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They say don't live in the past and live each day like it was your last, but I'd rather live each moment like it was my first, take it slow and sip from the glass.

~Hilltop Hoods

As we gently shift from Spring into Summer here in the Pacific Northwest, I'm feeling our family rhythm start to slow and settle into that calm, lazy summer mode that I so enjoy.

Today my daughter and I spent the day just being. We read some books, watched some TV, she played some and I cleaned some. We sat outside and basked in the sun and then "napped" under the shade of the tree. We visited our neighbor's rabbit several times and fed him a carrot and dandelion leaves.

We didn't have anywhere to go or anything to do and each moment felt calm and peaceful. Things still got done: I cleaned the kitchen and made our meals. Most of the day though was a stream of peaceful moments, one rolling into another.

"Ah, this is the life," I thought, several times today.

And I wondered why we didn't have more days like that, why, regardless how I "scheduled in" downtime for us, I always felt like we were rushed and going and doing and just busy. We're always doing fun things: going to the beach, to park day, to playdates with friends. However, even thought it's all fun, it's felt so busy and I've felt myself breathe a sigh of relief as I look at the next two weeks with only four things scheduled for that entire 14 days. 

When we're out and doing and going and yes, playing, we don't get to enjoy the magic of our home. We don't get to enjoy the quiet moments or the beauty of watching one moment roll into another without expectation or agenda. 

Summer is all about those rolling moments, yet in our modern world summers even get filled with camps and classes and vacations and going and doing and we lose sight of simple Being.

I'm looking forward to a summer filled with simply Being. More time at home and less in the car. Lounging in our kiddie pool and laying in the shade of the trees with my girl. Reading trashy novels.

And yes, time at the beach and playdates with good friends too. 

Sending peaceful, rolling moments this week. Let's all breathe in the beauty and joy of slowing down and simply Being. <3

P.S. My most recent course Parenting with Presence starts this Thursday. This six-week course utilizes mindfulness practice and attachment theory to help you become the parent you want to be. For more information and to register click here.

P.P.S. I'm finally getting into the groove of being out of school and getting the Peace*Sparkle*Joy newsletter back to coming to you weekly. It's been good to rest and replenish and now I'm feeling ready to take on the world again. Or at least get my newsletter out each week. ;)

P.P.S. Summer always reminds me or Jane's Addiction. Or maybe Jane's Addiction always reminds me of summer. Either way the two are one and the same for me. Today's newsletter title is borrowed from Jane's. You can see the lyrics to the song here

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Gwynn Raimondi

Compassionate body-centered mindfulness guide. Cultivator of pleasure and play. Inspiring deeply grounded connections in the lives of many.  

 

Connecting you to what truly matters

 What truly matters is this moment now and the relationships you have with yourself, your partner and your children.  It is the deep connection you find when you open yourself to experiencing all that life as to offer through listening, curiosity and play.

You can do this, I'll show you how.

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