The Little Book of Sloth Philosophy – Book Review

Posted by Barbara Techel

I never expected to come across this sweet little book when I did a search via my library system for books about the Hygge lifestyle. If you are new to the term Hygge it is pronounced Hooga. You’d think they could just spell it that way to make it easier to remember! Ha!

Hygge is described as an ambiance as much as a state of mind based on Danish culture and design. Think chilly winter evening, candles lit, snuggled under a fuzzy blanket, with a good book or magazine, a cup of tea, hot chocolate, or glass of wine. Add to that perhaps some tranquil music. Or perhaps it’s a snowstorm raging outside your front door and you are snuggled in with your loved one playing a game, putting together a puzzle or watching a movie. There are many ways in which to accomplish Hygge!

But then again, it’s not about accomplishing, but rather about being in the moment, relaxing, letting your cares melt away, and enjoying the simple pleasures of home.

So what’s a sloth got to do with it? Well as I did my search for books on Hygge in anticipation of winter just around the corner here in Wisconsin, this sloth title popped up on the list of books on this subject.

Of course, it caught my eye because of my love for animals. But also because Sloth came up recently in an animal wisdom oracle reading I did for myself, and also a general reading I did for my followers. Sloth really does embody what I believe is one of the key messages for what 2020 has been all about. S-L-O-W down. Disconnect (from social media) more often. Be in the moment. Connect with nature. Hug a tree. Don’t rush. Rest. And repeat, repeat, repeat. 

Author Jennifer McCarney of The Little Book of Sloth Philosophy has a delightful sense of humor also which pairs nicely with a creature who in the past wouldn’t have been viewed as cute and cuddly – though I do think that has definitely been changing. The illustrations in the book of sloth meditating, counting the stars, and hugging a tree – just to name a few – will most definitely make you smile and love Sloth even more.

My favorite chapter title is “Sleep in, take a nap, and then go to bed early.” Did you know that Sloths sleep up to 18 hours a day? I think I’m part sloth. Well, maybe not 18 hours, but I do need lots of sleep. I typically go to bed by 8:30 p.m. (even on weekends), am up by 6:00 or 6:30 a.m., and more often than not take a nap during the day. I sometimes give myself a hard time about that because I don’t feel normal in the sense so many can go with much less sleep than I can.

But then the next chapter is titled, “Or stay up late and embrace the night.” In other words, as Jennifer so brilliantly shares, “The sloth philosophy is about getting enough sleep whenever and wherever you want. The fact is, just like the sloths, some of us are programmed to stay up late and sleep in thanks to differences in our chronobiology – the natural internal clock that dictates when we sleep and wake.” This alone makes me want to run out, find a sloth, and give it a big hug and the teaching of just embracing what works for us individually.

This pocket-sized book is packed full of ways in which you can embody the wisdom of Sloth and incorporate more simple pleasures into your life, learn to slow down and be okay with it (despite what the outside world may try to convince you otherwise), and why I now see why this book definitely falls into the Hygge lifestyle category.

Sloth is a master teacher of Hygge! I love the Hygge lifestyle and now I love Sloth even more than before.

xo,

Barbara

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Tuning In and Staying In Grace: Animal Wisdom Oracle Reading for Week of Nov. 9th

Posted by Barbara Techel

In this week’s reading, I share a new animal deck I recently purchased. It is so lovely!

Without further ado, click here or on the graphic below to watch and listen for your own personal message plus the overall message for the week. I hope it provides helpful insight or whatever it is that you may need right now.

xo,

Barbara

Need support? A one-to-one session looking at a situation you feel stuck in can help you get back on the right track sooner rather than later. Click here to learn more about my Wisdom in the Pause readings (just for you) or click here to learn more about my Wisdom in the Paws readings (for you and your animal friend).

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Teaching from a Squirrel without a Tail

Posted by Barbara Techel

Photo courtesy of: Nuts about Squirrels

On my morning walk on Wednesday, I saw two squirrels chasing each other in the park. One appeared to not have a tail – just a bushy short stub. But I wasn’t quite sure as I was quite a few feet away from them.

Then on Thursday, I saw what I believed was that same squirrel as he scurried up a telephone pole. Sure enough, he didn’t have a tail!

I love to watch their tails flick back and forth, which means they are either sending a warning or will do this to let predators know they see the danger – sort of like a spoiler alert! Squirrels are so clever and sly, aren’t they?

But I thought about that tail missing on the squirrel as I walked to the library Thursday afternoon. It’s not something I’ve seen before and wondered if there was a teaching in this.

As our world continues to shift on its axel in many ways we didn’t see coming (though I know many of us felt something was coming for a long time), I see this as a message that we are all weaving a new tale. I was reminded of my friend Dawn’s experience with a dream she had about a snake missing its tail – and she’d go on to write a whole book about Snake and some powerful and profound lessons.

Doing a bit of research when I got home, I read that squirrels can survive just fine without a  tail. They adapt. Just like we are having to do in this year of 2020!

I’ve learned over the years to not immediately drop into feeling sorry for an animal missing a limb, or limbs that don’t work quite right, (thanks to my three special needs dachshunds!) or whatever perceived ‘handicap’ they may have. That squirrel was so busy having fun being a squirrel and I was enjoying watching him persevere.

He was making the best of life despite a tail that was no longer there. Perhaps he does things in a different way because of his missing tail – I don’t know for sure – but a key for me was that he adapted – and perhaps he has different experiences than a squirrel with a tail.

We don’t know what the future holds right now as we teeter on so many unknowns, but one thing is for sure, a new tale is in the making and on the way – and we just have to trust that it is going to be even better than we imagine.

Yet again, this morning, out on my walk, having gotten pulled into something that upset me on the news, I was trying to ‘figure it out’ and saw the squirrel yet again without a tail. Oh my, I had to chuckle how fast I can lose sight! And I heard once again that this is part of the new tale we are creating!

P.S. I did a short little video yesterday inspired to share blessings, giggles, and gratitude (plus a sweet little book about teachings from Sloth) if you want to check it out here.

xo,

Barbara

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