This is so tender. I felt the softness in your words today. Your sensitive heart - what a gift! My thoughts, as I read, centered around how our Western society is structured: frenzied, fast-paced, constant activity, time-driven. I feel what you describe. I am living that dichotomy, too - the yearning for rest and silence and timelessness, but the necessity of rushing the kids out the door to be at school on time and glancing at the clock throughout the day because of appointments and mealtimes and bedtimes and picking up kids from school...
It never ends, does it?
People tell you to "enjoy this time" with your littles, because they haven't had littles around for quite some time. Maybe they forget that it's tough to appreciate a season of life when you are forced to live by the confines of time. People and places expect you to be punctual. Maybe it's a self-imposed expectation. Sure, we can eliminate certain activities. We can drop all the pomp and circumstance of the holiday season. We can do that, and in my experience, it still wouldn't eliminate the frazzled feeling of running in that hamster wheel.
So...why?
Kids are demanding of us as parents. We know that. But for those of us who are highly sensitive, we need more time to digest what's happening all around us and to us and in the world. We NEED time to slow down and think and feel and metabolize the frenetic intemperance of this culture.
To appreciate the time your kids are small - well, that means you need TIME to appreciate it, right? You need to sit for a while with your thoughts and memories and be able to smile or cry as you remember. And it seems to me that time is a luxury these days, something many of us cannot afford.
We do what we can, while living within the cultural paradigms that assign time to everything. We try to enter into the moment we find ourselves in. We try to capture in photos and videos and maybe scrap books or stories those micro-moments of levity and laughter with our children.
I treasure this thoughtful comment so much. I feel seen by you too. This new planner I got has a reflection question on what I want to do next year. I think this is the first year I’ve said “to learn how to do nothing.” I am trying hard to take more moments of rest where I’m only drinking coffee and not also reading or something. Where I am only coloring with my child and not also starting a movie or load of laundry. It is very difficult.
It’s my favorite holiday ritual haha. I am decidedly not setting myself up for failure with the postal service. This newsletter felt more real anyways!
So thrilled to be back reading your letters, to have the brain space to open emails and see your name sitting there knowing there will always be something nourishing inside!
Hi Chanel,
This is so tender. I felt the softness in your words today. Your sensitive heart - what a gift! My thoughts, as I read, centered around how our Western society is structured: frenzied, fast-paced, constant activity, time-driven. I feel what you describe. I am living that dichotomy, too - the yearning for rest and silence and timelessness, but the necessity of rushing the kids out the door to be at school on time and glancing at the clock throughout the day because of appointments and mealtimes and bedtimes and picking up kids from school...
It never ends, does it?
People tell you to "enjoy this time" with your littles, because they haven't had littles around for quite some time. Maybe they forget that it's tough to appreciate a season of life when you are forced to live by the confines of time. People and places expect you to be punctual. Maybe it's a self-imposed expectation. Sure, we can eliminate certain activities. We can drop all the pomp and circumstance of the holiday season. We can do that, and in my experience, it still wouldn't eliminate the frazzled feeling of running in that hamster wheel.
So...why?
Kids are demanding of us as parents. We know that. But for those of us who are highly sensitive, we need more time to digest what's happening all around us and to us and in the world. We NEED time to slow down and think and feel and metabolize the frenetic intemperance of this culture.
To appreciate the time your kids are small - well, that means you need TIME to appreciate it, right? You need to sit for a while with your thoughts and memories and be able to smile or cry as you remember. And it seems to me that time is a luxury these days, something many of us cannot afford.
We do what we can, while living within the cultural paradigms that assign time to everything. We try to enter into the moment we find ourselves in. We try to capture in photos and videos and maybe scrap books or stories those micro-moments of levity and laughter with our children.
You are doing good things, Chanel.
I treasure this thoughtful comment so much. I feel seen by you too. This new planner I got has a reflection question on what I want to do next year. I think this is the first year I’ve said “to learn how to do nothing.” I am trying hard to take more moments of rest where I’m only drinking coffee and not also reading or something. Where I am only coloring with my child and not also starting a movie or load of laundry. It is very difficult.
This is so true, Jeannie. You have a tender heart as well.
Chanel, so love to hear about your corner of the world :). I, too, sometimes write Christmas cards without sending!
Love both of your writing!
It’s my favorite holiday ritual haha. I am decidedly not setting myself up for failure with the postal service. This newsletter felt more real anyways!
So thrilled to be back reading your letters, to have the brain space to open emails and see your name sitting there knowing there will always be something nourishing inside!
Oh my heart ❤️ I am saving this for myself to cherish. Hoping you have had rest in your time away
I love the way your writing energy has come through with this one. Very creative 💜
Thank you. I’m glad I’ve been not writing as much for the past two months to bring back the joy in writing. I’ve mostly been reading Tolkien books
How’s your health been?
My 9/10 daily pain is now 1/10 🥰 I have flare ups to 3/10 at most depending on my hormones and diet changes. I feel a ton of gratitude
😵😵😵
Love you, friend!
I love you too!