Walking in the LaSalle forest on a sunny morning is one of my favourite things to do. Cold or hot. Even in the rain, honestly.
Headphones on, Ludovico Einaudi playing, I feel the most grateful and the most connected to nature. It feels so good.
So why don't I do it every day?
For years, I walked at 6 a.m. It fit our family's rhythm. This year, our mornings changed. My eldest catches the bus way earlier, my husband leaves for work earlier, and my walk moved to 8:30. Right when the workday wants to begin.
And that's when it got harder.
I actually know why. There's a part of me that believes going for a walk isn't productive.
That part showed up when I was young. In grade 3, I had an abusive teacher who told me I had to work incredibly hard to be worthy. I was so afraid of him.
A protective part of me emerged, and she's been with me ever since, telling me: let's overproduce, let's overdo, so no one can ever say we're not doing enough. Let's prove we're worthy.
I hold this part with so much compassion. She's allowed me to do so much and accomplish so much.
And now, as a 40-year-old woman, I'm asking her to take a step back. That's a big paradigm shift.
Every time I come to nature, I'm reminded how good it feels here, and how important it is for me to do this first, before anything else in my day.
Why am I fighting to find space for the thing that makes me happiest?
And so what if I don't start working until 10:30 every morning? I chose a career that gives me this flexibility, and somehow I'm still fighting with this part.
All I'm saying is, why don't we do the things we love first, to put ourselves in the best energy? For me, that's the morning. For you, it might be later in the day. But why do we think it's okay to override those good feelings? What if making the things we love a priority is exactly what allows everything else to fall into place?
It feels backwards, because we've always been taught (or I have, anyway!) that rest is only allowed after the hard work.
What if it was the other way around? What if you rested first, did the things you love first, and the work came easily because you were already in a good place?
I know it's a weird concept. It's one I keep having to remind myself of, because over the last few weeks I got wrapped up in my to-dos and forgot to make myself feel good first.
So this is my reminder. To me, and to YOU.
What's the thing that makes you feel most like yourself? And what would your day look like if it came first?
You don't have to earn it.
A little reminder to rest. Watch the Reel on Instagram
XO,
Audrey
Frequently Asked Questions
Q . Can you put a tiny home on land in Ontario?
Sometimes. Tiny homes are permitted in parts of Ontario, but minimum dwelling sizes, zoning, and servicing rules vary by municipality. Check with the local planning department before you buy the land, not after.
Q . Is a bigger house always better?
No. A well designed 1,600 square foot home often lives larger than a 2,500 square foot home with awkward flow and no storage. Square footage and function are not the same thing.
Q . What should families look for instead of square footage?
Storage, flow, and light. Those three decide whether a home feels calm or chaotic. One really good gathering space will outperform three formal rooms your family never uses.
Q . What does a bigger home actually cost to own?
More than the purchase price. Heating, property tax, furnishing, maintenance, and cleaning all scale with size. That's real money and real hours every year you own it.
Q . Is downsizing worth it when you have young kids?
It depends on the season you're in. Some families genuinely need the room right now. Others move into less space and describe it as relief rather than loss. Start with which rooms you actually used last week.
Bigger is not always better.
The best home is the one that fits how you actually live.