Category: 3S's - A Cottage by the Sea

Give yourself a "My Day"

3/16/2018

A quiet day for me here, a day that is turning out to be a “My Day,” at least until we meet friends for dinner. I want everyone, those of us who like silence, solitude and simplicity, and those who always like to be with others, to have a day like this once in a while. On a ‘My Day” there are no outside obligations or commitments. I figure out what to do as the day enfolds.
Per usual, I’m staying home, satisfying my typical pleasures of reading, writing, meditating, walking, and, I must confess, keep an eye on the news. To my surprise, I realize I have just spent a couple of hours reading “Bernini: His Life and His Rome,” by Franco Mormando, purusing “Bernini and the Art of Architecture,” by T.A. Marder, and planning the four days I’ll be in Rome in April, which seems to be shaping into a Bernini visit.

Disseminating peace our own way~

2/15/2018

Nothing seems silent, solitary or simple about the news these days . But of course that’s not the point. I can’t blame school shootings or domestic abuse on my lack of silence, solitude or simplicity because I know it is to be found inside me.
So how do I respond when my mind and heart keep my thoughts on the Florida victims and their families? I shut my eyes and pray God’s peace surrounding them. That’s my Christian way.
If you don’t participate in a faith tradition, I trust you have your own way of settling yourself down and disseminating peace into the universe. Very likely you wouldn’t be following this blog if you didn’t.

Marching, packing and silence~

1/21/2018

     A year ago this weekend I attended the Women’s March in Washington; this year I’m packing boxes in preparation for our move out of our home of 40 years. So, I might ask, ‘Where is the silence, solitude, and simplicity in my life these days?”
     My answer: it is still with me. My mind returns to those cottage-by-the-sea winters where I very intentionally spent the weekdays getting a handle on what silence, solitude, and simplicity meant to me. Although I don’t go to the cottage anymore,, I still spend time alone each day in simple silence in the midst of my current busy life.
    Practice, practice, practice. Silence, solitude, and simplicity are not final goals but ways of being on the journey, whether I’m sitting alone, marching, or packing boxes.

Renewing silence, solitude and simplicity~

1/2/2018

Thank you Betsy Thompson.

     Gratitude is the best way to start anything, be it the day or the year and everything in between. Gratitude is a theological principle and the only way to lead a satisfying, joyful, meaningful life.
     As 2918 begins it is especially important that I renew my commitment to silence, solitude and simplicity. Why? Because we have no running water in the downstairs, which means we have to run upstairs to use the toilet, get a glass of water and wash the dishes. The frozen washing machine isn’t a big problem since we don’t seem to be working up a sweat!
     Silence, solitude and simplicity are never contingent on circumstances, but on one’s state of mind. Silence comes from not complaining about the situation; I’m grateful that I have a home, and, if the heat goes off, we have friends who will take us in. Solitude is available throughout the day, throughout the house, no matter what the temperature or water availability. Simplicity is accessible through our attitude, and by the practical fact that there just two of us here to manage.
betsythompsonstudio.com/

Peace on my last day in Florence~

9/24/2017

My last full day in Florence. My challenge is to stay in the moment, participate fully. As I write, this thought just came to me: when we live in the moment, we experience inner silence, solitude and simplicity. Or, is it the other way around; when we experience silence, solitude and simplicity, we live in the moment. Regardless, something new, call it peace, is created from the two, forming a trinity.

No comment department

8/31/2017

Observed on a truck parked in front of someone’s home today during my walk. I’m trying not to judge, so I won’t comment other than affirm the old adage that a picture’s worth a thousand words, and admit that this disrupts my sense of silence, solitude and simplicity.
We Scoop Pet Poop: Doody Calls.

Silence, solitude and simplicity on Lake Winnipesaukee

8/17/2017

Silence, solitude and simplicity was present during a recent visit to a friend’s home on Lake Winnipesaukee. In some ways I felt I was back at my cottage by the sea—coffee on the deck over looking the water, no news, a daily walk, and a clear meditative mind. And yet, there were beautiful differences—summer temperature, a lake, and companionship and conversation.
Silence, solitude and simplicity comes in many forms, and can be renewed in many ways. Very grateful.

Love and coffee

5/16/2017

     Silence, solitude and simplicity are hard to catch in this world, especially when the first offerings of the day come from technology, politics, and the lure of money, or when my morning starts through the lens of computer, newspaper and TV. Friends tell me they love to start their day with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. I get the coffee part, but the newspaper part—not a good idea, at least for me. I find it almost impossible to avoid reading the headlines as I walk up the driveway with the newspaper, or commenting on them as I hand the paper, along with coffee, to my husband, who, needless to say, he is a coffee/newspaper man. Our one reprieve is that we start the morning mentioning what we are grateful for—which is often coffee and newspaper.
     While my husband continues with coffee and newspaper, I go to the Angel Room and once again commit to meditating for twenty minutes before continuing my morning routine of silence, solitude, simplicity, and, coffee. Starting with meditation is a daily challenge, but when I give myself this time with the Holy, the lure of technology, politics and money fades into the background, with less chance of taking over during the day.
     This centering time is important to me, not just personally, but for the planet. I believe this fragile, negative world we live in can only be turned around when the majority of its inhabitants feel, think and act positively, the essential ingredients for sending out love. Love and coffee go together.

Back to silence, solitude, and simplicity~

5/6/2017

     I’m glad I am still writing this blog; it keeps me grounded; it reminds me that I want silence, solitude and simplicity and sometimes like to be alone. I began it in November 2009 when I started going to the cottage-by-the sea. My goodness, seven and a half years is a long time to keep something like this going day in and day out. I think there has only been one day when I missed posting a quote of the day.
     Lately, however, my commitment to silence, solitude and simplicity has felt like a throw-away comment, like saying ‘have a good day’ but not paying attention to the meaning. I’ve become involved in activities at church, specifically Andrea Baker’s Sing Sistah Sing tonight. It is going to be wonderful. I have no regrets but my mind feels out of balance—too active at the expense of contemplation.
Consequently, my trip to Scotland May 24 to June 7 feels just right. One night in Oban, four on Iona, and eight in Edinburgh. “How About A Writing Vacation in Edinburgh?”
    Next week, under the new blog heading A Solitary Traveler, I’ll post the article about a writing vacation in Florence.

Meaning, dumpster and all

4/17/2017

      I notice a longer gap than usual in my postings. Time has taken care of itself since I returned from Florence two weeks ago. My main focus last week was to catch up on visiting people. The days were busy and when evening came I had no energy for writing. I’m a morning person and that includes being a morning writer.
     We also rented a dumpster; the attic, garage and barn are quite empty, with the exception of things we really want to keep. I have two closets to go, and that will be it. The dumpster will be filled, so take it away. Then back to the article about writing in Florence. A friend has read the latest draft and commented on Google Doc. I have new momentum.
      In spite of being busy, however, I’ve had times of silence and solitude, and, believe it or not, my life feels simple. It’s a state of being, not what is on the calendar. I feeling purposeful. My life has meaning, and that is essential for all of us no matter what our age or circumstance.