Hi beautiful readers!
Reflecting on this past year literally has my mind spinning! It has been the most phenomenal, life changing and, not co-incidentally, also the year I turned 40 😊
I had heard many people say "Life begins at 40" ... and since I could not relate, it was just a phrase. Until this year hit me with it's hectic challenges, trials which made me look at myself in a whole new light, shifts in relationships and so much more. While I wouldn't say that life 'started' at 40; for me it certainly took a fundamental shift.
I have had to let go of my (not so secret) control freak, who dictated that life had a plan, and an outcome determined by me. The biggest lesson I learnt this year is to "Let it go", to live with a purpose, but mindful that I do not control the outcome, nor the plan. It started very early this year, when we returned from our vacation, my eldest was off to university, middle son started Grade 11 and the baby embarked on his last year at primary school. For each one of them I had an idea of how I would 'manage' the year, until I accepted that it would be best for my eldest to find his own path, wherever that would lead him. In retrospect, letting go of the parental reins was the best decision, as he's really embraced his own identity this year, taking full responsibility for his own route. My two younger ones have also stepped into 'bigger' roles this year which is really encouraging to see. And in the same way, in every other aspect of my life, letting go has yielded such amazing circumstances that I cannot even begin to tabulate the blessings it has resulted in.
I have been privileged to have travelled extensively this year, and hold all these memories very close to the heart. A glorious family vacation, and a few months later, the long awaited pilgrimage, a journey which completely transformed my perception of life. I find myself more at peace, although it requires work to maintain my holistic outlook on life. The lessons I embraced on my journey are still fresh and sometimes habit, and old ways of doing things, creep back in. It's astounding how quickly I register when I start falling back into old habits, that even my body will alert me! So during this year it has become a key lesson for me to listen to every physical reaction or symptom, as it is always indicative of something I need to examine within myself.
I remember turning 30, and how devastated I was to be saying farewell to my 20's- there was a significant shift for me when I turned 30. Maturing of sorts. Turning 40 on the other hand was like a celebration, of a renewed start and facing the unknown without the need to know. I celebrated this milestone, my 40th year on earth, whilst on pilgrimage and it cemented a steadfast trust in the Divine, an understanding that life will unfold despite me and my plans. Life will happen as it is meant to, and I can make it difficult by trying to manage it, or embrace what has been decreed. It is certainly easier said than done, but it has resulted in a more balanced me, less stress and definitely less conflict!
"Not once did Allah SWT say 'Worry about it' or 'Stress over it'
He said: 'Trust Me'"
And so todays lookpost was taken on a day when I had hectic deadlines, and was struggling to focus on work. Something inside me was yearning for the smell of the sea, to see the crashing waves and feel the sun on my face (even for just an hour). So I put my work on hold for a bit (something I would never have dreamed of doing before), and took some timeout with hubby on a drive to Kalk Bay. What an absolutely invigorating break midweek with my bestie it was indeed, and completely refocused my energy when I returned to work. I am clearly in work clothes (on the beach hehe), but just letting go for a short while in a week where things were a little crazy work wise, was the best thing to do! Just letting it go 😌
Outfit Details:
Human Image lace blazer
Calvin Klein Jeans t-shirt
Topshop pants
Nine West heels
Scarf old
Sunglasses old
Earrings from Make a Statement
Swarovski necklace purchased in Venice
Ted Baker handbag
Ciao for now,
RuBe xoxo
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