Challenge for the new year

I'm thinking of getting on board for the new year:

http://thepowerofless.com/2008/12/the-power-of-less-new-years-challenge/

What say you? Anyone else?

How to Take Care of You

Make a list of what fills your soul. Keep it somewhere where you can look at it on a regular basis. Then, implement it into your day/week/month/etc. Jennifer Louden wrote a great book called The Woman’s Comfort Book which has a lot of exercises and activities for taking care of one’s self. I remember reading an article a long time ago, I think on her old website about keeping your tank full. I’d totally cite it, if I had the information.

Anyway, it asked you to figure out what you personally need to fill your tank (food, sleep, etc.), the oil changes (massage, spa day, lunch with a friend or friends, pedicure, hair cut, etc.), and the major maintenance (a long vacation, a weekend retreat, etc.). Knowing these things is wonderful to keep you focused and feeling fulfilled instead of overwhelmed. Your list may change over time, so it’s good to have “check-in” days every once in a while (preferably while soaking in a tub of hot water amongst lots of bubbles, or when enjoying vanilla tea with crumpets).

When you know what makes your heart sing, what fills you with intense joy, and what brings you peace and helps you feel relaxed, it makes a huge difference as to how you live your life, and what is truly important. It’s easier to say no to things and keep focused.

Perspective, Pause, and Awareness

As you may or may not know, we live a full life. I don't like the word busy - it's a little too negative for me, and doesn't embody the richness of the word full. My days are filled with feedings, fixing meals, home schooling, working from home, playtime (with kids and hubby), and sleep. On the occasional day we need to go out for activities, play dates and classes. There is a lot going on, and by the end of the day I’m one tuckered mama.

I love it though. There have been times when I’ve been totally overwhelmed and stressed out. I’ve hit the chocolate and any other sugary concoction within reach. There have been days that whizzed by, leaving me wondering what happened, and wondering how my children have grown so fast. And then, every so often, I’m blessed with those days that leave me feeling loved and full, regardless of how the house looks and how things didn’t go according to plan.

This year, the importance of being aware of my perspective became crystal clear. I started to pay attention to how we were spending our time. I’m still working on this, and I’m much more aware of what I need, and what my family needs. And then I noticed, that by simply being aware of my thoughts and how I perceived things, made all the difference.

When I feed the baby, I remind myself that I am nurturing and loving her. I take in her scent, what she looks like, how she feels in my arms. I am focused on her. When I homeschool, I remind myself that I am nurturing my child’s mind and heart. I focus on her, give lots of snuggles and hugs, and take her in. When I am cooking dinner, I remind myself that I am nurturing and loving my family. When I am cleaning up the dishes, I remind myself that I am nurturing my home. When I am working, I remind myself that I could be making a difference in my student’s life, and that through working I am blessing my family with my income.

Life really is what you make of it. Choose to see the world through rose-colored glasses, and you'll be a lot happier in the long run (in my humble opinion that is). Take the time to notice things - precious baby toes, a child's soft skin, the feel of a strong hug, the tender life of a snowflade - and you'll find that things slow down. Be aware, and be amazed.

Handling the Holidays

This holiday we did several things:

* Decided what our goals were and what we wanted from this holiday season.

* Said No. A lot.

* Decided what traditions we liked, didn’t, and wanted to start. (Did this with activities as well.)

* Simplified gift giving to the extreme.

* Scheduled special things for the family and just for me

* Most importantly – agreed to not freak out if everything didn’t get done on the list.

What type of holiday do you want?

Last year’s holiday was so totally chaotic and stressful for me. Add to that discovering I was pregnant and we were sick most of the time… well, it was not the holiday we wanted it to be. So, this year we decided we wanted a holiday filled with joy, family time, PEACE, gratitude, relaxation, and wonder. Keeping these words in my head helped me to focus on what it was all about for us.

Saying No.

This has always been hard for me, but this year, it got easier, and will be easier now that I’ve felt the benefits. We said no to travel, no to cookie baking (oh the horror, I know – but this year it made a world of difference!), no to certain gifts (more on this later), no to Christmas lights, no to spending time with people we didn’t want to, no to a variety of things… and guess what? It gave us time to say yes to things we really wanted to do.

Now, next year, I may want to bake cookies. This year, we didn’t get around to it. Next year, I may want to travel. I have given myself permission to change my mind. And that’s just fine.

Oh, and my favorite phrases for which to say no are:

* I have plans.

* If you need an answer right now, I have to say no.

* That’s not possible.

