To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
Simple pleasures, restful nights
Published August 15, 2010 | 
The mission of the Warm Milk Journal is to live a well-balanced, rewarding life by day and sleep restfully at night. Sometimes I think we can get too ambitious for our own good. What I mean by that is: long to do lists, lot’s of goal setting, always feeling like we need to be productive and accomplishing something. Some ambition is wonderful. If all we did was lie around and nap all day like my cat Mew, I don’t think we would be fulfilling our life’s purpose (Mew may disagree with me here).
What really makes our lives work? Having a sense of purpose, certainly. People in our lives to love, yes! I think of what makes me happy and often what comes to mind are the little things: the simple pleasures, the creature comforts that so make my life worth living.
During your walk, tea time, journal writing, or meditation time this afternoon or evening, reflect on what simple pleasures bring you the most joy in your life?
My list today would look something like this:
- bike rides around our beautiful beach town neighborhood
- evening strolls by myself with my Ipod or walking with my sweetie holding hands
- A great movie
- I am big on all of my little comfort drinks: hot coffee, iced coffee, Chai latte, warmed almond milk with flax seed oil, mocha latte, herbal tea, green tea, Tazo Awake, pineapple juice and Meyers rum on ice, a nice glass of red wine, a good beer, diluted cranberry juice, lemon water, etc. (Is it no wonder I have a blog titled Warm Milk Journal? lol ) : )
- I love my books!
- Comfortable bed, sheets, pillows, and blankets (I still have my blanket from college that I just love. It is so soft)
- Candle light
- Hot bath
- Work outs at the gym
- Stretching and moving my body to music
- back patio garden with birds, squirrels, and view of pond
I could keep going but I want you to start your own list. If you were at all feeling down or grumpy before I guarantee you will feel better thinking about the little things that you derive pleasure from. If you were not feeling down, then all the better- you will be affirmed just how wonderful your life is!
The title of this post is “simple pleasure, restful nights”. As I write for The Warm Milk Journal I want to continue to make the connection between how well we live during the day and how well we sleep at night. If we live fully and enjoy balance during the day we improve our chances greatly of sleeping restfully at night.
In peace,
Debra : )
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An evening stroll, bath, tea, Tibetan prayer, and other ideas for your evening routine
Published August 11, 2010 | 
Here at The Warm Milk Journal one of our main goals is getting a restful night of sleep. To that end, here are some ideas for your bedtime/evening routine:
- Earlier in the evening take a stroll. Enjoy the night air, the moon if it is out, your breathing, and how good it feels to move your healthy body.
- Take a bath. Some nice essential oils that promote sleep: lavender, neroli, camomile, marjoram, clary sage, sandalwood, mandarin, and frankincense. Candle light for your bath is a nice touch. When I take my bath I like to meditate on the candle flame.
- Sip on herbal tea. Try putting a teaspoon of honey in your tea to counteract the diuretic effect tea has (tea is nice, but we don’t want to have to get up at night due to an active bladder).
- Read
- Write in your journal
- Meditate
- Make love
- Pray
Here is a simple Tibetan prayer to try:
For as long as space endures,
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I, too, abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
(Source: Spiritual Spa by Gill Farrer-Halls)
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Looking Forward To A Good Night Sleep Tonight
Published May 9, 2010 | I am looking forward to a good night sleep tonight and this is why:
- I am happy
- I feel good about my life
- My daughter is happy
- I am in love with the most wonderful man in the world
- I ate a healthy delicious dinner tonight (portabello mushroom sandwiches, couscous with greek olives and feta cheese, and brocoli) with a Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon
- I am getting ready to go for my evening walk (my Ipod shuffle is charging as I write this)
- I am looking forward to Mothers Day tomorrow
- I am in The Now
I wish for all of us a good night sleep. Be safe. Be well. Know that you are not alone. You are loved.
Good Night
Debra : )
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The Joys Of An Evening Stroll
Published April 29, 2010 | One of my favorite activities in all the world is going for an evening stroll. I love: the fresh air, smells of something good cooking in neighbor’s homes, appreciating well-landscaped yards accentuated with pretty lights, the quiet, the crickets or frogs playing their chorus, the pitch dark on moonless nights, the gorgeous moon and its light on other nights, Jasmine and other sweet smelling flowers, the movement of my body, the feel of the breeze on my skin… oh the joys of my evening walk.
It is a lovely ritual: whether alone or with my partner. I simply love it. It is truly one of life’s pleasures. A stroll after dinner aids digestion and will help us have a more restful night of sleep. It is good for our fitness, overall health and weight. It helps create peace of mind and a sense of well-being. Often I might feel stressed or agitated about something, go for my walk, and come back feeling all balanced again. Walking helps get the creative juices flowing too and I often come up with some of my best ideas while on a walk.
Give it a try. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime.
Debra : )
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