How to Enjoy a Slow Morning | cottagehillmag.com

The weeks go by quickly and often we use the weekends to 'get things done' understandably so. But this weekend we want to challenge you to take it slow, or perhaps, take one morning slow, or just a few minutes to yourself to enjoy the moment. Photographer Stephanie Booth shared her thoughts, and beautiful images, on how she tries to start her mornings slowly and consciously. Read more below.

Society is so fast paced it takes my breath away. I’m connected to my work around the clock, and before I’ve completed my Monday, it’s already Friday. I desperately feel a frenzy in my soul to just slow down, but so often, I push myself to keep going and to keep a pulse on everything in work and society.

But today, as I lean on the counter and listen to the heating kettle of water, I realize that there’s one time of each day that’s sacred. As my husband wraps his arms around my waist and hugs me, I lean back and melt into him and sway with him. There will be plenty to do, but right now, the most important thing is this moment.

Each morning, as the early light breaks on the horizon, I walk downstairs with my puppy and my husband and brew coffee. There’s something therapeutic about the slow process of pouring water through the coffee grounds for each individual cup, talking quietly as the steam rises.

I tried to step away from coffee and drink tea instead, and while I didn’t miss the coffee as much as I thought I might, I missed this slow, thoughtful brewing process. I missed waiting for the kettle to boil and slow dancing with my husband barefoot in our kitchen. I missed the smell of freshly ground beans and I missed carefully measuring the grounds and circulating the water for each cup. And I missed the time I got to just slow down and enjoy the beautiful of an early morning sunrise with the ones I loved most.

Our morning ritual filled with early morning grogginess and a good dose of bedhead has very little to do with guzzling caffeine. This is my time to awaken by slowing down. This is my time to look my husband in the eyes, to curl up on the couch with a steaming mug, and to ask “how are you really doing?”

And this is my time to live in the grace of the slow.