The relationship I have with my own mind has been something that, at different times, fascinates, scares, overwhelms, and irritates me. As a young child, I wanted to be busy in order to feel fulfilled. Time stopped for me when I was engaged in crafts, writing, music, design, and the beautiful fresh-air of four-season western Canada. My passion for caregiving-be it stray dogs I would befriend, elderly nursing home patients I would connect with, or children I would babysit-instilled a deeper love of human nature, relationships, and the mind-body connection.
Fast forward to the present (and for the time being, intentionally gloss over the multitude of mistakes I made between then and now). I have been studying and working in special education for 15 years, am the mother of three, wife of one, and pet-mom of four. I continue to fill up my plate to be fulfilled, studying a Masters Degree, with topics in Educational Neuroscience and Supporting Mental Health in Children and Youth. My hobbies include nesting, scrapbooking, writing, music, exercising, meditating and dreaming. About a year ago, when my then six-year old twins entered grade one, my three-year-old was acting three, and my marriage was reaching a stressful bend that nearly broke, I realized I couldn’t make lists and highlight my way through life anymore. I was officially diagnosed with ADHD, and began medication and more intentional behavioural treatments (I had been unknowingly using a lot of treatments to cope the last 25 odd years-more on that later!). It was a game-changer for my mental health, and I realized that the beautiful mind I was gifted with could be honed and strengthened so much more.
My love of the nest (my first degree was in Home Economics) preceded my journey into homemaking. I envisioned design elements and organizational hacks long before I owned the forever-home my family and I dwell in now. I desire simplicity and minimalism, but have to balance that with a niche for collecting antiques that decorate my space (not to mention cohabiting with a techy husband who brought a lot of cords and screens). ADHD has added a wonderful challenge to my minimalist life, and with children exhibiting much of the same symptoms, our home is in a fairly constant state of high energy and beautiful chaos.
So to bring it all together, I’ve decided to create this blog. Amidst the last seven years of motherhood, fifteen years of education, and thirty-three years of life, I’ve gathered so many interests, hobbies, and resources that I desire a place to lay it all out. I’m always becoming, and am in a forever state of growth. I admit to knowing very little about the grand scheme of life, but one thing that I can count on is this present moment. It exists. The past we learn from, and the future we hope for, but these are figments of time we are not experiencing. Anytime I have dwelled in the past or future for too long, I fall apart, realizing I am nowhere at all. As much as I am a minimalist, I am a clutterbug, as much as I am mindful, I am distracted, as much as I feel free, I feel trapped. There are spaces in our mind, however, that we can be, when we slow down and purposefully live in the present moment. That little space, between nowhere and now here, is what I intend to explore.
Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Kels
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