the mindful day: taking tea

Lately I've been taking my tea outside on the back deck; it's cool and quiet there. Usually English Breakfast with honey or mint fresh from the garden. And perhaps a little something sweet to eat. It's that small window of time with both my youngest babes sleeping that I'm enforcing some self care on myself.

Neglecting the nappy folding, the lunch (and sometimes breakfast) dishes I'm choosing these quiet few moments first. Propelled by some unforeseen notion of domestic duty I would usually soldier on until all the tasks were done. Wouldn't the list of to do's with jaunty ticks leave me feeling accomplished? Surely I'd savour the serenity all the more. But inevitably someone would wake the second I placed the kettle on the stove and the daily dance would resume, the precious moments of alone time gone.

So now, with my eyes resting on green, growing things and my ears filled with not much more than birdsong, I'm putting my tea break at the top of the list. A few solitary moments in a day to recharge and regroup...or to simply sit down. A small act of mindfulness where I lower and relax my shoulders, gently direct my attention to the taste and warmth of the tea and gaze at nature's colour palette. The rules are simple - no phone and no computer,  just tea and stillness.