All of the photo’s above were taken on my phone
during my morning walks and posted to Instagram
2016 didn’t exactly kick off fabulously for me (for various reasons) so I decided to take some time out to recalibrate (mostly through February and still a little now). I needed to get my head back into a good place, and in order to do that I needed to ensure that I put some steps in place to fill my cup and keep it topping up!
Sometimes we can have the very best intentions to ensure that ‘self care‘ is a priority in our life (so that our cup is kept full) but more often than not we drop the ball as life and its demands can tend to take over and we begin to listen less to the increasingly urgent whispers of our own needs. I wasn’t exercising enough. I wasn’t getting out in nature enough. I was getting a bit lazier with my healthy food choices … and more.
Lately it has been a matter of a series of small changes that I’ve made that have been helping hugely. I’ve been indulging myself a little more in the things that fill me up, inspire me, and make me feel joy and happiness – and more is yet to come!!
This is a bit of an indulgent post – where I share ALL the things that have been filling my cup lately. You can read, look and listen to it all or you can skim through and stop and look or listen wherever something takes your interest. I don’t mind at all! 🙂
I’ve been getting up early and going for a walk every morning. Every second day, I take my dog Ava with me and on the alternate days I enjoy complete ‘me’ time on my walks. I get up early enough that I see the sun rise each morning. I take photo’s of it with my phone. Sometimes I even take a little video. I feel my heart fill up with joy at the beauty of it all. Nature does that to me. Its power is incredible. Lately, the tide has been in and the water has been silky and smooth. I hear the gentle lapping of it and it has such a beautiful soothing effect on me. I see the reflection of the rising sun glistening on the water. It’s absolutely magical. I hear all the different sounds of birds chirping. It’s a morning song and I love it.
A few little ‘nature inspired’ video’s posted recently to Instagram
(Apologies to those that follow me on Instagram
who have already seen these. You’re welcome to skip these!)
Good Morning! #morningwalk #sunrise #wynnummanly #moretonbay #brisbane
A video posted by Min (@writeofthemiddle) on
I’ve been paying attention to what I eat by planning ahead and doing my best to keep to healthy, portion controlled meals. I’ve lost some weight (like around 7kg) and that feels mighty bloody good. There’s more to lose but hey I’ve made a good start!
I’ve been listening to music more. Music makes me feel good. I love to sing very much. I also love to listen to good music that connects with me. I love it when a song gets my body moving – a toe tap, a little swaying, bopping along, even singing along. A song can completely alter my mood. Music can weave its way into my heart and soul and like a magic wand fix up lots of little cracks and crevices. Last Saturday morning, after my walk, I sat with a coffee at the Manly Farmers Markets (with Ava lying on the grass at my feet) and listened to ‘The Muggy River Ramblers’ sing and thoroughly enjoyed myself. They sang a lot of Bob Dylan stuff plus more and ahhhhh it chilled me out. I felt so mellow. It got me toe tapping and swaying and singing along. It was hard to drag myself away and head home. I did eventually, but not before I bought their album (for all of $10) called ‘Can’t be Folked’. The name of their album gave me a giggle! Here’s a short video of them. I posted a couple of other short ones of them singing other songs on Instagram – but not this one.
In October 2014 I went to see Rodriguez (of SugarMan fame and for me well known for THIS song). He was amazing! It was during this concert that I was introduced to Jen Cloher (his support act). I loved her music and have followed her since, recently purchasing an album of hers through iTunes. Here’s one of the many songs of hers that I love. It’s called “Baby we were born to die”. The song that first made me fall in love with her voice was “Mother’s Desk” but I couldn’t find a You Tube video of that one.
Recently, I discovered another Australian female artist whose music speaks to me! Her name is Mia Dyson. I’ve purchased her latest album on iTunes also. Here’s a song of hers that I’m loving. It’s called “Talk to Me”.
Now here’s the really weird part. It was while poking around on You Tube just yesterday while putting together this post, that I discovered that Jen and Mia know each other AND have sung together. How bizarre is that – two separate artists that I discover and enjoy and they have sung together!! They have similar musical styles/qualities that appeal to me and obviously at some point they discovered this also!
Going by the type of music that is making me feel good lately, I think I am subconsciously reclaiming the ‘ol hippie version of my younger self. She was mellow, happy and cool! Anyway Jen and Mia’s voices do indeed blend together so beautifully. See for yourself in this video below where they sing “Save Me” – a song that I adored instantly.
Next on the agenda is to get away. I need a weekend away somewhere rural – in the mountains or rainforest – maybe within driving distance of a beach as well. I’m working on that one. I’ll take my camera of course and lose myself in photographing that which makes me the happiest – NATURE.
What fills your cup? Are you making sure that you have steps in place to keep it topped up?
