Nadine J Walters – My Life

Today’s Questions to myself: Where are you rushing to? Are you addicted to chaos?

My Answer: I’m not rushing anywhere today. I’ve taken the last couple of days off to stay home and hibernate. More and more, I’m finding that I genuinely enjoy staying home and letting the world pass me by. I still go out to see friends, teach my classes, and work out, but beyond that, I’m content.

I remember when I was younger—working full-time, raising children—how luxurious weekends felt. Sleeping in late, having the freedom to do whatever I wanted, and simply enjoying the day without structure or demands was a rare treat. Summers were spent at the pool or lounging on the patio, while winters were for cozying up, reading, and watching movies. What’s interesting is that it has taken me five years of retirement to fully embrace the idea that my days don’t have to be filled. Being lazy is allowed.

The last five years have been a bit chaotic. Both of my parents became ill and passed away. My husband has had health challenges. In the midst of it all, I decided to become a yoga teacher—and before I knew it, I was teaching more classes than I was truly happy with. I was rushing. Now that I’ve cut back my teaching schedule, I find that I enjoy it more and am a better teacher for it. I bring calm, patience, and quiet into my classes. Instead of chaos, I am cultivating gentleness.

Over the past year, I have also been working on becoming a better artist. Initially, I took many classes, followed every teacher’s expectations, and tried to produce a high volume of work. Again, I was rushing. Now, I make art daily, but I approach it differently. I recently started a 100 Faces Project, but rather than pressuring myself to meet rigid goals, I simply carve out a little time each day to create. I no longer worry about perfection or even completion. I just sit with my ideas and let them unfold. Instead of feeling busy and overworked, my art practice is now simple and spacious.

As for the last question—am I addicted to chaos? No, but I am intrigued by it. We live in chaotic times, and I sometimes find myself reminiscing about the forced simplicity of the COVID era. The chaos we see in the news can be overwhelming, and I’ve caught myself spending too much time consuming it. But the key difference? I am not rushing.

Final Thought: There is a certain beauty in slowing down, in allowing life to unfold naturally rather than forcing it into a relentless schedule. I am learning to embrace stillness, to find richness in simplicity, and to appreciate the moments of calm amidst the chaos. And that, I think, is enough.