I’ve found that if you offer excuses or reasons someone is guaranteed to counter argue you, and it’s not worth it.

Traditions and lists

I didn’t realize until this year that traveling was totally stressful for me. Trying to see a ton of people in a short amount of time, missing out on those individual connections, and dealing with hurt feelings of people we didn’t get together with is not enjoyable for me. It was nice to not have to deal with any of that.

I also discovered we’d started several traditions – Christmas-tide activities, decorating a gingerbread house, dinner with friends, watching Christmas movies, dancing and singing to Christmas songs with the kids, made pinecone birdfeeders, etc. All of these things filled me to the brim with joy.

I was also very aware not to over schedule things. We determined how many activities, and when we did them, and what was best for us. Instead of exhausting ourselves with 3 and 4 activities a weekend, we choose to do 1 or 2 instead.

And, I’ve made a list, checked it twice, included what activities we didn’t want to do, and those that were nice. It’s made it easier to say no and plan things.

Gift Giving

We keep this extremely simple. (Some people feel it’s too simple, and that’s cool as you need to find what works best for you.) About 15 years ago, I was giving gifts to 60 or more people a year – to far removed acquaintances and out of guilt. Then, I got married and hubby was more than a little freaked out by the bills from our first Christmas.

So, we talked it over and decided that we were only giving gifts to our immediate family: our kids, our parents, our nephew, each other, and maybe a few other people depending on the situation. Everyone else gets experiences. My favorite is the dinner hubby makes for certain friends each year, or having people up for a weekend at our “B&B”. Gifts have become so much more meaningful.

I also start the gifts in September. Grandfathers get a calendar with pics (which I update through the year). The moms get books they are interested in. My nephew got a magazine subscription. And – we ordered most of the things online to save going to the stores. As we are big into keeping clutter out of our house, we really try to give gifts that can be used or that we know for certain will be enjoyed.

Scheduling

This year we did a lot of family activities together, and I also did a few things for me. I made sure I had time to paint. I went out with a friend for cocoa. I found time to read, journal, blog, exercise and do yoga. All of these things made a huge difference, “filling my tank” so that I could remain calm and peaceful through out the season. And jolly. Doing these things for me helped me to be very jolly indeed.

Most Important

Agreeing to not freak out if things didn’t get done, gave me permission to let things be and not worry if things didn’t happen according to plan. And if I did freak out, I could do it for a little bit, and then let it go. Out of everything, it made the most difference.

Identifying the Essentials

Okay, so, while exploring Zen Habits, I came across this link about The First Rule of Simplifying: Identify the Essentials.

In the article, the author poses several questions that got me thinking. And, *gulp* I'm daring to put a few of my answers out here into the void of the internet and take some accountability for them. So, here we go.

1) What is most important to me?
My family. I love my hubby, Pook, and the baby on the way. My health (so that I can care for my family). I love exercising and yoga. I love writing and to journal (online and on paper). I love to read (from books to blogs baby!). I love to sit outside and feel the breeze and listen to the sounds. I love to learn about things I enjoy (simplifying, Buddhism, Taoism, frugality and finance, etc.). I love to create when the mood strikes me - watercolors, sewing, among other things. Spending quality time with friends and people who feed my soul.

2) What are things that are going on in my life and how are they related to what is important to me? (This answer could take a while, and I'm not sure if I want to share it just yet... so, I'm reserving the right to return at a later date to evaluate.) I will tell you, that staying healthy and getting exercise so that I have the energy to be a good mom is up there, along with homeschooling Pook (whom is important to me, as her education), taking time for me (keeps me sane and able to nurture the family), enjoying the moments until Baby's arrival, enjoying moments with hubby, reading a good book or two or three, blogging, bill paying, filing, letter writing, getting groceries (we DO need to eat), homemaking and keeping, time with friends, and I'm sure there is more out there... :)

3) Possessions - Do you really love them? No! That was my first answer. Just popped right into my head. Although, there are a few pictures we have up that I really enjoy looking at. But seriously, I'm not attached to any of it.

Are they truly essential? Looking around, many of my possessions hold things (bookshelves, cabinets, etc.). I've a few sentimental things, but I like to look at them, and rarely use them. So, I don't know if they really are. Although, not having a computer would make it really hard for me to work. ;)

And the biggie - if my house burned down, which things would I want to replace? If my house burned down, these are the things I think I'd replace. They are in no particular order. Some are "necessities" and others are little things that really brighten my day.

