Spring has sprung and I am hell-bent on creating a butterfly garden for my family to enjoy this summer. While researching the appropriate flowers to transform my boring suburban yard to a winged creature sanctuary, I marveled at the simple needs of the butterfly and pondered what I would require if I only had 6 months to live.
What elements of contentment do I require to assemble myself a haven? Is it a place, or a feeling? What is in my space physically? Are there people in my desired sanctuary?
The butterfly’s needs are simple: sun, a wind-sheltered area, food, and lack of pests.
Mulling over the idea of a flawless space to call my own brought me to a frown as I realized my fantasy of being an eccentric writer, living in a French chalet surrounded by fields of lavender is a little far fetched for me; at least for the moment. I can, however, sip coffee and eat an ungodly amount of pastries, while tip tapping away on my laptop basking in the soft scent of the lilac bush outside my front window.
Bored with the thought of the perfect anything at this point in my life, I am finding my own refuge is more of a state of mind than a utopian setting. I am a big supporter of pretending, even in adults, and I cannot think of a better way to fashion my own imaginary haven than Pinterest!
Currently, my favorite spot in my home right now is the floor of my living room which my children call, for reasons unknown, the “classroom”. In a world filled with Legos, baby burping, and potty training, at this point in my life I am rarely alone. Yes, I know I need to schedule in some “me time”, but when you have 3 children under the age of 6, sometimes you must make a not-so-perfect haven amid the chaos of your day.
So, I have made a mini haven in the corner of the classroom, where I can spread out on the floor among my children. The classroom is a nice sized space that we have turned into a reading/puzzle/game/music room. A small love seat and a long coffee table make up the furniture and to our excitement, we recently invested in a lovely new starter piano in the hopes of our children creating some sweet-sounding music.
For years now I have implemented a “quiet time” right after lunch as time to decompress, turn off all electrical devices and just hang out in the house. When the kids were small, I would set up little stations that they could visit, like a small game, quiet toys, a huge stack of books, etc…
I would pour myself some tea, open the windows and enjoy 30 minutes of solitude, reading a book, paging through a magazine, or working on a puzzle with the kids.
Yes, of course there are interruptions like unexpected diaper changes, but “quiet time” is now a part of our daily life. A time to chill out.
I am content in sprinkling many mini oases throughout my day instead of waiting to schedule in time for the perfect scenario, because most of the time, that “perfect moment” never happens. Waiting for the right temperature or location or person or job only stalls and holds me back from having a memorable experience.
Where is your haven located? Is it in your home or do you have a specific place you call sanctuary?
The gorgeous image for “Finding Sanctuary” was provided by photographer, Brandi Lee...
I have to think about this. With a new place to live and stuff, I have not found my safe spot yet. I know it used to be on the sofa in the old place but it was in a corner the time. Now it is not. So, I have to find my new “home”.
I can see how uprooting your comfy place and trying to find a new one can pose a challenge. What did you like about your other space? Was there a window to look out of or were you tucked away in a cozy corner? Thank you so much for reading, my friend! :)
Oh, I love the idea of quiet time… I can often get the two older ones engrossed in an activity, but the little one follows me around like a shadow – and loves to be involved in everything I’m doing.
I can’t really think of a haven in my home at the moment… but we have plans of a crafty room to call my own… I guess more than anything I think of particular times as my sanctuary – the evening hours once the girls are all tucked up in bed and I have some quiet to sit in my own thoughts – it is such a recharging period for me – and I really miss it when the girls are sick and the evenings are not my own.