Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

Simply..suspending judgement....

1/12/2022

8 Comments

 


We judge each other all the time. It's what we do, and necessary for survival, but we are often expected to express an opinion when, it seems to me, we are in no position to judge and social media encourages us to be simplistic (thumbs up/thumbs down) on even complex issues.

Try, just for a day suspending judgement. Just let things be. Give yourself a break from it, from turning everything into an ethical dilemma for example. Or from judging yourself, perhaps harshly, as well as others.  When I tried this I was quite shocked at how many of my thoughts were very judgemental indeed!

After a few hours of not judging I felt very free and relaxed, and since my private judgemental thoughts rarely if ever make any diffference in the real world it seemed like a very good idea to try it out more often.

What do you think?


I got the Christmas box out from under the eaves to retrieve the Advent calendar..

Picture
8 Comments

Simply..what is this life....

16/10/2022

3 Comments

 
..if full of care we have noot time to stand and stare  (W H Davies scroll down here ).
Picture
3 Comments

Simply..do you agree....

6/7/2022

6 Comments

 
..that outer order equals inner calm?

I do think it helps..

Picture
6 Comments

Simply..the world....

5/7/2022

2 Comments

 
..is a strange place!

On the way to the city I listened to Rethink The World Order about the battle between liberal democracies and nationalist, populist autocracies, and a fascinating programme The Amazing Life of Olaudah
Equino which was both horrendous and heartening. Serious stuff after which the retail world seemed somewhat vacuous and meanngless.

On the way back Sibelius' Fourth Symphony, written when he had been diagnosed with a tumour on his throat, and described by the presenter as Sibelius 'clinging to cliffs and looking out on a landscape riven by despair'.

A mild altercation between the bus driver and a passenger ended with 'You are in the wrong, not me'.

I went home and watched grown men and women thwacking small balls at speeds of over one hundred miles per hour at each other accompanied by grunts, roars and what I can only describe as whinnying. They get paid thousands of pounds for this. I was riveted.

I went to bed feeling exhausted although I had barely exerted myslef, and, surprisingly, slept really well.

Bizarre, don't you think?


A sunny day (at last!), mowing the paths through the meadows and a snooze in the hammock resotred my equiliibrium,
and a British player through to the semi-finals of Wimbledon was cheering news  :-)




Picture
Picture
2 Comments

Simply Eat..Provence....

23/6/2022

3 Comments

 

You can always tell a blogger - they photograph their food before they eat it!

It's a wonderful and relaxing treat to have such food put down in frnt of you. Leisurely breakfasts and healthy lunches..

Picture

Salads and juices with 7, 8, 9 ingredients.

Picture
Picture
Picture

A restaurant on the beach as the sun set - torches lit the beach after dark and we waded into the still warm sea.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Desserts included the best affogato ever!

All making me rethink my cooking at home..
3 Comments

Simply Chill....

21/6/2022

6 Comments

 

Though maybe chill wasn't the word for temperatures of 31 degrees! In the sense of relaxing and taking it easy, it was perfect. Had a wonderful week in Cannes on the beautiful Cote d'Azur.

I hope you hve had a lovely Midsummer Day.

Picture
Picture
6 Comments

Simply Chill....

10/6/2022

6 Comments

 
..for five minutes or a fortnight, with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, in a hammock, playing with a cat or watching wildlife, a bath by candlelight, having a nap...what are your favoutie ways to chill?

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
I have only got part way through reading Simply Chill posts. This one still strikes a chord, and this one. I so enjoyed the comments on both.

I am going to take a little time away from the blog to chill. I hope you might enjoy browsing the archive while I am away!
6 Comments

Simply..chill....

9/6/2022

0 Comments

 
In my gentle reviiew of the ctegories of the blog I will skip Simply Bin It for now and look at Simply Chill.
Picture

After all,

What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?

And which month if not June is the best time to make time to Simply Chill?

Depending on what device you are using, you will find this category on the side bar, or you may have to scroll down a long way...

I hope you have time for a browse of this quite large category.  Don't miss this one (do watch full screen) It's from a lovely television progranne from a few years ago. Tell me what you think of it!



0 Comments

Simply..a scorching day....

4/6/2022

4 Comments

 
..so we went for a walk up Puck's Glen. Very dramatic and blissfully cool.
Picture
Picture
Picture
4 Comments

Simply..one of these....

18/4/2022

8 Comments

 
..should be hung above every dentist's chair in the country! Would you agree?

See here
8 Comments

Simply..perfect....

3/4/2022

4 Comments

 


Did you find perfection? (See yesteday's post.)

If you can't spot it around you, create it. Listen to the perfect music for this day or this moment, make the perfect lunch or sandwich, find that perfect birthday card or present for someoone.

Here is my pocket of perfection for today. I find it helps me keep a balanced view of things and reduce anxiety. What use are we to anyone after all if we are overwhelmed and stressed?

Picture
4 Comments

Simply..traces....

13/2/2021

7 Comments

 
Picture
red squirrel
Picture
blackbird
Picture
and me!



7 Comments

Simply..what can I  say....

19/12/2020

9 Comments

 
..except that it's only 371 days till next Christmas!

Smile...


9 Comments

Simply..Lemsip, eat, sleep, repeat....

