The Basket has Landed: What a Picnic Basket Can Teach Us About Living Well

by Dr. Kathryn Dundas | Sublime Life

Slow Age with Intention 

Today I carried an Amish picnic basket onto my flight as my carry-on.

Security smiled. Strangers looked on, “oh, is that a picnic basket?!?” and asked what was inside. The flight attendant proudly offered it a resting place in the front closet.

The energy around me shifted—curious, warm, joyful. People love picnics, what they represent.

A simple object became a doorway to presence and connection.

Think about what you’re carrying into your interactions today…

Now what about the Amish picnic basket? 

It’s not just a basket.

It’s a vessel of presence—a container for intention, simplicity, and joy.

The kind of joy that doesn’t shout, but whispers:

“Slow down. Share this moment. Savor what matters.”

A picnic basket reminds us of something essential: that vitality isn’t found in constant striving, but in the soft rhythm of life lived well.

It’s the feeling of fresh air on your skin, the sound of laughter carried by the wind, the quiet magic of food shared outdoors. Spontaneity. Connection.

At Sublime Life, we believe in carrying this same energy into everything we do—especially our retreats.

They’re not escapes, but invitations to return.

To your own rhythm.

To grounded balance.

To the nourishing power of presence.

Because how you move through the world—and what you choose to carry—changes everything.

What We Carry Matters

Every day, we carry things—physically, mentally, emotionally.

Some of it is necessary. Some of it isn’t.

A picnic basket invites us to be more discerning. To ask: What truly nourishes me? What am I holding that weighs me down?

It reminds us that what we carry is a choice—and that joy, connection, and intention don’t have to be heavy.

Presence Over Productivity

We’ve been taught to pack our days like overstuffed suitcases. But the most fulfilling moments often come from space—not from doing more, but from being more.

A picnic basket, with its limited space, is a metaphor for mindful curation. There’s no room for clutter, only for what brings joy, sustenance, and connection.

Rituals that Ground Us

Whether it’s laying out a blanket, or better yet, a handmade quilt, under a tree, or gathering around a shared meal, rituals matter. They anchor us in time and place. They offer rhythm. They restore balance.

At Sublime Life, our retreats are built around these grounding rituals. Each one invites you back to your body, your breath, your essence. Whether it’s an equine experience, a walk through ancient forests, or a silent sunrise with tea, we return you to your rhythm.

Slowing to Remember

The deeper invitation is this: slow down enough to remember what matters.

Because presence is medicine.

Connection is medicine.

And joy—in its purest, most human form—is a guidepost for vitality.

Live Light. Live Well. Live a Sublime Life.

We’re not here to escape life—we’re here toreturn to it.

To live lighter. Freer. More fully.

And maybe, just maybe, to carry a picnic basket now and then as a reminder of how beautiful that can be.

“How you move through the world—and what you choose to carry—changes everything.”

– Dr. Kathryn Dundas, Sublime Life