- Clothing and shoes
- Beds to sleep in - King, kid's, and maybe a queen for guests (or those nights when the king would be too crowded) - pillows and really nice sheet sets - 2 for each
- Crib
- Table to eat meals and do projects at - seating for 6-8
- Laptop computer
- Comfy Sofa to sit in, and 2 comfy chairs to read in
- Books to read in the comfy sofa and chairs
- Washer and Dryer
- Homeschool materials and supplies
- CD player/alarm clock
- Outdoor swing and bistro table for backyard
- TV and DVD player (per Hubby's request - I'm either or on this)
- Hub's computer
- Freezer (maybe)
- File Cabinet (maybe)
- Desk or table to sit computer on (I suppose...)
- Sewing machine and kit
- Exercise DVDs and weights
- Tea pot and tea cups, plates, bowls, glasses, utensils, pots and pans
- Art supplies - pads, brushes, pencils
- Shelves for pantry if not enough room in kitchen
- Cloth napkins
- Bath towels, wash cloths, hand towels, kitchen towels and cloths

I think that what really took me by surprise, is that thinking about not having to clean, organize, or deal with my stuff was extremely freeing for me. It got me thinking about what my life would be like if we didn't have all these things in it. So many things I've been holding onto with the reasoning that some day I might use this or not being able to get rid of something because of the emotional attachment.

In an email to a friend this morning, I wrote, "Then I started to think about things like, what would our lives be like if we didn't have all this stuff in them? Cleaning would be a breeze! (I'm having trouble wanting to clean this week with the leggo invasion in my living room. It's a mess!) If I didn't have all the seasonal decorations, I'd probably just use things from nature. Maybe I'd actually STOP obsessing about all the stuff!"

And I DO obsess about our stuff. Just check the archives and look at my obsession with decluttering.

In any case, I'm looking at our stuff in a new light. That new dinning room set I thought I wanted? I'm not so sure anymore. The dinning room would make a cool library/homeschooling room if we got rid of the current dinning set... And do we really use all these books? Do we really need all this furniture? Hmmm...

My newest inspiration

And, as the baby's not here yet... you can guess it isn't the baby.

Blame it on the nesting instinct, blame it on my past track record or what have you, but the sheer fact is, that simplifying has been an important part of my life for many, many years. Recently, I've been having that desire to toss and purge (mind you, I just got finished one of these sprees before baby, and here it comes again) my material possessions again. But it's not just about the material possessions, it's about mental things, daily/weekly/monthly activities - the base question - what is really important to me? What do I really enjoy? Why do I feel so overwhelmed with all of our stuff?

Perhaps, it's due to this site: Zen Habits that has been inspirational to me for quite a while. If you have not checked out this site, you might want to. Of course, what might really be behind my inspiration to re-evaluate and simplify my life further (aside from the new baby arrival which will make things interesting I'm sure), would be the discovery of this:

Everything You Wanted to Know About Simplifying Your Life, and Way More

And, yes L, I should really be using the timer when checking these out. :)

I'm thinking about blogging my experiences and thoughts on simplifying my life based on some of the questions and articles from Zen Habits and a few other sites. Of course, with Baby's arrival, I'm making no promises, but it is something that's been interesting me.

Over the past few weeks I've found myself asking questions like - Do I really need this? What would my life be like without this? Why in the world am I holding onto these things? Could we get rid of that piece of furniture - and not replace it? What would my life be like if I lived and did those things I absolutely enjoyed and loved? What would the basics of my life be? What would my life be like if I lived with the bare minimums?

Hmmm.... what will my answers to these questions be?

Being radical, well, for me

After our guests left this weekend, I succumbed to my urge to purge. Hubby and I took down most of the pictures in our house (save for the really difficult ones) leaving nothing but space on the walls.

At first, I think that he thought I wouldn't be able to handle it. And, I fully expected to go crazy by Tuesday and put them all back up, but something else happened. I started to like the space.

My basement has piles of pictures in it. And, following the pictures were various knickknacks. Things, I once thought I could never part with, are finding their way to the piles. I've even given him permission to place things on the pile, just to see if I'd actually miss them.

Even the piles bring me a sense of comfort. (And, those who know me are probably wondering what alien race has invaded my being - cause Otter can't usually stand piles!) But seeing them there, I smile. Seeing the walls void of pictures makes me smile.

Space. I'm loving the space. And I remember when I used to fear it. For some reason, no wall could go untouched. Something had to be hanging there. When I was into Feng Shui, the pictures had to fit. I put things I wasn't particularly fond of up on my walls because they fit the "rules".

