concerning this goal and de-cluttering/focusing my life is keep a list of things I use daily, for one month straight, and then begin to discard things I definitely do not use. Obviously there are some things that are seasonal that I should still keep, but other things can go away: like makeup I don’t use, clothes I never EVER use, craft supplies and entertainment I don’t and won’t use, etc.

I think this will help me, even if in just a small way, refocus my time and money on what I truly care about and need in my life so I can live how I actually want. 1 week ago

....for around 15 people and decided to do this simply. I don’t really want to cook on mother’s day (after all its my mother’s day too!!!), so I got all stuff that my hubby can grill: cheeseburger sliders, kielbasa, salmon. Plus others are bringing a green salad, potato salad, fruit and some desesrts. I just got some drinks and some wine. Sounds easy, yes? I call that simplifying. A serious win, in my book!! 1 week ago

...is about to commence!

I decided to wait until the Mister was done with school to start this, because so much of the crap we have sitting around belongs to him. He’s a wonderful human being, but he’s a pack rat. He hoards all things music. I wouldn’t care if we had space for it. His entire bedroom closet is filled with stuff from his childhood that he refuses to part with. The ENTIRE closet. We really, really need that space for storage, because we don’t have an attic or basement. So, everything winds up in the closets or sitting out on the floor. This drives me wacko. Straight-up the wall nutso. If I had my way, I’d throw it all away or donate it. He is a fairly patient, tolerant man (very sweet, really), but I suppose this would really make him mad. So, I’ve held off. And I’ve surveyed the clutter daily for many moons.

But now I’ve had it. This clutter has got to go. I’ve got plenty of mine to get rid of too, namely old clothes that no longer fit and yarn in my stash that I’m never going to use. I’m determined to find a home for everything, and those things that can’t find a home are going to be kicked out. So long, chaos. I’m welcoming change and simplicity.

The good news is, he actually seems to be on board. He’s keen on trying his hand at making us some storage units for the place and getting rid of some old (free) furniture that we have no space for. He’s not as keen on getting rid of all the stuff he’s accumulated over the years. Baby steps.

He’s lucky I love him so much, or I’d toss all that junk today. 2 weeks ago

I think it’d be fun to keep track for a while of how many items I get rid of, since I’ve just decided (and started) to declutter my home thoroughly. This will also be a reminder to keep simplifying my environment.
I won’t write anything up here until it has in fact left the building. I could probably benefit from keeping track of how many new things I get too.

May
Garbage: 8
Sold: 49
Donated:
Returned:
New things: 8
Total: -49

April
Garbage: 8
Sold: 22
Donated: 1
Returned: 22
New things: 3
Total: -50 1 month ago

Well, R’s been home for three weeks today. And if you look at the last entry I posted under this goal, my mind AND my home have since taken turns toward the left. Sigh. Last night I came home from work and the clutter felt so suffocating again. I may have snapped a bit. R and I had a talk about our mismatched life goals. We did not reach a conclusion. Instead, I left for a meeting, and when I got home I decided we were getting burritos for dinner and watching Modern Family. Avoidance much?

During my meeting, I heard someone talk about “organization” and “control” as being on the same spectrum, and that there’s nothing inherently bad about organization, but when it becomes attempts to control things that are not your responsibility (or are just plain outside of your control), that’s when the problems start. I’d never made that connection before, but it really made sense.

It made me wonder where I’m willing to make compromises and sacrifices, and where I’m not. Living a life of simplicity should not result in complete isolation. It shouldn’t result in pushing loved ones away. (I’ve already done my fair share of that for other reasons, and I have no desire for a repeat.) But I also realize that the goals I have built up recently have been a long time coming, and I don’t want to shove them aside yet again. I don’t want to look back on my life and resent the fact that I lived a more complicated life than I desired. (News flash: I think I already do.)

At the very least, the lines of communication are open between R and me regarding this subject. Sadly, he’s hellbent on never being on the same page as me. That’s not to say he’s not willing to make sacrifices, but rather that he’s not willing to meet me on the level my heart so badly desires. Just writing that hurts my heart. I don’t want to lose him. I don’t want to lose my dreams. I wonder if there’s any overlap. 1 month ago

Warm temps have swooped in on us with a frenzy this week. I love it. I found a pair of nice Capris at Jubilee (a thrift shop of sorts) for $5. My kind of deal. 1 month ago

In an effort keep myself calm and centred and not let my mind run wild with all those thoughts of what I “need to” do or be or have and so on, I’ve now taken up meditation.
I use this site for guided meditation, in case anyone else is interested (it was a good place for me to start, at first I did only 2 minutes, now I do 20): http://www.calm.com/

It does really make me feel more relaxed and focused. I have included it in my morning routine now, and I will work on making it a habit I won’t need a reminder for. Maybe later I’ll add an evening session as well. 1 month ago

I had two weeks away from my unit and in that time the ex moved a piece of their furniture out of the unit. When I came home I couldn’t believe the difference moving the tallboy made visually to the space and also the amount of extra light that was now in the room.
This led to me being inspired to re-organise the placement of some of the other pieces of furniture. I even cut down one of the cube units and not only did I end up with a fantastic 14 cube dresser when I put the two cube units together, but I also used the sawn off end as a coffee table next to the couch. WOW The amount of space and light that now floods the unit is AMAZING!! What a transformation. The place is so light and airy and my heart just sings with joy. I love being in here now.
There is a real feeling of freedom and energy in the place. It is AWESOME :-)
The whole space has become uncluttered and looks so beautifully simple now. I LOVE IT. I feel happy to be here. 2 months ago

Thanks to Joshua Becker for posting this image on Facebook tonight. Just when I needed to see it. Just when I was getting sucked into shopping for the “perfect purse” online. Riiiight.

