Augustine - Simple Retreats for a Womans Soul

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SIMPLE RETREATS FOR A WOMANS SOUL

Copyright 2001 by Sue Augustine

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Augustine, Sue.

[5-minute retreats for women]

Simple retreats for a womans soul / Sue Augustine.

p. cm.

Previously published under title: 5-minute retreats for women.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-2307-1

ISBN-10: 0-7369-2307-1

1. WomenPsychologyMiscellanea. 2. WomenConduct of lifeMiscellanea 3. Self-help techniques. 4. Relaxation. 5. Pleasure. I. Title.

HQ1206.A866 2008

646.70082dc22

2007029288

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 /BP-CF/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.

LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY,
Anne of Green Gables

A re your days filled with working through agendas and meeting deadlines, counting fat grams, eating more fiber, keeping up with yard work and car repairs, fighting off the flu, and practicing self-denial? Are you longing for the pure and simple things of life? In the years that Ive been speaking and writing about living with more joy and contentment, Ive seen a resurgence of desire for innocent pleasures that will revive our spirits and refresh our souls.

These five-minute retreats describe easy-to-implement experiences that enable us to marvel at the wonders of nature, enjoy the serenity of quiet contemplation, and tap the creativity we need to heal the areas of our lives that are out of balance. They introduce us to innocent pleasures that help us get in touch with how we want to live and then give us vibrant energy to do it.

Weve come to mistrust anything not associated with hard work and believe that if something feels or tastes good, it cant be appropriate. Because weve not been encouraged to derive pleasure from ordinary experiences, the absence of joy is more prevalent today than ever. It seems we are no longer inspired by life and routinely deprive ourselves of the delight of playful spontaneity.

With 99 innocent pleasures at your fingertips, you can begin to experience the fullness of living without investing a great deal of time or money. When you are taking life far too seriously and need to recapture lost dreams or gain a fresh perspective, innocent pleasures are good for your body, mind, and soul. Besides stopping to smell the flowers, pause to smell clean sheets, old leather, new books, a turkey roasting, and fresh bread baking. Rediscover simple indulgences like frolicking in a pile of autumn leaves, going barefoot, listening to the rain on the roof, taking a midday snooze, and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Innocent pleasures motivate us to be creative thinkers and positive problem solvers. Scientific evidence suggests that pleasurable experiences may prove to be the most significant ingredients in a long, healthy, effective life because they promote the release of endorphins and boost immunity.

This book is my invitation to you to become immersed in simple indulgences. Let them renew your peace, comfort, and satisfaction. Let them enrich your days and lift your spirits.

Pamper yourself into wellness with little indulgences.

I ordinarily walk by the lake first thing each morning and then start writing, so having breakfast in bed was not high on my priority list. But when I began incorporating innocent pleasures into my life, I couldnt think of a more appealing way to start the day. So, bright and early one Saturday morning, I meandered into the kitchen and put the kettle on to boil for my favorite English breakfast tea. Then I set up a tray, complete with lace doily and linen napkin, fancy china cup and saucer, the prettiest teapot in my collection, and a few fresh flowers. I blended fresh raspberries with french vanilla yogurt and poured it into a crystal dessert dish. A pineapple-pecan muffin topped it all off.

Once the tea began to steep, the tray, the cat, and I went back upstairs to bed, along with a stack of my favorite gardening magazines and a good novel. With my cluster of fluffy pillows waiting, I lit a small candle on my nightstand and put on some soft background music. Best of all, I gave myself permission to stay put for a while. Occasionally indulging in this perfect morning fantasy feels like a little piece of heaven on earth.

One day soon, why not treat yourself to breakfast in bed, either alone or with your sweetie? Keep it as simple as possible because the whole idea is to spend time relaxing in bed, not cooking in the kitchen. Serve in-season fresh fruit topped with yogurt or cream. If youre feeling ambitious, bake a fruit cobbler the night before. Or try toasted English muffins with strawberry preserves, pumpernickel toast with apple butter, or quiche with spinach and cheese. Another favorite is cranberry muffins spread with honey-lemon butter, which you can make yourself by adding a little honey and lemon juice to some softened butter. Whatever you choose, remember that you want limited knife and fork activity. When its kept simple, I cant think of a more delightful way to practice innocent pleasures.

The morn is up again, the dewy morn, with breath all incense, and with cheek all bloom, laughing the clouds away with playful scorn, and glowing into day.

LORD BYRON

I f you have a difficult time relating to Byrons description of morning, youre not alone! When people are asked why they get out of bed every morning, most say it has more to do with needing to go to the bathroom than with viewing the grandeur of dewy grass or clouds being laughed away. Aside from that, many folks admit it takes them an hour or more to feel alert once they are up. Others cant remember getting dressed or how they got to work! Some people feel sleepy all day and have felt that way for so long that they cant remember what its like to be truly awake.

One key to greeting the day with enthusiasm and energy is to practice pleasurable routines first thing in the morning. For starters, let the daylight in by leaving the drapes or shades partly open. Allow nature to work her marvelous wonders. In the days before electricity, sleep cycles were regulated naturally by the rising and setting of the sun. By shutting out the daylight, we hinder what should happen naturally. Once youre up, open the shades wide and turn on some bright lights to jump-start your body into awake mode.