A Dash of Fresh Air

"See how nature—trees, flowers, grass—grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." -Mother Teresa

At the end of February, my parents flew to Europe to explore Dublin and see Bordeaux.  I relished being with them and loved having the chance to reach out for a quick squeeze any time I wanted.

During our time in Bordeaux, I was reminded of how much I love this city and how moving here has allowed me to create some long-anticipated changes in my life. Like many others who are frustrated with the craziness of the 21st century, I've been craving a quieter life where things are done simply but well.

I have this dream of a life where waste is minimized, food and plants surround a home, reading is a daily habit, and meals are something to invest in.  I want to live a life that isn’t too rushed to enjoy cooking a feast and savoring it with family and friends.  I want to live a life that doesn’t pollute my earth and my home.

French culture thoroughly embraces this idea of a simple but rich life, and it comes out in everything from their pastries, to their dress, to their traditional dining experience.  Being here, surrounded by people who think differently, I've been able to reconsider how my time is spent.

Reading, specifically, was something that I wanted to reincorporate into my routine in the place of watching daily TV.  While I don't imagine I'll continue with this for the rest of my life, cutting out all forms of TV and movie streaming has been such a gift the past few months, and most importantly, it has allowed me to rekindle my love of slow evenings with a good book.

In a second wave of searching for simplicity, I began trying to minimize the amount of packaged food that I buy.  Focusing on purchasing primarily basic ingredients and learning to make the sauces, snacks and seasonings that often come wrapped in plastic has pushed me to take life slowly and plan my time to prepare nourishing and tasty meals.

To add a bit more of a cultural spice to the shopping experience, a few friends and I have started going to the local market on Saturday mornings to buy herbs, fruits, vegetables, coffee, seafood and pastries from the farmers and fishermen.  I've grown to love the bustle and energy that surrounds the exchange of goods in that place, and an added bonus is that the prices are fair and comparable to those in the supermarket near my apartment.

Buying from the merchants there is lovely because not only can I bring my own bags to fill with local products, but the products themselves are yummy and often have local flairs to them.  Each week, I find myself coming home with a new ingredient to try and I've never regretted the adventure.

In the chopping, boiling, peeling, and mixing I’ve not only eliminated waste, but given myself methodical tasks to engage my hands and mind, allowing my soul to have space and silence during the day.

As a result of becoming more aware of packaging and waste, I began noticing that much of my garbage was actually compostable.  But, because I don't have a yard for my own compost system, I was simply sending it to the landfill with everything else.

While cooking with my mama the night before she and my dad headed home, she asked me what compost options are available in the area, and I realized I had never even done the research to find out... sometimes we just need a little encouragement to seek these things out.

After a two minute Google search, I found a few places on the outskirts of Bordeaux that welcome compost from city dwellers and set off on my bike to explore.  Since then, I've been taking trips twice a week to the communal compost center and find joy knowing that my waste is being used as soil to grow more plants and increase life on our planet.

These simple shifts in my routine have given me space to appreciate silence, and my thoughts feel cleaner for it.  Taking time during the day to cook and pausing in the evenings to read has become something that I truly look forward to, and I can feel my soul growing lighter because of it.

These changes, however, are not things that I've chosen alone.  They have come from community--suggestions from my mama, inspiration from my sister's sustainability blog, and  friendship and encouragement from those around me.  I'm convinced that these are changes better made together.

So now I'll pose the question to you: Is there something that you want to incorporate into your life to add flavor or peace to your daily grind?  Do you have time for silence and simplicity in your routines?

Psst… if you’re looking for more sustainable ways to live your life, check out my sister's lovely blog with easy eco-friendly tips: https://renewingeden.wordpress.com/