Have you ever imagined yourself living in a quiet country house? There are no signs of the busyness of the city. Everything is serene and peaceful. The way of live seems slow and unhurried. There is the smell of freshly baked pies, the gentle movement of clean laundry. The air seems fresher and purer. The only sounds here are the sounds of life, the birds, the insects, the movement of feet, and delicious stillness.

Doesn’t that sound enticing? I suppose all of us have had this vision as the perfect vacation. I love the concept of simple living, where there is purpose and mindfulness going into each task. There are no distractions, and every tasks is given full attention.

Although times are tough, hard, and scary right now, we can used this time to truly rediscover the lost art of living simply. Finding the joy in the simple, mundane, and often repetitive tasks of life.

I am often amazed at how I am just happy with the little things. Such as getting the kitchen clean. The scent of freshly laundered clothes. The joy of taking something out of the oven, all nice and hot, and ready to eat. These are the simple pleasures of life that are sometimes missed during our everyday busyness.

Take time to savor these slow moments. I am so aware that we cannot take time back. Time continues to move forward. It is up to us to fill those minutes and seconds with what we value and enjoy most. Too often our lives are filled with days running in a blur, with no real continuity. Life is so much more than being busy for the sake of being busy. And life is too short to spend it without purpose or mindfulness. We must allow ourselves to enjoy our lives with whatever we have. When we get back to “normal life” we might not have the time to truly enjoy the life that we have right now.

So, don’t get discouraged with what you cannot control. We cannot control the virus, but we can control our outlook on the situation. Use this time for really deep self-reflection. During my month of self-isolation, I have learned that there is so much that I can be thankful for. Sure, I am running out of money, and there is uncertainty if my job would still be available if we are able to open. Yet, I have my health, my family, and most importantly faith. Let us not turn inward with fear, bu use this an opportunity to spread hope, faith, kindness, and compassion.

So here are a few of my tips to help you rediscover the Idyllic Life.

1. Have fun being outside. There are so many ways that we can enjoy the fresh outdoors. We can tend to our gardens, get some exercise, or just sit outside and enjoy the blue sky and fresh air. I know I have been enjoying tending to my rose garden and watching all my roses bloom day after day.

2. Savor the little moments of life. Feel joy with the little things. We have so much to be grateful for and yet we don’t take the time to see all the riches that we already have. Don’t be in a rush. I have found immense enjoyment in folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, or sweeping the floor. These daily tasks mean that we are alive and living.

3. Find enjoyment in making delicious home cooked meals. Take this opportunity to cultivate and grow your cooking and baking skills. There is something calming about cooking and baking. Perhaps it is the delicious aroma of freshly baked goods or the crackle of bacon in the pan. Or it is the knowledge that we are doing something to nourish our bodies that there is such a peace. So, get out those pie pans and spend an afternoon making something delicious.

4. Read books

This is a great time to get out all those books that you have been meaning to read, but never seem to have the time, and start reading. I have rediscovered my love for reading during these weeks, reading up to two books a day. Reading for me is a way to relax and escape to another world. So, grab a book, go outside or to your favorite nook in your house, and start your new adventure.

5. Delight in stillness. Listen to the sounds of nature. Sometimes we are so busy that we forget what nature sounds like, what the sun feels like on a warm summer day or the gentle breezes of autumn. I have found that I have been loving feeling the sun on my face, or the gentle breeze before a rainstorm. Nature is so beautiful, symbolizing the beauty of our Creator. So take the time to enjoy this stillness.

6. Delight in family time. Right now it is the time to savor each moment that we have with our family. Spend time cultivating your relationships among your family members. Have a family gathering with reading books aloud. Eat at least one meal together. Sometimes we need to be reminded that the things in life that matter most are the things that we tend to neglect the most, such as, our relationships and our health.

To conclude, to rediscover the idyllic life is to make every moment special and count. To live peacefully we need to be peaceful ourselves. Sometimes there is so much going on that we forget to have a moment and be still. When we are still and at peace, there is a simple beauty that we see around us. Some of our greatest memories are when we took the time to rest and be still.

So, don’t be in a rush. Savor each moment. Even though it is not ideal situation, with so many without jobs and fearful for the future, I do believe that this pandemic has taught how precious life truly is. Every day is precious and beautiful. We just need to take the time to see it and enjoy it.

I will leave with some verses of my favorite song by John Rutter, “Look at the world”

Look at the world: Everything all around us
Look at the world: and marvel everyday
Look at the world: So many joys and wonders
So many miracles along our way

Praise to thee O Lord for all creation
Give us thankful hearts that we may see
All the gifts we share and every blessing
All things come of thee

Look at the earth: Bringing forth fruit and flower
Look at the sky: The sunshine and the rain
Look at the hills, look at the trees and mountains,
Valley and flowing river field and plain.

Praise to thee O Lord for all creation
Give us thankful hearts that we may see
All the gifts we share and every blessing
All things come of thee

Think of the spring, Think of the warmth of summer
Bringing the harvest before the winters cold
Everything grows, everything has a season
Til’ it is gathered to the Fathers fold

John Rutter

Until next time,

Alyssa