~ Comfort and Joy ~
We need and crave comfort in these troubled times...
Joy may seem impossible.
Despair might creep in if we give it a wide berth.
I'm not suggesting that you bury your head in the sand...
just seek a balance.
~ It is not selfish to practise self care ~
Creating and embracing JOY in our daily round is important for our well being.
Soothing slow and mindful habits can and need to be cultivated.
With that in mind I am
starting off the New Year with some comforting rituals...
little things that make a difference in my days.
lighting candles
taking tea
reading inspirational books
wearing soft fabrics that feel like a warm hug
trying out a new shade of lipstick
browsing in a used bookshop
exploring the neighbourhood ~ slowly walking around
discovering a different park or new garden
visiting an art gallery
shopping for groceries in a different store
tidying up a messy cupboard or drawer
making a new recipe
baking some yummy cookies
(the opportunities are vast!)
I created a cozy corner in my "hobby" room.
Re-reading Simple Abundance and Romancing The Ordinary
by
Sarah Ban Breathnach
Mornings are started with a few pages of each of these lovely books...
they definitely help set a thoughtful and positive tone to my day.
There have been some "new" things too...
besides purging stuff and donating to the charity shops I've browsed a few...
I discovered these Geoc leather boots at a local WIN thrift shop...
What a great pair of boots!
Happy to have found them as they were on my list for at least 2 years.
New palette of matte powder eye shadows...
Marcelle, a Canadian company, make some lovely products.
My former Marcelle palette was a mess...
several of the powders had been all used up
so there was not much point trying to eke out any product.
It was time to buy a replacement :-))
KUR nail veil...
Using these nail enhancers for over 2 years have improved my nails.
My cuticles are in much better shape and my nails are much stronger.
Have you tried the KUR line of nail illuminators?
It's raining cats and dogs here this morning...
will be a day to be indoors
perfect for making a big batch of soup or baking something yummy.
Carbs call to me on these rainy days...
I've been very good at avoiding them as they tend to be my dieting downfall.
The scale is hovering in and around the 15 pounds lost mark...
I'll need to up my activity level or lower my intake.
Slow progress, but it's reduced my hip pain substantially, so I feel very grateful.
How are you starting 2026?
Making any resolutions?
Travel Plans?
Hope you are feeling ready to embrace positive change.
Perhaps making self care one of your comforting rituals.
~ Take Care ~
Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.
~ Be Well and Be Kind ~
23 comments:
Brava for your weight loss! It will make your surgery more manageable. I am going to try that polish because my nails have had much damage due to too much nail gel. They have been bare since September so I’m ready to try something gentle. I’m hoping to go to Shetland for a book festival. Ann Cleeves and Louise Penny are both presenting. Enjoy your rainy day!
Well done on your weight loss! Carbs are my downfall, too. Balance is so necessary these days with the world in such turmoil. I like your list of comforting things.
No definite plans for 2026 yet. Our family trip to Mexico was on our minds for most of last year. Now that's over, I'm happy to stay at home for awhile. Happy New Year, Leslie.
Such a good point: self care isn't selfish! There is so much in the world that we can't control - we need to take care of ourselves and our people, as much as we can. Geox made good shoes - those boots are awesome, great find!
I am focusing on self care in 2026. I am learning what my retirement years are going to look like... I have used the KUR polish for over a year, and agree it is a lovely product.
What a wonderful post Lesley. Your list of self care ideas is just the tonic I need. Over six months hard work to downsize to a smaller home for our senior years has taken its toll on me. I have noted down your suggestions. The cosy corner in your hobby room is such a neat idea, one worth trying. A new lipstick would be nice too. Lovely to see your rose paintings, I always love those. Well done on the 15 pounds which is a lot to lose, and it's great it reduces your hip pain. While I don't tend to make resolutions, after we finish settling ourselves into our new home, we are starting to plan another trip to Canada to see our daughter. Fingers crossed Air Canada will keep the Brisbane-Vancouver flight going; it is the quickest way for us to get to Ottawa. Have a lovely week.
What a great start you’ve had to the New Year. Simple pleasures are easily overlooked but they are very comforting and accessible to anyone who cares to look. I love that you have a regular morning routine. I’m sure it sets you up very well to make the most of each day.
I have begun 2026 by prioritizing wellness and peace. The political situation has become so tenuous that I had to retreat from it in order to get by. I’m happy you reminded me of the Sarah Ban Breathnach books because they were always so comforting. Since I can’t fix the world, I am focusing on filling my days with gentle activity. I have puzzles, paint by number, beginning knitting and piano lessons. Lest this sounds frivolous or self absorbed, I remind myself that tuning out the ugly is a survival mechanism. Congratulations on your weight loss. I am gearing up to begin, but need to recover from a nasty cold before I add any more stress to this body.
