“There is nothing more beautiful than living a simple life in this complex universe!”
— Mehmet Murat ildan
After the feeling of lightness that came from cleaning out and giving away nearly 50 things last week, I decided to again aim at simplifying through decluttering. I promise, these posts will move beyond decluttering at some point, but I think most of our homes could use a reduction in stuff.… Continue reading
My boys love to be outside in any weather. Even when the temperature drops into negative territory — which thankfully doesn’t happen too often here, at least when using the Fahrenheit scale — they want to be outside daily. Currently, my 5-year-old plans to homestead at the North Pole when he grows up (just to show how much he loves winter).… Continue reading
A thought as you go about your Tuesday:
“We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.” ― Maya Angelou… Continue reading
I love reading. I love learning about different things, whether about a period in history, how to craft something new, exploring a particular person’s expertise, or learning how to cook an interesting dish. But even more than that, I love delving into a piece of good fiction.
In this lifetime, I have chosen to live a particular life: one that intimately involves a specific set of people residing in this particular place who live in a certain manner.… Continue reading
I’ve been thinking a lot about simplifying our lives. We live in a culture that exonerates busyness, that carries the message – both implicitly and explicitly – that the busier we are, the more worthwhile and important we are. Our culture also tells us that having lots of stuff, especially lots of expensive stuff, will make us happier.
I don’t believe either of those things.… Continue reading
Have you ever suddenly realized that you’ve been neglectful of something that you care about? This morning I looked at my plants and realized it has been over two weeks since I’ve watered them. Yikes! (There’s also evidence of toddler damage, but that’s a different matter.) Between the holidays and traveling, I simply forgot to do it. They didn’t call loudly enough to be heard over the hustle and bustle of everything else; they just slowly started to wilt and dry out.… Continue reading
I came across this quote this morning. I thought it was a lovely touchstone:
“It’s good to have an end in mind but in the end what counts is how you travel.” ― Orna Ross
Join me today in focusing on enjoying the journey.… Continue reading
The new year is here. I’m not big on New Years resolutions, but each year I do try to pick a focus, one word to provide a touchstone to ground my actions. My focus for this year is gratitude. The last couple of years have been difficult, but to quote the great philosopher John Lennon, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”… Continue reading