And the people stayed home

Hellooooo! Grace here.

How is everyone doing? Keeping it together? I hope so! One day at a time.

There’s a LOT going on. Collectively. Individually.

It was my boyfriend Mark’s birthday here yesterday, and as our fancy Manhattan dinner was cancelled (all the restaurants, bars, cinemas etc. have closed until further notice) I cooked him a lovely meal at home!

At his request: Balsamic shredded beef (crockpot stylie!) with garlic mashed potatoes and veg! His birthday present was tickets to go see Martin Lawrence do stand up comedy at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which of course has been postponed until further notice. Everything is on pause here, and that’s okay. We’re staying indoors and enjoying each others company.

Our Dave posted something very lovely on Facebook yesterday, and I have to share! It stopped me in my tracks, and made me think… it’s not the event but HOW we respond to it that ultimately affects us. We do have SOME control of this situation…

How peace inducing is that?

Meanwhile, my Mum has gifted me something quite special for my 30th. I told her to hold off on getting me any major 30th birthday gifts, until we’re sure that Clarity will survive this mess.

And look!

Isn’t she gorgeous?!

I had written to my Mum immediately after seeing her first blog post about this pottery creation, BEGGING to buy her when she was finished. Of course my Mum would never let me buy her pottery (maybe I’m wrong?! ha! every penny counts right now!) and so she’s gifted her to me. CHUFFED.

I’ll leave her safely in Kent until the world calms down.

I’ll leave you with a video that I think some of you may really enjoy. For the last few years I’ve gone to a mindfulness meditation place in Manhattan, called Inscape. It’s wonderful! Truly. It brought me back to life! Of course they’ve closed now, along with everybody else! But today they shared a simple meditation session for free! (which is pretty cool because membership there is not cheap!!). This little session is all about gratitude. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or frightened or just not 100%, give this a go. All you need is a comfortable and quiet space for about 12 minutes.

I promise, it’s really easy. Just set 12 minutes aside for yourself. Find a quiet space, close your eyes and simply listen for 12 minutes. I promise you’ll feel better when you open your eyes.

Who (and what) are you grateful for? After listening to this ^ I feel there’s a lot to be grateful for. Depends how you look at it!

Lotsa Love, Grace xoxo

Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-being.

12 thoughts on “And the people stayed home

  • 19th March 2020 at 1:02 pm
    Permalink

    Beautiful words Grace and the quote above everyone should read and take some perspective from it.These will be testing times for all of us,we all need to take care of ourselves and those around us,family are very precious to us all,I don’t really worry for myself but I do worry for them.I have decided to get in the grove, I find that getting my groovi head on helps to put me in a better place,so as your mum would say “stay calm and keep on crafting”.

    Reply
  • 19th March 2020 at 1:07 pm
    Permalink

    Thank you Grace for that little bit of meditation I feel really relaxed now. Hope you are well and staying safe in New York. Love Zena.

    Reply
    • 19th March 2020 at 5:45 pm
      Permalink

      That was such a benefit listening to that 12 minute meditation session. I feel much calmer now. I do a similar thing to get me calm if I cant get to sleep. That quote is lovely so good of you to share it with us. Trying times for everyone at present, we must all try to help each other to stay positive. Our lives are on hold, but not forever and as you and your Mum say, One Day at a time. Belated Birthday Wishes to Mark. Love your Pottery Lady, she is beautiful. Stay well and safe Grace. xxx

      Reply
  • 19th March 2020 at 1:20 pm
    Permalink

    The finished statue is beautiful. Enjoy her once she arrives on the other side! Happy Birthday to your Mark for yesterday. Glad you had a lovely meal and are enjoying each other’s company. Stay safe and well. Hx

    Reply
  • 19th March 2020 at 3:29 pm
    Permalink

    A beautiful gift Grace. I have a lovely blue bowl of your mum’s which she kindly gave me for my birthday at the retreat last year. It sits in my shed and I treasure it. Stay safe. Last day at work tomorrow for a while as school closes at 3.30pm.

    Reply
  • 19th March 2020 at 4:48 pm
    Permalink

    Whatever happens in this crazy world I am grateful to be alive having survived cancer, and I am sure we will survive this too.
    Lovely words from Kitty, thanks for passing them on.
    Don’t need meditation videos to make me relax, not into all this sort of thing although I know some people swear by it.
    Love your Mum’s pottery, wondered how this turned out – absolutely lovely. Barb is so talented.
    Keep safe, keep well and keep smiling.
    🍒

    Reply
  • 19th March 2020 at 8:24 pm
    Permalink

    We are in lockdown here in Spain, worrying about our independent craft shop which is in its first year, but we must put faith in our leaders and support each other in more imaginative ways, looking after ourselves physically & mentally x

    Reply
  • 19th March 2020 at 9:14 pm
    Permalink

    That lady is a wonderful present for your 30th. Thank you for the meditation. Not sure about the quote. I would like it to be so but some people have really let the human race down lately.

    Reply
  • 20th March 2020 at 12:33 am
    Permalink

    You are blooming awesome, just like your mum!

    Reply
  • 20th March 2020 at 7:36 am
    Permalink

    Belated Happy Birthday to Mark. It was mine yesterday. Like you our meal out was cancelled but I had a lovely day with the family and cooked beef stroganoff and apple pie. I also adore that statue, how lucky are you?! By the way Clarity, thank you for selling my family vouchers, all I can say is watch out Mr Postie over the coming weeks! Stay safe Grace xx

    Reply
  • 20th March 2020 at 8:55 am
    Permalink

    Wow Grace – I love that statue and was fascinated as we watched her developing through your Mum’s blog. Unlike everyone else, my life is not getting calmer – I retired as a senior nurse at the end of December and am heading back to work from Monday for the next few months! Hope you all keep weel over in the US

    Reply
  • 21st March 2020 at 2:17 am
    Permalink

    SORRY TO HEAR YOUR STUCK IN THE HOUSE OVER THERE. BUT THINGS COULD BE WORSE SWEETIE 💕 GLAD YOU COULD COULD COOK A LOVELY MEAL FOR HUBBY.
    THATS WHAT MY HUBBY IS DOING FOR US, ON THE 29th MARCH OUR RUBY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. IM BUSY MAKING HIM A SPECIAL CARD FROM GROOVI. THE ONLY CRAFT ICAN DO NOW. WITH SIGHT ISSUES. HENCE THE CAPS.
    I LOVE YOUR MUMS POTTERY. YOU NEVER KNOW YOUR STATUE MIGHT BE THE NEXT CLARICE CLIFFE OF THE MODERN WORLD LOL IF GET WHAT I MEAN
    TAKE CARE. LOVE TO BARB AND YOUR GRANDMA TOO. AS IM A PRISONER TOO ❤️❤️Xxx

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Hilda Smith Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *