Finding space to simply be...

Can I be honest with you?

Coming home after travelling around Australia last year was a lot harder than I expected. I absolutely loved travelling. I loved waking up somewhere new, exploring our beautiful country, spending more time outdoors, and living a much simpler life. Of course there were moments when I missed home too. I missed our own bed, our home, and having somewhere warm and dry to retreat to when the weather turned.

By the time we came home, I was genuinely excited. I couldn't wait to see friends and family again, settle back into our home, and find a sense of routine.

What I didn't expect was how difficult it would be to return to that routine.

Life suddenly became... full.

Full of work. Full of catch-ups. Full of exercise. Full of family. Full of commitments.

All wonderful things, I'm grateful to have so many wonderful things, but full nonetheless...

And when we create such a full life for ourselves, there's very little time to connect. To connect with how we're feeling, to connect with each other. We end up, without even realising, slipping into survival mode. Moving from one thing to the next, to the next, to the next, barely taking a breath in between all the 'tasks' of the day.

Does anyone else ever feel like they're constantly late for life?

If you know me, you'll know I'm notoriously late to everything! But it made me realise that I'm often so focused on getting to the next thing that I'm not fully present in the thing I'm already doing.

Why do we fill our lives so completely?

One of the biggest lessons I learnt while travelling was the beauty of a simpler life. Days weren't measured by how productive I could be or how many things I could squeeze in. There was space. Space to wander. Space to notice. Space to simply exist.

The tricky part is that the things filling my calendar now are all things I genuinely love. Catching up with friends and family. Working towards fitness goals. My new environmental job. Teaching yoga and Pilates.

So the question I've been asking myself isn't how do I do less. It's how do I create more space? Space to slow down, to let my nervous system settle...where I'm not rushing from one commitment to another, but actually arriving fully wherever I am.

I'm learning that there isn't one perfect answer. Every week looks different, and some seasons of life are naturally busier than others.

But what I can do is keep checking in with myself.

Am I feeling grounded?

Am I feeling overwhelmed?

Do I need to push today, or do I need to soften?

So this week, my invitation to you is simple:

Find five minutes of space. Take a slow walk. Sit in the sunshine. Roll out your mat. Have a cup of tea without looking at your phone.

Whatever it looks like for you, give yourself permission to simply be.

With love,

Chloe-Jade xx

Denmark, WA