We capture experiences and bravely share our stories in the hopes that they can extend past ourselves. Welcome to Sunday Stories, a series for thoughts, chats & all of life’s in-between as we dive deeper into the creative and courageous way of living.
A couple of months ago, I received a message on instagram that said, ‘The art of simple living…you are the epitome of the art!’ — I was utterly flattered! I had never given much thought to my content nor my niche until I read that message. When I looked back at my first posts and the photos on my phone, I realised how accurate it was! All my thoughts, photos, videos I share with the world come from the calmness I feel within. It’s what drives my creativity. It’s those simple, slow, soul fulfilling moments that have shaped me into the person I am today and in turn they’ve become a representation of what I value the most—this is my calm era.
Slow, simple, intentional isn’t about living an idle life. It’s a choice to step away from the rhythms of the fast-paced world and embracing a lifestyle that has meaning and intent. It’s dealing with life’s challenges with composure. It’s coming to peace with what no longer aligns. It’s making amends with people’s thinking and behaviour. It’s forgiving.
A soft, calm life cannot be defined by a single aspect or way. It’s a process of discovering what works best in order to be able to feel that ease and calmness. Here are a few of my aspects that have helped me on my journey.
My Aspects of Calm
Journaling | It has always been starting point to sorting out my thought and dive deeper into my feelings. The act of writing is quite therapeutic. Jotting all my thoughts imperfectly and honestly gives me much clarity. It reframes the perception so that I can focus on what matters. It’s a coping mechanism to calming my inner world. It enables me to be more present, soft and patient.
A quiet space | If we are friends on instagram, you know that my little bistro set up in the office is my favourite space! Those few moments of quietude in the morning calm my nervous system. I take my time to enjoy my coffee and breakfast. I savour that moment. It’s within those minutes that I journal, read a few pages from a book and think about my day ahead. The slow things first. This is how I like to start my day. Then I’m off doing all the other things my day involves…work, movement, cooking, sorting, errands…it isn’t zen all day but those few minutes do make a world of difference on my overall well-being.
Curating time for the things that bring much contentment. We can easily get caught up in our routines that at times, we don’t realise how much it weighs us down. So, I intentionally insert time slots in my week for the things that light me up! It can be something as simple as turning in early and curling up in bed with a book. Pizza night. Watching a rom-com. Brunch with girlfriends. A day trip. Breaking the routine up a bit truly benefits my overall well-being.
Embracing things as they are was the most pivotal aspect of my journey. Accepting the fact that I cannot control everything nor am I responsible for people’s feelings and opinions was an unlearning process for me. Discovered what works well for me and my family came with resistance. But I stayed true to the mom I wanted to be, the wife, the daughter, the sister, the friend…and eventually, I moved past judgements and opinions. I made peace with people’s way of thinking. I don’t dwell on the past. Embracing the present moment with gratitude has become a part of my life.
“A woman whose mood improves with a book, a poem, a song or a cup of coffee is not defeated by anyone; even life loses with her.”
-Khalil Gibran
〰️
Q & A
Why did you choose to live in Greece?
I was curious to see and experience Greece in every season! When we think of Greece, we imagine whitewashed houses, the blue sea, sandy beaches…but there is so much more beauty to this country! After my first year here, the lifestyle won me over! I just love the simple rhythms of life here. The traditions celebrated in Greece brings people together and creates a sense of community. I love that!
How does connecting with nature help you?
It’s the epitome of what soothes the soul! Before having my son, I never noticed the effects that nature could have on someone. I became really curious about the world when my son was at the age when he wanted to explore everything! I’d notice the sheer excitement on his face when he would discover something new or the fear of the unknown. I also noticed that when he was out of the house, whether it was by the sea or in our garden, he was calmer. From that moment on, I realised that I too felt calmer and more at ease every time I was in nature. It’s a mood enhancer. I love the sunlight on my face, the ground beneath my feet and I relish in all of nature’s sights and sounds because of the way nature makes me feel.
What’s the hardest part of living away from family?
I’d have to say my family’s company. I’m very close with my parents and my sisters so, not being in their lives on the daily gets me down at times. I wish we could be in each other’s homes more often and just hang out but I’m grateful that we live in this day and age! I’d be in a worse state if it weren’t for FaceTime!
Thank you so much for being here! I cannot wait to dive into more topics for our next Sunday Stories!
Talk soon! Demi xoxo