December 10 – Early Starts, Extra Steps, and an Unexpected Act of Giving

I woke up at 6:00am today — a small but important win, especially with an even earlier start needed tomorrow. I’ve been doing well with getting a head start before the kids wake up. By 7:30 the porridge was made, lunch boxes were packed, and the kitchen was tidied. I postponed my morning yoga until after they’d left, choosing a quieter house over a rushed start.

Once they were out the door, I rolled out my mat for a yoga session with Kassandra, followed by a hot-then-cold shower (the kind that makes you question your life choices and then feel oddly proud afterwards). Afterwards, I sat down to a rather large bowl of porridge, preceded by a pear and some kefir. I did wonder whether I needed that much energy… but it turns out I absolutely did.

Oats, water, milk, seeds, dates, cardamom, blueberries, yoghurt, almond butter

Just before 11:00am I received a last-minute request for a dog walk. So off I went — first an 11 o’clock walk, then another at 13:00. A handful of nuts, two dried figs, and plenty of water kept me going until 15:00, when I finally sat down for a quickly thrown-together lunch: pitta stuffed with yesterday’s kale salad, chopped red cabbage, tahini, leftover aubergine, cooked chicken, and a drizzle of hot honey, followed by a large orange. I’d gone straight to the shops after the 13:00 walk, so food was very welcome by then.

After lunch, I debated making a cup of tea, but by the time I’d tidied the kitchen, I opted instead for kombucha and getting dinner prepared. By 16:30 the enchiladas were ready, and the kids and I sat down for what — for once — had the potential to become a mindful dinner.

Today’s mindful activity was about giving: a gesture or small treat, offered anonymously.

My first reaction was, “But I do that all the time.” Then I wondered whether I always did it anonymously, or even mindfully. So I had a go. During the dog walks, I picked up some poop that didn’t belong to the dogs I was walking. Given how much of our time is spent in darkness at this time of year, it felt like helping someone who simply hadn’t noticed. Definitely anonymous. And somehow, with the early-sunset justification, it felt right.

I tried another small act later with the children, but it didn’t land in the same way. These things often don’t — perhaps because spontaneous giving feels different from intentional giving.

How did you get on with today’s mindful activity?

Mindful Living Tip of the Day ✨

Let the smallest gesture count.Mindful giving doesn’t need to be dramatic. A held door, a friendly message, picking up something that isn’t yours — tiny moments, big impact…unless the recipients are your children, who will not only fail to notice your silent act of generosity, but will also immediately inform you that you did it “wrong,” ask for a snack, and then wander off leaving their shoes in the middle of the hallway.