loved ones smiles. And it was beautiful. And I was present in those moments, really present. And beyond grateful. And between those moments of stillness and slowing down, being intentionally away from Instagram and my blog too, I captured myself thinking about days ahead of me, year ahead of us. Listening to people deciding on some goals, of wanting something more of in this new year, of doing more, reaching more. And I realized I do not want more of doing unnecessary stuff, more of running after some goals and fulfilling some written resolutions. I want more of stillness, of learning how to nurture myself and my family, more of embracing rest and not feeling guilty over it, more of letting go and being present in these simple, mundane moments. More of simple life.

I'll strive to be where my feet are.

To hear my kettle whistling and watch warm water pouring in my cup.

To stop and see those crimson red apples in autumn orchards.

To seek for wonders between brown meadows,

for that doe gaze in a far away valley and for birds chirping in winter groves.

To read when I read.

To hug and to kiss.

To listen and embrace.

To be present with what is.

To simply live and to simply be.

And in all that, I know I'll fail sometimes. But I intend to rise up and start again. To fight for that presence of mine and for seeing beauty in the mundane. This year I learned that sometimes even that simple idea of living simply and seeking mundane beauty can be hard, and when you fail you may feel guilty and even overwhelmed. But I also learned that whenever I came back to my simple rituals, to being offline and being present with my loved ones, it's the most wonderful life one can live. And that feeling is what makes me want to try again and again. Because when you're trying again and again you'll find many simple moments to enjoy and to make rituals of it even. Morning ginger tea in the crisp autumn air on the balcony. Walking through meadows and pastures when the wind blows. Watering flowers with your little ones. Opening windows every morning. Picking wildflowers and making seasonal wreaths. Taking warm evening baths with candle flickering. Hugging more. Telling you love your dear ones more. Days become magical in the simplest and most mundane way possible. For me, letting go of perfectionism and just being with the ones you hold dear was the most important lesson of my life. And I learned that asking myself: Have I found my light lately? And the light in others? Have I recognized the divine that is in my little one? Have I found safety in myself lately? Have I been creating warm home full of love and acceptance lately?, separates me from self-criticism that harms me, from criticizing others, from excessive expectations, from setting unrealistic goals, from rashness and ingratitude. It leads me towards something that opens other doors. doors of acceptance of others, of love for myself and others, of looking for ways to simplify life and home, of creating small treasures and memories, of practising everyday gratitude. The hardest part is showing up daily for those rituals and ways of life. But to show up daily is the most important detail of it all.

So now, ahead of this New Year, I’ve been contemplating what I value a lot lately and what I need to keep living to nurture and feel whole. And in these past few years of living simple life, of decluttering and detaching my happiness from stuff around me and my home, of creating and finding and seeking rituals and ways that'll support my way of living and parenting and loving others, I found what works for me. Minimalism lead me to simplifying life, to organizing my daily tasks and getting rid of unnecessary things. It took me on a journey where I choose quality over quantity, rituals over forced routines, where I awaken my creativity, find used and vintage things that can serve me for many more years, and in all of this I still find meaning and purpose of life. And all this leaves me room for small moments, for family, walks in nature and for my interests too. Since I found this path of minimalism, this path of simpler living and appreciating mundane moments, I don't perceive New Year as a new beginning, but as a simple continuation of life, a continuation of cultivating rituals and this way of life that suits me and my family. So with all that, this is what I'm continuing in days ahead of us:

• Early mornings filled with gratitude journaling. I've written about this practice before and I can keep writing because it's one of the rituals I've found in the last three or more years of my life that are the most important to me. That's how I start every morning, early rise up, drink water with lemon, then a cup of tea and a few inhalations and exhalations on the balcony. By writing a few things that I am truly grateful for, I ground myself, start the day with positive thoughts and carry reminders of what brings me gratitude throughout the day.

• Breath techniques whenever I feel stressed, overwhelmed or simply in need of calming my mind, body and soul. I usually practise these in the evening before going to sleep, to simply calm my mind and prepare my body for rest. It helps me to ground myself, calm my thoughts. Focusing on my breath is a great tool for guiding my attention and energy too.

• Yoga is something I found ten years ago. I stayed with me since. But, since becoming a mother, two years ago I neglected it and I feel it in my body. Something is missing. And I know I have to go back to that, to moving through the flow because it brings me health in body and mind too.