Happy New Year Leslie. I too pulled out my old copy of SBB’s book and will re- enjoy it. Just had a haircut and then a pedicure. Plan to make soup this weekend. Recovering from a bronchial infection that hit hard so self care has been underway. We in the lower 48 need big doses of it on a regular basis.
I always enjoy your blog!
JoanS
Thank you for your sweet reassurances plus lovely, easily accessible self care ideas. My mom always told jokingly told me "If you don't take care of yourself, nobody else will!" She believed self care was a necessity, not an indulgence. I'm writing from the US where everything, as you well know, is a mess! Your tips will help keep us sane in dark times. Take care and many thanks!
Happy Cocooning....hope you are staying dry in all this rain!
That Mexico trip is one for the memory books...your family will cherish that holiday.
XO
Oh I would LOVE to be able to have more control and enact PEACE for ALL...I found a great jacket at Turnabout...will post it on my next blog post. Happy shopping :-))
Hope you are looking forward to retiring...it is a wonderful time to explore new things...best wishes.
Moving house and setting up in a new space must be very challenging but I can only imagine how much fun it must be to decorate a new home!!! It must be so exciting and refreshing too....fingers crossed on the direct flight.
XO
Hello Maria,
Do you have a regular routine? Retirement allows us to be more flexible with our days but I tend to be a creature of habit!
My mornings are slower and I set my intentions for each day in a positive way...
Re-reading Simple Abundance is a wonderful exercise in focusing on the positives and wee things in our daily round that bring JOY.
Take care.
Kris,
*t sounds to me like you have a good plan for relaxing and inviting creativity into your days...the world does seem to be fraught with conflict and seeking out soothing routines does help us with our self care.
Hopefully your cold has gone and you are feeling better by now.
Good luck with your plans.
Joan your manicure and pedicure must have been a delightful experience. I love a wee bit of pampering at the spa. Homemade soup is so healthy and the process of chopping and seasoning a boiling pot just feels so comforting. We all need comfort as so much is way beyond our control...we can only control our reactions to the situations...making soup and taking care of ourselves (and family) seems like the right thing to do.
Hope you are on the mend...nasty colds and flu are making the rounds.
Your mom was right...as most mom's would agree :-))
Staying sane in these troubled times does involve self care and soothing strategies for day to day survival. I always think about my ancestors during wartime....those fighting In the battlefields and those tending the "home fires" We have our own stresses to cope with...and I dearly hope that we see a time of peace in our lifetime.
Happy New Year - yes to self care and a cozy winter time. I really like those Kur products. The nail veils are great and we just returned from a 17 day cruise and I used Londontown nail polish and it made it almost to the end of the trip. Nails are stronger, too. Kudos to you for the weight loss! I need to drop a few pounds - especially after our trip - and wondering what are your tips and eating plan...other than the carbs. They are my downfall, too !
Leslie, did you follow a particular plan for your weight loss? Or did you simply “pay attention” as the French say. I have struggled to get the weight off, but I’m hesitant to join a program because I usually drop out and waste money.
Trips away are not the right time to diet are they? It would put a damper on the whole experience...I really haven't any tips! I eat protein with each meal and try to avoid carbs and snacking between meals. My lunch most days is Greek yogurt, a green banana sliced and a handful of walnuts...it usually keeps me full until dinner time.
Good luck!
Oh that trip to Shetland for the book festival will be sublime! I have been looking at Shetland posts on Instagram and the landscape looks so rugged and interesting. There is a woman in my knitting group who buys yarn in Shetland...
Definitely look into the KUR polish as it is a much healthier alternative to regular formulas and it allows the nail bed to breathe.
Kris, No plan here...just cut back on portions and avoiding sugar and carbs...protein with every meal ...oh and NO alcohol.
Love the Pope John Paul rose - I have been looking out for that one, as we are putting roses in our new garden. Good news that blazers are back - I would like to get another one too. It looks like yours is black leather, and very chic too. Well done re 20 pound loss, I know how difficult that can be. And I too can gain a kg after baking one cake and having a few pieces of it. I am doing a 12 hour fast every day now, and it seems to be helping. Not a smidge of food between 7.00pm and 7.00 am., just water. Your plans for the op. are good, and I feel sure you will sail through beautifully. All the best.
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