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT
26 Comments
Your post couldn’t have come at a better time for me. All I have been doing lately is looking after the needs of others and not any of mine. Although exercise is a priority in my life, I have slipped back into some unhealthy eating habits because I have been pushed for time. I am the heaviest I have ever been in my life despite the fact that I exercise daily. I feel bogged down and drained. I was only just thinking this morning that I need to get out into nature with my camera and start taking some photos again. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
I’m glad this post came at the right time for you Kathy! Getting out in into nature is so restorative, and taking photo’s of it even better! 🙂
I have been loving your morning posts on facebook – the yachts were my favourite picture. I lived at Wynnum and Lota once and the foreshore walks were just fabulous. The farmer markets too where they best! Lovely spot to call home x
So glad you’ve enjoyed my morning posts Ashlea. I like that yachts one too. I snapped it at just the right moment. Right place – Right time! Fancy you having lived here once. It’s the best place for walks! The farmers markets are awesome – gorgeous fresh foods and fabulous music! 🙂 xo
It’s such a simple thing but getting out and running (or walking) with music playing is the thing that does it for me. If I’m not able to get out most days like this then I start going a bit stir-crazy.
That’s for sure! The simple things are what make all the difference!! Being cooped up for too long makes me go stir-crazy also and much less fun to be around! 😉 xo
That’s it, I’m off for a walk in the morning. I have been a little house bound due to a calf injury, tomorrow I’m out and shuffling. Thank you for the inspiration.
P.S We totally have the same taste in music!!!
Haha – good for you! How was the walk? I hope that calf injury is getting better. Gee we have awesome taste in music Nicole!! 😉 xo
This is a beautiful post Min. I’m happy that you are starting to feel lie, yourself again. Walking is very refreshing for the body do mind. Keep the pictures coming
Oh thanks so much Natalie. The pics will keep coming. Can’t help myself. Slept in this morning though – early mornings caught up with me and I’ve been tired. So decided to listen to my body and skip the walk this morning. I might go late this avo instead 🙂 xo
I smiled all the way through this post. I love the photos, I love that you are looking after yourself and I love that you are filling your cup. I hope the rest of 2016 is more kind to you Min x
Oh that is so nice to know you smiled all through this post Kirsty! You can see then, why these things are filling my cup. The rest of 2016 is sure to be much kinder 🙂 xo
What gorgeous pictures Min. How could those views, and good music not fill your cup. It’s so often the small things right?
Thanks Jodie! Yes it sure is the small things – gorgeous nature and music 🙂 xo
They are beautiful photos Min! No wonder they fill your cup. What an amazing place to live!
Congrats on the 7kg as well. That’s a great effort! I’ve got about 3 I’d like to part with but they don’t seem to want to leave me.
Thanks Jess! Not a bad place to live at all – love having such a beautiful place to walk. Losing the 7kg has been a hard slog and even harder to keep it off. More to lose though so bit by bit hopefully. Consistency and persistance is the key … and do it while filling your cup is the secret! 🙂 xo
I love those pics, Min. Very tranquil. I’m glad you’re still focusing on filling your cup. And the 7kg weight loss – that’s awesome! Well done! When I go on leave (the day after tomorrow) I intend to start focusing on me straight away. Time to relax and get back to me.
Thank you Renee! Woohoo – so after today you’re on your break!! You will be a new person once you apply some self care and start filling up your cup again. I look forward to hearing about it and seeing you get back to being you again. 🙂 xo
Exactly what fills my cup too 🙂 I love living by the beach and never want to leave.
Fantastic that you love where you live Ness! 🙂 xo
Min
Self Care is the hardest thing of all isn’t it. I find it easy to care for others it is myself I struggle with.
Your photos are just beautiful! I found a camera here at home I need to work out how to use it! It is a Canon 600D SLR so I think it can do quite a lot more than simply point and shoot!
For now my self care is trying to take time for knitting or crochet and writing when I can. This doesn’t always happen and I often push myself far too hard before realising that I need to stop for some self care.
Hope you have a lovely Easter and get to walk with nature and take lots of photos. I am off to follow your insta page (mine is terribly boring mostly my dogs really!!!)
Cat
Yep I agree Cathy. Self Care is easy enough to do on the surface – maybe a facial now and then or how ’bout a pedicure treat. However, Self Care can be hard to do properly – which is to really listen to what you need or no longer need and take the appropriate steps. It’s especially hard for us Mum’s who generally put ourselves last after the kids and co. and get into the habit of that. Honestly, no-one thanks us for that! We’re better people if we look after ourselves. If you have a Canon 600D SLR than YES you can do a lot more than simply point and shoot! Watch a few YouTube tutorials. You’ll be amazed at what you can learn there. Speaking of crochet – I really want to get back into doing some of that. With winter on the horizon – it’s the perfect time. Just something that doesn’t require much thinking – a nice blankie or something! I had a fabulous Easter – lots of walking and markets and coffee and nature and taking photo’s and stuff! I hope yours was great too! Hope you enjoy my Insta page! 🙂 xo
Min
If only you were closer (like you know even Sydney would be closer lol) then I would happily make cake, pots of tea you could visit I could remind you how to crochet and you could teach me how to use my camera!!!
Well that sounds like fun! I visit my sister in Sydney sometimes. Where do you live?
Hey Min
I’m in Wollongong, which is about 45mins South of the airport. At the moment I am without a licence due to my breakdown last year. Though I am hopeful I will get this back one day!
Kit xoxo
I’m sure you’ll get it back soon! I’ve never been to Wollongong. I love going places I’ve never been. 🙂 xo