• Detox baths. I discovered it this year and I am grateful for it. Now I use it at least 2 to 3 times a week with my little one. Whenever we are not sleeping well, or when we are sick or simply when we are stressed, I fill the tub with warm water, put 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of magnesium flakes. And then we bathe for at least half an hour. I also use it when I feel pain in my joints or muscles.

• Lymphatic drainage is something I'm continuing to do for three years now. Dry brushing my body and face too and using my hand to massage my face feel like improving my self care. It helps me to slow down and reconnect with my body.

• Decluttering my home and avoiding buying unnecessary things. Owning less and organizing more. Even studies show that female brain, but also children brain and nervous system is heavily affected by clutter in our home and surroundings. When I read book Simplicity Parenting I decided to remove all toys and decor pieces from my child's corner. Now we have fewer toys he loves to play with, simple bed with pillow and favorite bear toy, basket with few book for a week and I rotate toys once a week too. And I notice how more active and imaginative he is. And that also goes for my whole home. I love that this helps me really find time for rest and to love the seasons we are currently in. Lightening my load and decluttering my house truly means to declutter my soul too.

• Active rest. If the last few years have taught me anything, it is how active rest and giving myself permission to do less is important to do. Just allowing myself to do nothing is really how I can prepare my body and mind for tasks ahead of me, and to improve upon everything I'm doing.

• Simplifying meals. This is something I started doing this year. Planning my meals and keeping them simple. Pumpkin soup for two days, roasted chicken with vegetables for two days, making homemade marshmallows or gut healthy gummies for my little one instead of offering sweets. Things like those made my days feel easier and more manageable. Also, I would love to try growing some herbs of mine on my balcony, because every time I'm in my mom's garden I feel so calm and at peace. I recognize how lovely is the silence and nature sounds of growing things around me. Baking bread is a new passion of mine too, and it feel so good to be in the kitchen with some music on, making something with my own hand for my tiny family.

• Daily walks are something I'll be holding on to till the end. I grew up in the countryside surrounded by valleys and forests and hills and homesteads. I grew up watching fog swirling through the meadow, meeting gaze of a tiny brown doe in the valley and gathering pine twigs for the wreath mom would make every Christmas. So I'm keeping that magical feeling of walking in the nature and seeking for wonders and slowness too.

• Reading few chapters every day. I try to read something every day. In the morning after prayer and gratitude journaling I read few pages of some calming book. But I also love to read in the evening too, to dim the lights, make myself a cup of tea, put my phone away and learn something new from those pages, contemplate on those words and question myself sometimes too. I discovered so many useful things from the books I read, learned so much and started incorporating rituals I discovered there too.

So, I noticed a lot of my rituals these years are about slowing down, finding stillness and simplicity. A walk in my favorite autumn sweater through the swaying fields with my sister and dogs after a hard day. Putting the phone down to make some bread. Calling my mom in the morning. Water with lemon to start moving in the morning. A candle while reading some book. Pulling out favorite clothes and repeating outfits over the week. Keeping it minimal and simple. Arranging fresh flowers or making a wreath. Finding simple cloth napkins (finally) and folding them in my kitchen basket. I love to see how much those tiny rituals changes me and how delightfully invested I am now in those mundane rituals that will bring more love and intentionality into my day.

So let's light a candle for welcoming New Year and let's close our eyes. Let's imagine those days ahead of us, a path ahead of us imprinted with simple moments, with souls we love and hold dear, with mundane life full of presence, healing, love and peace.

May we leave behind the idea that we need to be someone new

and someone better in days ahead of us.

May we embrace natural changes and flow of life.

And allow ourselves to grow.

To find the power of finding beauty in the humblest ways possible.

To embrace people who keep nourishing us. And to nourish them too.

To seek ways of more healthy and grounded life.

Way of life that will bring us healing and inner peace.

To hear those peaceful murmurs around us and recognize what they're telling us.

May we be salt of the earth, full of honesty and integrity.

To trust that we all are beautiful enough and deserving of one beautiful life.

Little suggestions:

• A story about saying farewell to autumn.

• Where did the November go? Read it here.

• More on embracing and creating simple and slow home.

• Read more about my gratitude journaling.

• If you like to read about finding simplicity, visit my Substack page, Notes from Meadow for more stories about it.