But now, I'm wanted more space in my life. I'm only wanting things up on my walls and in my house that I enjoy looking out. How many things have I kept because they were Feng Shui appropriate? How many things have I kept because someone gave it to me, even though it wasn't really me? How many things have I kept out of guilt?

I am done with guilt. I am done with looking at things on my walls that don't make my heart sing or fill me with a sense of joy. I am creating more space. I am embracing the space that I was once so afraid of.

We are going to be welcoming a new babe into our lives at the end of August or beginning of September. At least, that's the ETA. With the amount of moving this babe's been doing, who knows? :)

Preparing for this babe means creating more space - both in the home and in my womb. We have a comfortable house that I love, and which we aren't willing to move from. So, we make space where we can and organize things to function smoothly.

This time (and maybe it's just because I'm nesting) there seems to be a shift. A new level to purging the clutter from our home. It's going beyond the stuff. As we purge our things, we are making room for the new. We are making room in our lives as well. Weekends seem to have more space to them. Even days seem to slow down. Where there was once "no time", we are finding and creating time for tender moments and ourselves.

As the spring flowers bloom and blossom, and the bulbs burst forth from the ground, so do we on many levels. Pook is blossoming, talking to people instead of hiding. My belly blossoms (and grows with life). Hubby is finding that he does have time here and there for things.

For once, I'm not concerned with what will happen, or what will be, or how we will handle things. Fact is that we will. Right now, is the now. I bask and bloom in the present moment. Embracing the moments of bliss and joy for what they are, and letting them go when it's time.

Peace. Bliss. Moments. Life.

Snow day, being true to myself, and living a simple life

I wish I was enjoying this snowy day more than I am, and perhaps, I will by the end of this post, where, my intent is to just get my thoughts out there and get some clarity I suppose.

In case you didn't figure it out - it's snowing here today. It looks like it's now stopped, but for a while, it was really coming down.

You see, I don't like driving in the snow. I prefer to sit at home and enjoy it, and not go out in it unless I absolutely have to. So, after getting everything ready to go today, and, practically in the car, I chickened out, called off taking Pook into Montessori, and came back into the house.

Where, I called hubby for the umteenth time (as I'd been indecisive all morning), to tell him that, uh, we are now not going in. For real this time. And then, I called the friend who's children and in the class, and who is kind enough to let me work at her home until Montessori is out, to tell her.

And, this is where things left me feeling, well, inadequate. Instead of just telling her that I didn't want to drive in the snow, it came across to her that Pook didn't want to go, so I didn't go. (As I was on the phone with her, Pook was whining about getting her gloves off, and saying how she was glad to stay home. I was trying to help her while talking... and, well, if you're a parent, you know how that can go.) Now, there have been times that Pook doesn't want to go, but we've gone anyway. When I don't want to go, and she doesn't want to go, well, that's when we usually (but not always) stay home.

And then, the conversation came up about Saturday, where we've planned a small party for FIL, that we've let Pook help plan. And, instead of just telling her that the ILs didn't want to go, somehow, because she knew Pook was planning it, it turned into her telling me that our problem is that we let Pook decide too much.

*Sigh*

Miscommunications occured on both sides. Mind you, it was a 5 minute conversation, because she had to get her kiddos off to school, and clean off the car. And, part of me is really wondering if it's worth clarifying things, because she's busy planning for Hannukah this week, and their big party on Saturday, that we won't be going to, and which she really wants us to attend. She's also really, really stressed out.

And, I felt bad and didn't want to hurt her feelings, nor did I know if she'd be open to the fact that my ILs do not like going to parties with people they don't know. Now, I'm frustrated that I didn't just spit it out and tell it like it was. However, I've noticed, that when I've only got a 5 mintue time span to chat, and I'm caught offguard on a topic I wasn't expecting to chat about (like Saturday when I was just calling to say we weren't going in today), I don't always come across as clear as I'd like to.

So, I've been sitting her pondering my abilities as a parent, if I'm really a wuss for not wanting to drive in the snow (but if you've been in the car accidents I have, you'd not want to drive in it either!), do I give Pook too many choices - or does it just come across that way sometimes, and the fact that I just want to live a simple life.

After allowing myself to feel a bit inadequate, I started to really think about my life, how I live it, and my parenting skills. I am a first time parent. I do not parent the way most people do, and that is a conscious choice that I've made. I parent in a way that I feel is best for me and my child, and compared my friend I talked to this morning - we parent WAY differently. She's also 20 years older than me. So, there's the generational differences, too.

