Keep It Simple

Keep It Simple, Stupid (and what a cute acronymn).

One of the features of the way my head works is the ability to see the links between things. My brain covers and closes off interwoven possibilities. It’s why I’m so good at law – I approach academic questions from the perspective that everything is connected.

This has caused me a lot of confusion and violent sadness on a personal level, though. I have a tendency to read a small action or word in the light of its part in the grand scheme of a life or a relationship, and that’s just exhausting.

P is the antithesis of me. For him, the world is a simple place, made up of constituent parts that touch and concern one another, but which can stay severable and separate. I can see that this philosophy gives him a lot of peace.

So, when I start to feel overwhelmed with the complexity of an emotion or a situation, and all the links spread out like tendrils in front of me, what I want to think is “it’s simple. Keep it simple.”

I am still trying to keep it simple. This turns out to be easier in New Zealand than in Australia. There were less options there and that made it easier.
Now I am back in my old home. I lived without all this stuff for over 12 months. Some of it I was glad to see again, but most of it I just thought “Why do I have SO MUCH STUFF?” So I had a big clean out. I didn’t get rid of as much as I wanted to, but I figure I can get rid of more later.

Here’s a tip. Getting stuff is easy. Getting rid of it is HARD.

You have to clean it up, package it, take it to a charity or a tip. And just throwing it away feels bad even if its broken, because I like to recycle as much as I possibly can.
So I am now adding a new Thing to my list : Buy only essentials this year. For more info see the new Thing!

that are way too vague. Abandoning them for more direction. However for this goal part of keeping it simple is getting rid of this goal on my list. In my life It’s more prominent than ever.

Do you ever stand back and look at the material things surrounding you? Some of it has value (my mum will say, “do not throw this or that away – it could be valuable), some of it is sentimental, but a lot of it just bogs us (me) down.

Currently, I am doing a big clean – you know the kind – going from room to room and first clearing out the clutter, making a place for everything and getting rid of that which does not really fit inot my life.

Life’s rough – why make it harder… I want to learn how to just keep it simple.

Made by the late, great J. Wallace Hamilton-

1- Don’t settle for anything less than what you really want.
2_- Be wary about accepting offers of safety and security at the expense of your own creative freedom. Once you trade your freedom for the _illusion of security, you have a hard time ever getting your freedom back.
3-Follow your heart, and your life will be blessed with unexpected favors.

Dreamer just posted this quote on one of her entries. It so touched my heart that I had to post it, as a way to remind myself not to get lost in the shuffle.

Simplicity is the key to all things and the universe.

Note to self:

One Mom cannot be all things to all people,( that includes clubs, teams, friends, kids, and any other organization that services people under 18).

One person cannot be all things to all family members, no matter how sick, or desperate, or lonely they are.

Sometimes I will have to miss events, no matter how enriching, or educational they may be.

Now I know all these things, but somehow that knowledge has no connection to my daily life, and overload of activities. They sorta crept their way into my overloaded schedule. So this entry is my reminder, to weed out, and slow down. Above all else, sit on my hands the next time I attend a parent meeting.

I have an over indulging addiction. Between The Secret, The Power of Now, What The Bleep, Down the Rabbit Whole, One, Excuse Me Your Life Is Waiting, and the sequel,(I can’t remember the name.). Not to mention books by Edwene Gaines. Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Jane Hart, Eric Butterfield, Neal D. Walsh,John Gray, Iyanla Vanzant,(that’s not counting the previous generation, i.e. Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill and the boys) and way too many others. Do it already Woman! They are all saying the same thing. Keep it simple and just do it. Goodness gracious!

As I sitting here packing my books, I can’t help but think: I bought the same book 12 times by 16 different people and then went out and bought the movie version at least 5 more. The County Jail is looking for donations for their library. Sounds like many of these books just may have a new home.

It the best way to have a sound night’s sleep – Keep your life simple.
Do less but do it well.