To live a quiet life

[Booksandcatsandtea]

Here is a thread to celebrate living a quiet life, small joys and simple pleasures 💕

My life is quiet now that I’ve separated from (abusive) DH and it’s just me and non verbal DS.

My life is not exciting or full of parties and social engagements but it is quiet and steady and I’m doing my best to appreciate living a quiet, peaceful life.

Things that bring me joy -

Planting seeds and watching them grow 🌺

After the school run I clean the living room then enjoy a cup of tea and a chapter of my book 📖

Walking in the woods with DS, throwing stones into the river and watching them splash, sitting and listening to the sounds of the forest and spotting butterflies, bugs and birds 🐦

Creating art, sketching and painting 🎨

Cuddling on the sofa with DS and watching a film 🍿

What small things bring you joy?

I still have a very busy life which suits me in general but I love peaceful moments like this and crave them more and more!

Two years of relationship worry and distractions behind me. I have culled the activities I’m no longer interested in, and the “friends” who don’t reciprocate.

I love sleeping in, (I’m a night owl) having a tidy house, a colorful garden, bird song, my lovely car I really enjoy driving, the holiday I could only dream about for 30 years, enough money to pay my bills without worrying and gym membership. I’m not lonely, I live in a nice area with decent neighbours in a rural village.
Retired bliss. I’m very content.

Not, daffodils, sunflowers!!

But daffodils bring me a lot of joy too <3

Pottering at home in the morning
Driving into town along country roads with the dog beside me
A crossword or 2 in late afternoon with ☕️ and a few nuts
Feeding the little birds, crows, collared doves...
Cats supervising me when I'm in the garden
Cutting a few roses for the garden table
Reading a few pages of a book, trying not to nod off
There's so much to be thankful for.

Was going to mention Merlin app as well. Great for identifying bird song.

Dog walking.

@Booksandcatsandtea what are you reading at the moment OP?

A quick watercolour doodle on a diary page 🥰 my garden

We’ll Prescribe you a Cat 🐈 😀

Oh this is lovely. I have a special needs child too and not that much money and I suspect this is where a lot of us find ourselves, being mindful and appreciating the small things.
I'm another who loves the merlin app and a nice walk. I also like gardening and journaling. I've got a couple of lovely fountain pens which are a joy to write with and a really nice notebook. I don't go into the day to day drudge, but I write about what I've spotted on my walks, the weather, what is growing in the garden, interesting plants I've seen - that kind of thing. I also love reading and a bath. Particularly reading in the bath!

What a lovely thread, full of small joys and contentment.
I share many of those already mentioned.

others are:
Watching the swifts, screaming across the sky. I have seven nest boxes, all full, and I am getting more put up for next year. Every Mayday, I am anxiously scanning the sky, waiting for their return and every Lammas, I regretfully say goodbye.

Walking in woodland. We have some smashing woods near me, and I can feel the relaxation once I am under the canopy, hearing the birdsong.

Sitting in my nearly garden (still under construction) shaded by my big tree, with a few flower beds completed, with some tea.

Being retired from full time work. It means I have time for all these small pleasures and more, and I can be my natural semi nocturnal self.

The madly colourful, no doubt very unfashionable rooms in my house, full of books and my collections, and pictures. It has taken so long to get the house as I want it, and it is a source of constant pleasure.

My small group of friends, wise, witty and wonderful. Also my coven, for the same reasons.

My lovely dogs, who give me a lot of laughs and unconditional love.

My van! I can carry everything, go away in it and feel safe, plus the sheer joy of having independent travel.

My drumming group. Drumming is absolutely wonderful to lose yourself and change your consciousness.

Thanks for this thread. I’m with you all - reading, baking, nature, a snoozing pet, lovely new tea varieties to try. The perfect life. I’ve recently discovered t’ai chi and really enjoy it too. So pleased to hear that others feel the same way.

Sitting in my suburban garden early in the morning with a coffee and the Merlin app listening to the birds and marvelling at how many there are despite being in a big city

On the rare night there are lots of stars to be seen, sitting in my garden with a glass of wine looking at them

A hot bath with lots of bubbles and a good book

Sounds lovely OP.

I have a blackbird that waits for me to put down mealworms for him in the morning.

I'm growing runner beans and they're doing beautifully - although the extreme heat may make the flowers drop before they set.

I love the plant ID app and am always learning new wild flowers.

This thread is actually bringing me joy! Seems we all share a love for the truly meaningful things, peace & love everyone [sunshine]

Birds also bring me a lot of joy, we had to remove a tree from our garden at the beginning of Spring and I was worried that the birds would desert us without it. I needn't have worried as we've had loads since it's been gone including a lovely little blackbird family. It makes me so happy to see them, the aforementioned cat also enjoys them.

Watching the local jackdaw population form a gigantic flock every evening, just before roosting, for one final fly over of my town. I know they’re noisy, but there’s something so lovely about seeing them. I swear jackdaws have a sense of fun!

Watching the sun set

My small(ish) collection of quality teas. I have 5 on the go at the moment, ranging from a supermarket bought Earl Grey to an award winning Oolong

Sitting in my garden with a cup of that quality tea, watching all the birds and other wildlife.

I’m having some health issues at the moment which makes it difficult to leave the house (not permanent hopefully!). Moments like that make me realise I have a lot to be grateful for 😊

Your life sounds very beautiful, OP.
I feel joy in planting seeds or tiny plants and seeing them grow and flower/fruit.
watching the birds in my garden , particularly having a bath in their water.
Sitting at the counter in a favourite cafe with an expertly, perfectly made coffee, listening to the cafe hum and watching people walk by.
Drinking tea and reading a book in an armchair by the window on a rainy day.

Tending to my garden and seeing it flourish (I am able to pick cherries from my tree for the first time this year)

Reading with my daughter

Baking with my daughter and also, separately, baking by myself. Both are gorgeous for different reasons, one fun, one meditative

Yoga

Coffee - preferably by myself. Sitting with a good coffee and quietly thinking is one of my deep joys. I love going out with friends, DH, or my little girl, but there is special pleasure sitting quietly on my own with no where to rush off to during this stage of life.

I’m glad you have peace OP.

I had a very unpleasant exH, I love my quiet life now. I have a daily yoga practice, I read, play card games, chess or backgammon with the children and we all love jigsaws. I enjoy my garden, and sit outside every day with a cup of good tea under a Rowan tree the birds gifted me the year ex left and it is now getting so big.

Your safety, your peace of mind, your quiet life - these are all prizes. You are doing so well. Cherish it all.

My life is quiet in the sense that I don't entertain often and rarely go out. I don't even answer the door unless I'm expecting someone. However I still run a small business selling antiques and I do private tutoring. All this is online so I don.t have to put up with people coming physically to my home. Just waiting for the Amazon delivery today with a very large package. I feel sorry for anyone having to work in this heat.

I love a good coffee shop. Companion optional!

This is a lovely thread but I'm reading it with bewilderment...i know some people have said they're retired...but what about everyone else? When are you doing all these nice things?

Ah lovely, nice and feel good. Enjoy!

Sitting in my garden watching birds splash in the bird bath.

Watching the apples grow on my apple tree.