I do not choose to chaufer my child out to 2 and 3 activities a day, 7 days a week. Her kids apparently love this. My child will choose to stay home and do artwork or school, instead of going out and about. This was something I wanted to do as a child, but never got the chance.

I would prefer to stay home and watch the snow, instead of freaking out about driving in it. And you know what? Pook is right up there next to me, watching out the window.

Could I be parenting better? Maybe. Hey, I'm the first to tell you that I know I'm overprotective, and I know that I don't parent like everyone else (does anyone really?). We choose to do things in a way that works best for us. That's just how we are.

And you know what? I love my life. I LOVE our home and the way we do things. When it comes down to it, we are happy. I'm really happy with the way I parent, and the fact that we choose to do one thing at a time. I like that I can let my 4.5 year old plan a birthday for her grandfather - because she wants to. I think that's why homeschooling will suit us as well, because if we want to stay home and watch the snow - we can, without having to worrying about having to be someplace.

We live a simple life compared to most. I've spent too much of my life caught up in the rushing around, wishing away my time. I choose to enjoy each moment, each now, each hug and kiss and snuggle. I am blessed to have a hubby with a government job, and I hope that he knows how much I adore him for it. I am aware, that things may not always be as they are now. So I make it a point to make the most of it.

I think what's been frustrating me the most, is because we are making our own way, there are many people who've been vocal or quietly voicing opposition to it. Sometimes, I want to create a T-Shirt or sign I can wear around my neck that says:

* Yes, I homeschool, and it really doesn't matter to me how you choose to school your sweet children.
* No, I'm not worried about the socialization of my child.
* Yes, I let my child plan and make guided decisions at the age of four.
* You bet I'm overproctective.
* Yes, I probably parent differently than you. And guess what - that's okay! I don't expect you to parent like me! :)

You know, I don't condemn people for sending kids to public school, or having their children involved in activities 7 days a week, or because they parent differently than me. Because you know what? There aren't set rules for parenting. In the end, you need to do what you think is best for your child. And maybe, just maybe, if we all started supporting each other as parents, instead of believing that there is only one way, the world would be a better place. Just saying...

So you know what? I'm off to make me some hot cocoa. And then, I'm going to bundle up and watch the snow flakes fall. And I'm going to think about how much I adore my husband, and give thanks that I have the choice to stay home and I don't have to feel guilty about it. I'm going to enjoy the day with my daughter, and have fun doing school with her, and even get some work done.

And, eventually, I'll be able to decide if we'll be going to school or not, without calling my hubby for a pep talk, and, who will tell me, "Honey, it's your choice." (I did mention I love him, yes?) And, too, I think I need to learn to start just saying no, without giving a reason and encouraging miscommunications. Besides, have you noticed if you don't give a reason, they can't argue with you? :)

I wish you all a wonderful day. May you be blessed to see and bask in the moments, because they are moments, and they won't last.

Working with what you have

Have I mentioned, that sometimes it takes me a while to come to a realization/conclusion/or just to grasp certain concepts?

Well in case I didn't, I'm mentioning it now and reminding those of you who are aware.

The best part about it is that I get to embark on a really cool journey of discovery that, though is just plain obvious to others, is completely enthralling to me.

For instance, I realized this weekend why I don't always research things as much as I could (aside from the fact that I work from home while caring for my daughter and looking into homeschooling ideas). Let's just say, it's a family thing. Oh the joy of discovering how my family has influenced me!

In any case, one realization led to another, and by George! The whys of it all became clear while shopping with my mum. (Which, in itself is an experience.)

But, that's just a side note to my post.

We're a pulling in the money belt, buckling up, and reevalutating our life and spending styles. Before this, I could come up with a reason as to why I needed anything (amazingly, my mother is really good at this too!). I had lists of things we planned to buy, and felt bad because I didn't have them. Oh so silly, I know!

This weekend, in reviewing how we can save money, I began creating a list of "needs" (its in quotes because I really don't need anything save for basic food) and wants (like tablecloths for the outdoor tables, a new dinning room set, etc.). Interestingly enough, many of my "needs" turned out to be wants. I also found that some things - like a heater and dehumidifer for the basement are needed in that if we want to make the basement into an office/family room to help with the moisture and keep it warm in winter, so we don't get sick. However, technically, we can just live upstairs if we had to.

But for me, I've managed to come up with solutions I hadn't thought of before. And, it feels really good to get creative with what we have, and to live outside the box, and to just ask for things.

