slow down & relax

Slow down and relax.

This seems to be my mantra these days. I'm constantly trying to calm myself down, take deep breaths and just relax. I don't like to blog about my job, but I will add that things are getting busy there and I'm taking on more work which is causing me stress out a little too much.

I like to do things well. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I'm also a control freak. I'm schedule driven and organized. For reasons beyond me I always end up working in jobs that are unpredictable and subject to frequent crisis. I guess other jobs just seem too boring. I'm not entirely sure.

So in an effort to relax Sadie and I are snuggling together every evening after I return home from work. I rock her. We watch Christmas movies. We listen to Christmas music while she takes her bath. When she's all clean and snoozing I take out my trashy magazine and drink hot chocolate (this is now my go-to drink since I've stopped enjoying a glass a wine).

When I think about relaxing and slowing down, I'm always drawn to images of simpler times. Watching an old 1940's movie this morning had me inspired. It's nice to see a home that's filled with music and laughter and games and not the sounds of a blaring TV and people glued to their mobile devices. The characters were off to an evening Christmas dance and then enjoyed a leisurely sleigh ride home.  A record was on and the characters were all enjoying the sound of talented voices, not audio-tuned pop stars.

I'm always drawn to the simplicity of things. I love cleaning out my house and getting rid of things I don't need. I really do enjoy those days when I don't turn on the TV or power up the computer and sit around listening to music. I like reading books by the light of our Christmas tree. I love the idea of saving money and not using shopping as a cure for boredom. Perhaps this is why I'm insistent on purchasing our daughter wooden toys made of simple design. I want her to have an imagination.

My life has changed for the better with the birth of Sadie and I find myself staying home more often, shopping far far less, and savings so much money. Who knew that the birth of a child would cause me to gain SO MUCH.

It's usually around this time of year that I start thinking about goals and resolutions for next year.  The majority of my goals are centered around keeping life simple, learning to go without and saving a lot of money.  I also want to make it a point to keep a photo album and not rely so much on the digital convenience of things.

So yes, my goals (again) for this year are be more simple, buy less and enjoy life more.