Save like Nana did. The little things.

Do you know the happiness of contentment?   To be completely happy watering your garden,  snuggled up with a soft blanket over your legs, a cup of tea and some knitting or crochet to work on.   Each of us will have our own different version of perfection.  My Mum's are. ... sitting up in bed with a cup of tea and a scone,  some knitting or a good book.   Complete bliss.  Completely happy and content.  This is why I try and keep her scone supply up!   This will look different for each of us but the principal is the same...  simple things that bring us great joy.  

I knew such perfect happiness when I was little.   One of my blissful moments was when I stayed with Nan and Pa.  Every morning before he went to work Pa would make Nana a cup of tea and toast (and Vegemite) which she would eat in bed.   So there I'd be sitting right next to Nana and Pa would make me my own plate of toast and Vegemite.  Nan and I would sit there munching away happily and it was completely lovely.   I don't remember anything else about the morning after that but I have always remembered this as it was a regular event.   Childhood bliss!  Nan and I were buddies.  💗

I have many little things that truly make my heart feel content.   A bubble bath,  a hot water bottle or heat pack on a cold night,  a beautiful project to work on every moment I have time,  a cup of tea in a pretty fine china cup and saucer.  Picking fruit.  Making jam.  Once I said in a blog post I would rather be making jam than on a jet.  Well, that is true.   I used to feel some sense of guilt over NOT wanting more in the way of fancy parties and travel but I just don't.   Not wanting to go to things because when I get there I know I would be longing to get home and looking for the exit plan!   Andy and I have a rule of never attending anything without an exit strategy.  NEVER!     I remind myself of Nan who would be so relived to get home she always changed clothes to get comfortable and breathe a happy sigh that she was home. 

Now I am even worse... if I go away I am worried about the dogs,  the cows,  the sheep, the chickens,  the garden, the list goes on.   When I get home it is such a relief that I am back amongst the gum trees and the cockatoos, the animals and I can breathe clean good air.   City air is not good!  Once we did a trip to Singapore which was a wonderful experience but when we got home I noticed something really striking.  I could breathe.  The air was so fresh and good!  And I could walk on the beach!   When we were away we went to take our shoes off and walk on the beach and people were horrified and told us "stop!!"  It was a dangerous thing to do!   When I walked into the house I realised my kitchen was bigger than the entire home of a family we visited.  I began to realise why I thought it was blissful to be at home.   

I do not believe my Grandparents ever had any urge to "keep up with the Jones" or really do anything extravagant.   A great fun outing was an afternoon at the football or a picnic.   A really big holiday was once a year Nan and Pa,  Mum and Dad, my Uncle and Aunt collectively rented a house near the beach. This was about an hour and a half from home.   These were wonderful holidays.  I still remember how Pa never got tired of swinging me above the waves as they rolled in.  (Or so I thought!). 

People have asked Mum why doesn't she doesn't travel the world..  and her reply is because if she has spare time she would rather spend it with her Grandchildren and her beautiful Great Grandchildren!  That is her goal. She is making them little cakes to take to school and knitting them warm hats.   Just the same as her Mum did for us.  Happiness and contentment are just wonderful.   If you have found this,  if you are truly snug as a bug in a rug at home,  happy as a pig in mud lol,  then you have truly struck gold!    This is the precise opposite of someone who is never satisfied,  never grateful,  always restless...   that is a life of torture.   These people are the target of every advertising champaign offering them the solution!    The rest of us are pretty sure that a new face cream/toothpaste/set of knives is not the actual solution to our problems! haha!   

I remember one day having a wonderful time with my Dad.  It had rained heavily and he asked me to go mushroom picking with him.    So off we headed with baskets and knives.   When we got there the mushrooms were pretty much as far as we could see,  it was hard to know where to start.   It was so much fun!  As we picked we would say "look at this one!"  each time we thought we had the biggest one so far.   Dad said how much his Mother would have enjoyed this outing.  He said how Nana would just love going out and collecting a load of wood.  To her that was a joyful task.  And how she would do what we were and say "look at this one! Isn't it a beauty!"  It was true,  Nana B was always a happy person,  she always appeared to enjoy everything!   I notice we could have more fun collecting mushrooms or firewood than anything else.   Do you notice that?  Some people can make anything fun and other people can make nothing fun!  

If I have things at least semi orderly,  some produce,  some flowers,  my comfy bed, and my family are ok, I am content.   There is nothing wrong with wanting to travel or buy a new car or whatever...  I am just saying that happiness and contentment are beautiful.  Today I am overjoyed with all the seedlings coming up in my garden and I have CUCUMBERS on my vines!  If you bought me a boat I wouldn't be any happier.   Collecting the eggs is another joy.  Hens = happiness in my opinion!

It truly is a gift to feel joy in family, friends, your home,  nature, routines and your work.     Don't let anyone steal your joy. 

Let people see you have peace that defies understanding!   Work on what needs attending to today,  relax and enjoy your evenings and repeat.   Be all the things Nana was,  prudent, diligent,  grateful, watchful.   Fully enjoy the little things,  the sweet parts of your day,  your family and all of your blessings.  xxx