P.S. My home is really starting to foster the image on the right… if only I could get my brain on board… 2 months ago

a simple life is calling to me.

I can’t figure out if I’m just being chicken of stepping outside of my comfort zone, thus holding myself back or if I am truly listening to my intuitive need for more peace and calm.

cheap place to live, a backyard garden, some kiddos running around, hoops, books, plenty of time to enjoy aforementioned stuff…sounds good to me. 2 months ago

just different. That’s what I tell myself when my mind covets all things shiny and new. Ha.

I need a new travel backpack, because my rolling carry on just isn’t good enough. I mean, how much more mobile would I be if I could carry my luggage on my back and not have to roll it around! It’s necessary.

I need to update my wardrobe with nicer things. I’m all for living with the bare minimum, as long as it’s good stuff.

I need an iPod touch. It’s smaller than my nook so it will fit into my everyday purse, and it’s battery life is better than my smartphone so it will last longer. It will also serve as an iPod, so I don’t have to lug my oh-so-cumbersome iPod nano around with me.

Yes, I’m being sarcastic. I’m know I’m being ridiculous. I don’t need any of the above. I’m getting by just fine without right now. But in my messed up brain, I believe that by replacing a few of my belongings with the latest-and-greatest, I’ll then be all set. I’ll stop coveting.

I know that’s a lie.

One of the primary reasons I see to live simply is so my mind and heart can focus on things that matter more than things. I’m obviously missing the point, and I have ideas on how to flip the switch, but I’m not sure I’m willing to make those sacrifices… yet.

For example, what if I followed in the footsteps of the One Dress Protest and wore the same “uniform” for a year? I’d stop thinking about what I’m wearing and what’s in my closet and focus more on the world around me. Right?

Or if bought nothing new for an entire year? (My mind immediately thinks _yeah, sure, AFTER I get the few things on my current covet-list.)

I know these things seem really extreme, but no matter how hard I try, I’m terrible at moderation. It’s all or nothing that works best for me. I think.

I posted the following quote in 2011, and I’m glad I just read it because I needed the reminder:
“Detachment from worldly desires is not that you should own nothing, but that nothing should own you.” Imam Ali

One last thought. What if, instead of focusing on some arbitrary goal, I lived without goals. Gasp! I know that’s contrary to all-things 43T, but I kind of love the concept. What if I made a conscious habit of making each choice I make a positive one? Instead of focusing on checking something off of my to-do list? It would be completely out of character, but maybe that’s the point.

Over an hour in the car this evening. Lots to ponder. And when I get to the fork in the road, I’ll take it. ;) 2 months ago

this is not simple…it’s a bit of madness.

My desk alone is covered. 2 months ago

...about keeping the upcoming spring schedule simpler. Talked to the boy about not playing baseball. He’s busy enough already that adding in baseball would be insanity. Thankfully its what he was willing to give up too :) ALso talked to my hubby (he’s my son’s soccer coach) about conflicts so he can schedule practices his kid can actually attend (that didn’t happen last fall….don’t get me started…..). Looking forward to a simpler, gentler spring schedule! 2 months ago

I heard a woman talk tonight who’s very active in social justice ministry/advocacy. What an inspiration. I wish I would’ve taken notes but the message is still clear: don’t allow societal norms to dictate your life’s path, the way we choose to spend our time and money matters, I will never know a poverty like the way some people in third world countries know poverty, poverty can draw people closer to God because they rely on Him whereas the “wealthy” rely on themselves… live simply and consciously. 3 months ago

I’m slowly making progress in clearing stuff out my house. It’s difficult now as I cannot pick up heavy things etc, so the things I have sorted are piled up waiting for someone else to put up the loft or throw out.
Until this has been moved I can’t do much more clearing out.
I guess I could still look and make lists.
I’m determined to get rid of many things as I can, I want space and not lots of stuff. When the baby comes, so will much more belongings!
Arghhh lol :) 3 months ago

I struggle so much with this. How can something like this be so overwhelming? It seems like I have so many other areas of my life under control, but we live with too much stuff and it gets in the way of me living to my fullest potential. I need to think about this one a lot. I need to think about how I have achieved success in other areas of my life and apply those strategies to this goal.

Number one might be just doing it for me and not worrying about anyone else. It sounds selfish. 3 months ago

I was thinking about Steve Jobs and his trademark black skivvy the other day.
One of the richest men in the world and his wardrobe was nothing but pants and a black skivvy.
His glasses as well. Every photo I have ever seen of him, he has only one style of glasses.
I also notice that later in life he didn’t even wear a watch. His appearance was as uncomplicated as his product.
He was a man of great simplicity which freed him to have great energy and focus.
I think he was a man who followed his bliss.
I would so like to be more like that.
.... the move to simplicity is more that just de-cluttering your external surroundings. It is about de-cluttering the internal self as well.
Ahhh, I’m getting there ;-) 3 months ago

Living simply is easy and makes life easy. I come from a driven background and usually love to multitask/stress out/ see results – but now more and more i’m questioning all my traditional actions, starting to slow down and enjoy life, and focus more on the now.

This is a ted talk from a Thai farmer and shows ow living simply can be beautiful and easy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21j_OCNLuYg 3 months ago

Experiment: Living Without a Home Internet Connection

Fascinating. I’m not sure if I’d be gutsy enough to give up my internet. But certainly something to consider… 4 months ago