29/11/2020

14 Comments

 
The damp chilly greenhouse may have been Covid-safe, but I now have a horrible cold.

There are times when it's wise just to give in and retire to bed.

Back soon.

Take care (especially if eating outside!)
14 Comments

Simply..when you wish....

5/11/2020

6 Comments

 
...upon a star, makes no difference who you are. Or so the old song goes. Everything your heart desires will come to you.

I listened to twelve versions of the song and I couldn't find one I liked enough to share. Now I wish I could get it out of my head! I have been humming it, singing it and whistling it for days.

So, I will go for the real thing. You know how I like the real thing.  I am watching the weather waiting for the first starry night, when I will wrap up warm and sit on the porch with a drink and choose which wondrous star to wish on.

But the wish of course, must be secret, or it won't come true..

I
6 Comments

Simply..visceral....

18/10/2020

10 Comments

 
Picture

As you know I acsolutely adore the smell of quince. I got to wondering why I had such a visceral response to this scent and sat thinking about it this warm morning recently, when the air was full of the delicious perfume.

I picked up a fruit, put it to my nose and inhaled deeply and it came to me - it smells like a new baby!! A freshly washed new baby. If you have ever known the delight of holding a new baby on your shoulder and putting your face  into it's sweet neck....that's the feeling that comes over me when I smell this smell.

How odd.

How lovely.


Are there particular smells which affect you strongly? And do you know why?
10 Comments

Simply..snippets....

13/10/2020

2 Comments

 

Sometimes I find things, but more often than not things find me.

Here are some of the things that found me today about the pandemic and  reactions to it other than those of politicians and economists...

(Because of the random nature of this phenomenon I regret can't always credit them.)


 We must stay calm and centred so that we don't contrubute to the fear and anxiety.



Two separate lines from a poem by South African Anton Taylor:

The sun rises each day and so do the numbers

and

We must choose: I or Us

We choose Us



I think it was Jack Kornfield's wife who said that when you see the empty stadium or theatre what you are seeing is love in action - we are protecting people we will never meet - 'look into the emptiness and marvel at all that love'.


Ask if the pandemic is happening to us or for us.

This could be the time to do that inner work.

We all have forgiveness to do for our hearts to be free.


Dolly Parton has written a song about it one line of which is:

If the virus don't kill us, the stay-at-home will!

Picture
Shall we just keep calm and carry on?

2 Comments

Simply..mindful....

23/9/2020

4 Comments

 

Mindful Escapes: Breathe, Release, Restore is a new programme on BBC 4 with truly wonderful nature photography. The very best thing about it is not being told that all the fabulous plants and animals are  facing imminent extinction and that it's all our fault!!

There is very little commentary - we are allowed to gaze in wonder and amazement....

Here is a short sample from YouTube..just three minutes but the programme is 30 minutes long and late in the evening. Perfect before bed.


Now tell me that didn't slow you down!
4 Comments

Simply..chill....

31/7/2020

4 Comments

 

It seems you have to sign up for emails from Marie Kondo at konmarie.com to get this little meditation video. I can't link to it directly. I do find the emails attractive and short and not too frequent, so you might like to give it a try?

I will keep this on my phone to use anywhere, anytime I need two minutes to chill.

Lovely.



Picture
4 Comments

Simply..Midsummer magic....

21/6/2020

16 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
16 Comments

Simply..chill!

18/6/2020

10 Comments

 
A cool moment..
Picture
Small pot of espresso
Picture
Dissolve tblsp sugar
Picture
Pur over lots of ice cubes
Picture
Add 100ml milk
Picture
Enjoy!

This is the first time I have made an iced latte

In fact it's the first time I have had an iced latte

It won't be the last.

Do you have a favourite hot weather drink?


10 Comments

Simply..slowly does it....

17/6/2020

6 Comments

 

I think if this pandemic experience has taught me anything it has taught me to be more patient.

To appreciate slow.

To take the time to do ordinary things properly.

Mindfully.

Picture
Ready for ripening seeds..

I wonder if when it is over I will speed up again?


Has coronavirus taught you anything about yourself?
6 Comments

Simply..the kiss of the sun....

26/5/2020

3 Comments

 
Picture
Don't you just love that moment..

Picture
..when the sun comes out from behind a cloud just as you sit down with a cup of tea.

Bliss.
3 Comments

Simply..optimistic....

10/2/2020

6 Comments

 

Whyever not?

Picture
Picture
6 Comments

Simply..the in-between....

26/1/2020

8 Comments

 
I bought a little notebook long and narrow, for lists. I do like lists! It was divided into Morning Afternoon Evening and In-between.

Using it for the first time to plan my day I filled in various tasks under each heading and when I got to In-between I was about to add a few more chores when I thought No, In-between should be pause for thought, consider what I've just done, ask how successful it was, or wasn't, or how it made me feel, take a breath or a break before rushing on to the next thing....

It's quite important with big things too. A major project at work or at home, an excursion, a holiday, a family event happy or sad.

One thing about this time though - you have to take it. The chances are no-one will give it to you!

I've grown to love the In-between times, they bring me back to myself, whether it's a minute or two between phone calls, or a few days of juicing and retreat which I've had this week.


I forgot to link to Toppings Booksellers. I see they have shops in Ely, Bath, and St Andrews as well as Edinburgh.


Picture
8 Comments
<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.