💬 Sunday Reflections #46 (how to relax)
Plus 'this time last year' and the July round-up
Hi! This is Leyla from A Day Well Spent, a newsletter seeking pathways to more purposeful living.
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Greetings, August (almost)
The first day of this month marks my birthday and I am full of love, peace and gratitude for having completed yet another revolution around our closest star 💚
For the past few years since I’ve got into wild foods, I’ve been celebrating the day itself with a ramble around the beautiful National Trust park in southwest London that’s just a 7 minute walk from my house. It is a treasure trove of abundance and beauty and its jewels have only revealed themselves to me over time. Or maybe I’ve just got better at noticing them.
For example, despite visiting this park for over 10 years, only today did I notice a huge bank of hazel trees for the first time, covered in juvenile hazelnuts.
If bounty is offered up to me in the moment — perhaps fat and juicy blackberries or the first bunches of shiny elderberries — I will gladly receive them. Otherwise, I might just meander round to my favourite foraging patches, checking in on the sloes, rosehips, elders, haws and apples, all of which will be gathered in the coming weeks and months.
Welcome to Sunday Reflections ☕
For new subscribers, welcome to our twice monthly gathering! This is our intimate and friendly space for community and accountability. And the last (or first) Sunday of the month is always a juicy one.
How it works
On two Sundays each month I pose a prompt or question which we discuss (and say hi) in the comments. Topics tend to cover self-empowerment and personal growth and these regular check-ins allow us to share our wisdoms and get to know ourselves and the other members of the A Day Well Spent community better.
Feel free to have a browse through previous Sunday Reflections to get an idea of the stuff we talk about.
Before we begin, the July round-up
In case you missed them, here are all my published pieces from the month in one handy list.
Japan is my favourite country — it is bonkers. It’s also where bathing is traditionally done naked and communally. I wrote about my experience.
2. Your personal care products likely contain harmful toxic chemicals
The world of cosmetics and personal care products is notoriously under regulated. This means chemicals that studies have shown to be harmful to our health — and are even banned in some parts of the world — frequently end up in the everyday toiletry items we use.
I’ve been aware of this for years and have chosen the products I use carefully and accordingly. I’ve shared 7 problematic chemicals to avoid and tips on sourcing safer products.
I answered 11 questions on the body, brain and books.
Including: what I’m reading now, an article of clothing that makes me feel most like me, the best piece of wisdom I’ve recently encountered, a special relationship I’ve had with an animal, and lots more.
We talked about how life is an echo and a bit about chaos theory.
This time last year
Here are the pieces I published in August last year you might also enjoy this coming month:
The practice that helps me fulfil my potential
Solo travel: here’s why — and how — I do it
‘Drawing is my soul’ - an interview with artist Curtis Holder
10 of my favourite spots in Lisbon
A guide to 48 hours in Cork, Ireland
Sunday Reflections: 5 years ago and ultimate dreams
A big WELCOME to new community members
Should you join this community and leave a message when doing so, it would be a lovely thing to read and I’ll be sure to share it in these monthly round-ups.
To Saada and all other new members this month, welcome!
Sunday is for awakening the mind, body and spirit 🧘
Now let’s begin.
Today’s topic: how we relax
