December 9 – Double Digits, Distractions, and a Mindful Pause

The day began at 6:30 — a full 30 minutes earlier than I’ve been managing recently — and that small victory gave me an unexpected lift. By the time the kids came downstairs, the dishwasher was emptied, lunch boxes were ready, the mango was cut up, and porridge was already in the bowls. It felt like a quietly triumphant start to the morning.

At 7:30 I was ready for my workout. After the cool down, I added Adriene’s daily “neck hygiene” yoga session because something in my shoulder or neck felt slightly pulled. A small act of self-maintenance before the day carried me away.

When I came downstairs, I found a message from my friend Michelle: a mindful Christmas movie suggestion — It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). I wasn’t sure whether I had actually seen it, so I looked it up. One YouTube clip led to “19 weird facts you didn’t know,” and before I knew it, I had fallen into the softest, most welcome distraction. A wholesome rabbit hole.

Breakfast was my overnight muesli (oats, kefir, yoghurt, kombucha, chia, dates, walnuts, blackcurrants) followed by some leftover mango pieces. I even had enough time before leaving to fold the washing and take out the rubbish. A rare moment where everything lined up neatly, without rushing.

Lunch was the salad I’d prepared the night before (quinoa, lentils, carrots, onions, pomegranate, cabbage, lemon, tahini, kale, sweet potatoes, seeds) — another small kindness to myself.

By 17:15 everyone was home again, and supper was simple: baked beans and egg on toast. A quick, no-fuss dinner, because I had to head out once more.And this is where my mindfulness slipped away a little. By evening, the day had simply used up most of my bandwidth. Mindfulness didn’t show up at dinner, but I did — and that’s enough.

Earlier, Lentil had remarked that December will roll into double digits tomorrow, and the pace will inevitably gather as Christmas approaches. I felt that deeply.

Today’s mindful activity was supposed to be mindfully decorating. But the children had already decorated the tree last Sunday, enthusiastically and completely. So the activity will have to wait until next year — or perhaps evolve into something else.

I can’t help noticing how the mindful tasks become more time-intensive the closer we get to Christmas. Harder to accomplish in modern, fast-paced life.Or… perhaps that is exactly the point.

Mindful Eating Tip of the Day ✨

Pause for three breaths before your first bite.Before eating, rest your hands, soften your shoulders, and take three slow breaths. Notice the colours, aroma, and temperature of your food. This tiny pause activates the parasympathetic nervous system — your “rest and digest” mode — helping you feel more grounded, digest better, and enjoy your meal more fully.