Breath of fresh air

I’m in a post-vacation daze: clinging to the carefree spirit of our refreshing escape while reality slowly engulfs me. I can feel it sneaking its way back in with every traffic light, phone call and load of laundry. I’m not ready to let go of the slow pace of thinking, moving, talking; the avoidance of mundane responsibilities; the permission to be disconnected. It’s amazing how good it feels to let go, slow down and just be a family.  

I know I can’t live in vacation-mode forever. And eventually, I do want to reconnect with our life here at home. But maybe there’s a way to carry some version of the vacation mentality back into the everyday: to hold onto this feeling of simplicity; this openness to new places, faces, ideas and inspiration; this knowing that the only company we really need is family and a few close friends; this appreciation of the neighborly life; this trust that we don’t need a schedule of activities to make us feel connected or productive; this realization that Liza Cate needs just a hand full of objects to entertain her, most of which can be found in the front yard and kitchen cabinets. Maybe it’s possible to continue gathering fulfillment in just being present, and looking for inspiration and  adventure in the everyday, however simple they may be.

First step: put away the cell phone, get outside with my baby girl, look up at the sky and breathe.