Since we moved into our new house in June, I found myself running in a sub-optimal way. Naps for me used to be something that I rarely needed except during pregnancy and early post-partum seasons. But over the summer I began napping almost every afternoon out of sheer necessity. Crying on any given day was likewise unusual—suddenly it was the norm.

It took me a while to realize what was behind these changes. One factor was the increased workload of having a bigger house. Another was potty training (jeepers). A third factor came as somewhat of a surprise: my environment. I realized that the boxes around the house in miscellaneous corners, the cabinets that had been unceremoniously filled just to get things unpacked, the drawers full to the brim without any particular rhyme or reason, the long, LONG list of home improvement projects (some of which were in various states of started but not finished)… all of the disorder and general un-settledness was one ginormous silent stressor.

Someone reading this may think that they would not be bothered at all by unfinished projects or messy rooms, but that’s not the point. We all have certain conditions that allow us to thrive more easily. That might be regular quiet time to think, or a morning walk, or a weekly coffee date, or an organized pantry… or all of the above.

Sometimes I think we go about our lives doing ‘okay’ or even doing poorly without stopping to think about what we can change that could help us out (even by 1%!). Things like getting a babysitter to come regularly, implementing an exercise routine, talking with a life coach, or going on a retreat. We only think about what needs to get DONE without also considering what WE need to do so with a happy heart. If we do stop to think about the changes we would like, it’s often in a ‘that-would-be-nice’ sort of way that doesn’t lead to any serious course of action.

So, my question to you today is: what do you need to thrive?

Inspo

This account called The Village Green has some of the sweetest reels I’ve seen on Insta! I love their romantic, old-school themes and just feel refreshed any time I see some of their content on social. If you want some inspiration to lead a beautiful, nostalgic life I recommend checking out their account! They also have a lovely shop full of vintage-themed goodies to explore.

Pretty things

We are a book family. We love them in all shapes and sizes and we especially love pretty ones. These spiritual classics from Cor Jesu Press are lovely must-reads. I have five already and I’m just getting started. My absolute favorite is The Christian Mother and Her Prayer. Stephen has been loving The Secret of Sanctity. I highly encourage you to check out their site if you’re looking for some edifying reading material. PLUS you get a 10% discount with the code KATECO10.

In camaraderie,

Miranda Kate