Discovering Spacious Moments of Pause in Our Lives
By Tehla Bower
As we enter a new year in 2024, how can we dedicate meaningful pockets of personal time to ourselves without sacrificing our commitments to others? It isn’t as impossible as we might lead ourselves to believe.
Now that the holiday season has drawn to a close, you might be feeling called to take more time out to yourself for restoration and reset. There is no more perfect time of year to introduce new habits, intentions and peaceful practices into our lives.
Fortunately, here on the Tweed and surrounds, open spaces of inspiration are available to us as naturally as the air we breathe. Whether it‘s Norries Headland at Cabarita Beach, Cudgen Creek, the rockpools at Hastings, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, Kingscliff boardwalk and the extensive network of walking trails throughout the Tweed Valley, we are spoilt for choice. Hiking, walking, riding, canoeing, fishing, surfing – there are options to suit all levels of agility and ability.
Sometimes the hardest part is convincing ourselves that we are worthy and deserving of the time out away from our responsibilities! Akin to honing a muscle, the more it is used the more confident you will become in seeking it out. One of my own examples is documented below.
The Soothing Effects of Nature*
I discovered the walking track by accident. Detouring deliberately off the main worn dirt trail, I opted for the route that led away from the signposted arrows. Clamouring up the rocks I took in a deep complete breath and dropped into the sweetness of my solitude. Balancing my coffee cup in one hand, I pulled myself up and over the flat warm rock at the top.
Its heat was an elixir to my soul.
Standing tall, I made a conscious effort to connect with my newfound surroundings. The striking red and white native Christmas Bells were receiving a generous amount of attention by a swarm of bees, buzzing and sucking as they made their way from flower to flower. The soil was dark and damp, a consequence of the heavy rain from the night before. The fresh scent of eucalyptus filled my nostrils, and I imagined a fluffball of a koala high in those treetops, munching away on the leaves, slowly, peacefully and purposefully. Oh, how much we can learn from our Phascolarctos friends! A pied currawong croaked in the distance, alerting me to its presence.
Suddenly, the edge. I had already made it to the huge rock platform, a lid pressed down firmly atop the mountain. Freedom embraced every cell of my body. I broke into a smile and sat down cross-legged on the hard, warm surface. A bee landed on my knee. Instead of brushing it off, I watched its yellow and black body move across my jeans until it reached a position of flight. Off it flew. How simple life can be if we just allow it to flow naturally, without force or obstruction.
In this short 30 minute walk of fresh discoveries, I had rekindled a spark of spirit from within. And the benefits of dedicating this small fraction of my day to self care and connection lasted for the rest of the day.
Creating space at home
If it is impossible to leave the house, you might consider curating an area of your home (inside or outside) and adorning it delicately with your favourite things. Books, crystals, photos, affirmation cards, shells, flowers – whatever makes your heart sing and brings a smile to your face. We don’t always have to venture away from the home front to achieve uplift, stillness and peace. We just need to be more creative in the way we seek it out! Maybe it is:
A spare room or guest room that can be temporarily transformed into a quiet haven for retreat
A corner in your bedroom or a windowsill drenched in sunlight dedicated to you and all the things you love
An alcove under the stairs for reading or creative pursuits
A private garden nook or veggie patch in the backyard to escape for a moment of peace with a cuppa and a watering can
Once you identify an area in or around the home, claim it so every family member is aware it is now your space, and baptise it with all your signature pieces and vibes.
*This segment includes edited excerpts from the book ‘A Mother’s Space: Permission to Pause’ by Tehla Jane Bower.
Tehla Jane Bower is a mother of two, writer, spiritual coach and founder of The Crystal Healing Room in Pottsville. She is the author of A Mothers Space: Permission to Pause, an inspiring book that motivates mothers to discover and prioritise spacious moments in their day – every day. Available online via www.tehlajane.com or instore locally at Boardwalk Books (Kingscliff), Pulp Fiction (Murwillumbah), The Book Warehouse (Lismore) & Fusion Wellness (Casuarina). Connect with Tehla on IG @tehla_jane.