Hi My Golden Friend,

Last night, thunderstorms rolled through Texas, offering hours of spectacular lightning shows and much-appreciated rain. My husband and I sipped sweat tea and sat on our front porch while we watched the skies in wonder--listening to the rumbling thunder and feeling the cool outflows of air on our faces.

My little cat Olive crawled up onto my lap and watched the exhibition with us, purring contentedly from the safety of our porch. The evening air smelled of damp earth, grateful grasses, and wild salvia.

June is already well underway, and this month I'm relishing a new intention:

SAVOR

Savoring is an act of resistance in a rushed world.

It's choosing to stay a moment longer than necessary.

This month invites you to slow the edges of your days.

To notice what's already good before it passes by.

Nothing extra required.

Just attention.

As most of you know, I said goodbye to my parents at the end of May as they transitioned to a new living situation with my brother in Tacoma, WA. The final week was especially poignant with my mom (and dad) as I tried to savor each of the remaining days to the best of my ability. I will miss my mom's laughter and the way she always asked about my children and my life, no matter how much dementia had taken from her. I will always be grateful for the past three years of love and care.

I was reminded of how fleeting our lives are, and how important it is to pay attention to the things that truly matter.

Family.

Friendships.

Faith.

Drinking a cup of coffee while inspecting garden blooms.

Noticing the beauty in each day--no matter how stressful or rushed it may be.

Savoring might mean taking an extra moment in a mundane task and mining it for sensory experiences.

What does it taste like?

What sounds do I hear?

What can I feel on my skin, hands, body?

What smells can I detect?

What do I see, when I really pay attention?

You see, savoring softens the edges of life and slows the rush of our distracted days. I find that turning off the TV/radio/podcasts and setting my phone on a shelf can be simple, yet powerful actions that provide fertile ground for noticing all the good things I might otherwise miss.

If you're a journaling type, I encourage you to write down what you notice. This practice can become a beautiful prompt for further creativity...and may surprise you with what you discover along the way.

I'll be back to posting videos on Youtube, Facebook and Instagram soon, as I savor this "new normal" life as an empty nester once again!

Much love,

Rachel

--> Youtube channel: RachelAnneRidgeGOLD​

-->Get the journal here: My Intentional Year Journal​

-->Subscribe here: Newsletter​

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