What is slow and soft living? Hint: You don't have to live on a farm to achieve it.

For the past few years, I've been hearing the term "slow living." While the idea greatly appeals to me, it just doesn't feel obtainable. Every picture I see depicts farm living, going off the grid, and making everything from scratch. To be blunt, I've made several solid attempts to grow just about anything, and let's just say my plants seem to quickly lose their will to live. While I love being screen-free as much as humanly possible (which I realize is ironic since I am typing away on my laptop), it doesn't feel realistic. Truth be told, I watch reruns of Friends year-round, so there's that. I truly enjoy cooking homemade, nutritious meals for my family and even baking from scratch, but I'm not about to live my life shamed for letting my kid enjoy an Oreo and pasteurized milk every once in a while.

Including some pictures of pretty flowers... because slow and soft living has made me stop and notice them!

OK... so I thought I knew what slow living was. Then, I began hearing about "soft living." OK, this sounded like something I could get on board with. But what the heck does it even mean? I've been told that I'm "kind... with an edge..." Does soft living mean I can never make a sarcastic wisecrack again (I probably wouldn't last long if that's the case.)

Here's what I've discovered: slow and soft living is about intentionality, presence, and connection.

It isn't just about chicken coops and $75 raw milk coffee creamer from Swedish cows. It's not about suddenly altering your sense of humor or becoming the world's most perfect, soft-spoken homemaker. (Although if I just described you and that's your thing, go girl, do you!) It's more about resetting your mind and heart to a new rhythm- a pace you were designed to flow in, rather than the hustle and striving the world glorifies.

Slow and soft living means shifting from anxiety-driven-never-quiet-my-mind-better-work-harder-do-more-be-more, to let's put "first things first, last things last, and in between things in between,"

as my Uncle/Pastor Dan Turpin says.

It's about cultivating the rhythm God designed you to live in and for your family to live in.

Hate to break it to you, but there is no award for never shutting down, never asking for help, and never resting. Say what?! It's true. I was unconsciously striving for all of those things... and then, my daughter's little soul came into the world and gently showed me how hard my hustle was hurting me.

During my maternity leave with her, I felt God beginning to reveal how He was restoring me. My mind wasn't meant to never rest. My body wasn't made to never relax. My heart wasn't designed to never allow myself to fully feel. My little girl isn't quite like my boys. They thrived with structured naptimes and predictable schedules. My daughter sleeps for 25 minutes, and it's a miracle. She's taught me to flow and to be.

Slow and soft living means embracing the fact that you are a human being, not a human doing.

For a long time, as far back as I can remember, I have strived to demonstrate that I earned my place. I felt as though I always had to prove that I deserved a seat at the table, and my desire for external validation fueled my drive to be faster, better, more creative, more dedicated, more resourceful, and more than enough... all the things to all the people all the time. I didn't even realize how exhausted I had become. God used my daughter to bring healing not only to my mother's heart, which I talk about often, but also to my mind and soul.

This new era of slow and soft living means embracing the unrushed rhythms of grace that fit my family. It means being gentle with others and myself, dancing with grace, and soaking in the peace that God has had there all along. It's been a learning curve and an entirely new outlook. Instead of trying to figure it out, I choose trust. Instead of anxiety, I choose surrender. Instead of trying to fast-forward, I choose to honor the season I'm in. It is a new, very intentional journey, and I'm never going back.

If you want to begin your journey into the soft and slow, check out the Your Heart Collective Shop for meaningful goods and gear to support you! Not only is slow and soft living attainable, but it is what you were created for!

Start something slow and soft today:

Pick some flowers

Take a long shower or bath

Go outside and look up at the clouds

Journal (get yours here!)

Garden (good luck!)

Drink your coffee while it's hot (again, if you have babies, good luck!)

Go for a walk (this one is my new fave)

It doesn't have to take hours or be extravagant, but start somewhere. Cheers to the journey!