Life can be busy and hectic. Life can be expensive. Life can be ugly. Life can be sad. Life can be overwhelming. Simplifying helps.
We all need to ask a very basic question of ourselves.
Instead of saying "do I need this?" - ask yourself "can I do without this?" We all need need things that SERVE us well - not necessarity less - just well serving. Does it bring you joy?
Bigger is not always better and more is not always better. We have all been brainwashed to view consumption as normal. We are bombarded with that 24/7. Radio commercials, TV commercials, ads in magazines, ads on the computer...…. buy, buy, buy.
Be different!!!!!
I am not saying you have to do without. I just think we can all do with less and have only what is right for us! Be mindful. Find joy in what you have - and use what you have - and love what you have.
1. Less clutter. Clutter is just a distraction and it is something else you have keep up . Love it and use it or give to someone that can. We can all bless others with our excess stuff. Your stuff does not MAKE you - your heart and your actions MAKE you.
2. You can say NO! You do not have to go to all events all the time. We all need our down time and alone time. Nurse your energy. Use your energy for your passions, for your interests, for your people, for yourself. Don't feel like you have to be busy all the time - it is OK to just be!
3. Life is not going to go as you planned many times!!!!! Trust me - I know. You have to learn to adjust your plans and go in a new direction. Trust your decisions. We all meet detours and have to change our path.
4. Turn off the TV. Turn off social media. Turn off the computer. Walk away from drama. These things can rob you of joy and seep into your brains and cause sadness and depression. Negativity is distructive - not only to you, but those around you. We all know that person who is perpetually negative, and they steal your joy and happiness. Stay away - walk away - it's OK. Life is too short for that. Take your joy and happiness where you can. DO NOT let others deprive you of that.
It takes time. We can each take steps to simplify our lives. Living simply isn't just about money and stuff - it is so much more.
It is about peace of mind, flexibility, more energy, more space, more time (to enjoy), less distractions and clutter, less drain on resources, less drama and less frustrations.
Who doesn't want these things? We all do.
We all want to be happy. Things don't always work out the way we plan, so we have to find new things to make us happy. It's OK - that is part of the journey of life.
Design the life you want to live - and then go for it.
Living simply can be bliss and beautiful. Make the choice!
WE cannot be reminded enough! I love a statement I read many years ago. "Now that I can afford broccoli, I'd rather grow it"! It is so true. I saved hard for early retirement. I don't want a bigger home. I don't want a fancy car. I don't want new clothes every day. When I want to travel, I can. When I want to eat out, I can. I am content. It's a wonderful feeling.
ReplyDeleteYou're a wonderful writer and I enjoy reading your blog posts!
I hope all your readers are on the road to a simple and satisfying life.
I love that quote - so true! I agree - we saved and paid things off, I have an older car and older stuff (including clothes). I rarely go out to eat unless with someone. I am happy here with my fur babies - living a quiet and simple life.
DeleteI love to garden and enjoy nature of all sorts. I love my family. Just simple things.
Thank you so much for your sweet compliment.
Have a great day!
I love the quiet life we've created here too. I love to go out in the morning and feed our cats and give them loving. They'll eat a little and come and nudge me for a rub on the head and then go back to eating. Seven out of the eight of them will do this. I can easily spend an hour out there with them. It makes for a good life.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely isn't it? Mine love getting combed - so that is in every evening ritual. Waiting at the backdoor in the morning as if to say "where's breakfast"? LOL
DeleteFront porch sitting - birds and nature - garden and flowers - love it.
Peace!
Yes I am all for the simple life. I downsized last year and had to get rid of lots of stuff. I feel like a big weight lifted off my shoulders. I love my walks. They cost nothing and really relax me and make me happy.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. Still working on that here.
DeleteYou obviously become one with nature when out walking - peace and exercise is great.
Stay happy!
What a great post, I struggle with negative thoughts. I fight it all the time. But at least I fight it...
ReplyDeleteThat is half the battle. Keep fighting - you got this. Give it to God.
DeleteBlessings
You make a lot of great points. Especially as women, many of us have been conditioned to meet everyone else's needs and never say "no". "No." is a complete sentence, and it took me a long time to learn to say it to those who make unreasonable demands on my time and energy.
ReplyDeleteI took last weekend as an internet detox and only checked my email and the weather. I needed to get away from all the drama in the world, drama that makes the dystopian books I had to read in high school and college seem like comedies.
Every morning that we can Husband and I sit outside for an hour or so. Having cut TV 10 years ago, we joke about the different "channels" we get outside our own windows. There is Neighbor TV (which I don't really care for, but he watches waaaay too much), and two channels of Bird TV (the front yard or the back yard). A morning spent sitting in lawn chairs in our carport watching the robins and chipmunks is much better than any TV or movie I've seen in many years.
We did the big clean out last year, so our belongings are pretty much under control. Even my fabric stash is getting used without being replenished. I am buying only the batting and thread that I need to complete quilts.
Living a simpler life makes it much easier to roll with the inevitable punches that life throws us. Sometimes the reason isn't clear at the time, but everything happens for a reason. An uncluttered mind and heart are necessary to see that reason.
Yes mam. I love that "no is a complete sentence". I agree, you couldn't write fiction like this and expect people to buy it!
DeleteLove your TV channels!!! What a hoot! They have to be better than what is on the boob tube. I watch the weather and then pretty much turn it off - it gets to be too much and me watching helps nothing.
We never know what life has planned - but it is always something - so best to be prepared.
Have a wonderful day!
This week I've been enjoying just puttering in the yard/garden. Tonight we are having storms (past us now) and so I hurried home to put all the potted flowers on the ground or patio floor. I pulled a few weeds and I smelled the herbs. I also found 2 ticks, one on me and one on Farmer. Time to make more bug repellent for us.
ReplyDeleteMy "TV Channels" would be the barn cats, the Patio Birds and the Pond. All bring me such peace after a full workday in town.
I'm looking forward to more time (when??) to continue on my decluttering. I would love to live the minimalist lifestyle.
Your week sounds simple and perfect! The sights, the smells, the discoveries, all of it.
DeleteI am not sure I could ever be a minimalist - but do like having a bit less stuff.
Have a great one.
"Things" don't make a person any happier or content. My late MIL was always buying stuff and if she didn't like it, she wouldn't return it and would throw it away. She always said "oh it was only $*****" I told her that all added up and she would just look at me. The older I get, the less I want to dust and sort.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!!!! That is crazy. How can you just throw away money like that? NUTS
DeleteI am just tired of looking at most of it. None of it means much any more. I'd rather have my family and loved ones than stuff any day.
I so would miss social media...some if my blog friends help keep me safe. But that being said, I do leave my phone laying in another room sometimes. The main reason I try to have it with me is the kids..but you and I are both proof they are not necessary to sustain life. Lol
ReplyDelete