Like I said, sometimes, I'm a little slow. But I don't mind, because it's new to me. And, as a result, I just get really excited. At least I'm enjoying myself and the learning process - right? :)

And the best part? I've got a new support partner on the journey to live a more frugal life. Hi, L!And I'm thinking that I'm going this for the long term. That's the plan for me.

Summer's Calling

Summer's been calling me, with her tender breezes and sunny days. The shady back deck and swing tease me, whispering, begging for me to come out and sit in it. The birds sing for me. And tomorrow, I will. :) Well, maybe today too.

Lately, well, since I've returned from my two week sabatical to visit family, life has taken on a new pace. You know, that slow summer pace of summer's long ago when you could just sit back, relax, and enjoy a good pool day?

I've also been taking action on my goal to streamline my life in the physical sense. Another carload was deposited to Goodwill yesterday. All that is left in the basement, is hubby's Tool Bench, the clearing off of an old computer, a bag of books eagerly awaiting someone (ahem, some twins due to visit in August - hurrah!) to look through them and take a few before the rest are off to Goodwill, the rest of my desk and a few files. And then, it'll be done. Never, in all my life did I think I'd been in this space. The space where I'd walk into my basement and not be able to find anything to let go of because it's all loved or being used. Wow.

I have gone through Pook's room and toys. I've cleared through my own rooms. Hubby joined the bandwagon this weekend by finally going through boxes of stuff that he's planned to go through years ago and going through his desk. (I'm SO proud of him!!!) And, I can't find anything else to give away - because it's in use or I really, really like it! Now, 6 months or so from now, I'm sure I'll have things (when we eventually get a new bed, the old one will have to go), but for now, there's this feeling of peace and joy just knowing - it's gone.

I've found time to make collages, to add a few summery touches to the house, to swim in the pool. Life has been quiet - purposefully I might add - the last two weeks especially, so that Pook and I can sit back and relax, and enjoy. Eventually, it'll start up again, but for now - it's summer! And I forgot how I do love thee Summer's days!

And tomorrow, well, tomorrow, we plan to celebrate summer proper with a visit to the pool, hubby's herbed burgers, and a dear friend. It will be quiet (save for the surrounding fireworks), and the perfect way to celebrate - my birthday! Cause, y'all know - those fireworks are really just for me! ;) I'm just saying...

Early morning

I was up today before the rise of the sun, listening to the singing birds. And now, with the rise of the sun, and the Pook, I'm listening to her singing to her own little song and rhythm.

She misses her Daddy, and is snuggled into the flannel sheets awaiting Mommy snuggles.

What will we do today? It matters not.

Right now, I'm completely present, aware of the softness of the flannel, aware of the sunlight through the curtains, aware of the warm cuddle-bug on my lap, her head on my shoulder as I type.

Focus on 2007

There are 4 new things I'm focusing on for 2007:

• To live consciously
• To make it a point to enjoy life more
• To continue to create a home environment that radiates contentment, peace, love, nurturing, and joy
• To spend more time outdoors

Each of these has various aspects to it, that I'll expand on below.

1. Live consciously.
This is a big category, that encompasses many things for me. I'll try to break them into smaller sections.

• Be aware of blessings. By making the most of what we have, just being aware of all we have, and working with what we have. Honoring our little family and our home. And, to bask in gratitude and apprecition for those blessings.
• Be aware of my internal rhythms, and listen to inuition. Make time for quietness, and spiritual reflection - even if it's only 15 minutes. Take a step back to look at the bigger picture.
• Live more Greenly. Give gifts that can be used, or make donations in the name of others. Start to recycle. Freecycle or donate items when applicable. Get a compost bin, and create compost. Support local farmers. Try to buy things with less packaging, and/or packaging that can be recycled. Bring own bags to store. Continue to determine how to live more greenly (http://www.treehugger.com/)
• Create a compact pledge that works for us, and following through for at least a month, if not longer.
• Be aware of how we, as a family, can eat healthier. Try to eat less processed and packaged stuff, by making own breads, soups, and fresh foods. Create healthy snacks by keeping carrots, hummus, and other fruits and veggies on hand and accessible to Pook. Learn how to can our own veggies and the like.
• Be conscious and aware of spending. Spend wisely, frugaly, and continue to invest in savings. Also, be aware of what we really need, and what we need to buy. What are the necessities? Heaven knows we don't need any more knick knacks or decor!
• Bless others. Through monatary donations and freecycling.
  Spend more time outside.

2. Enjoy life more; have some fun.

Silly to have to post this, but a big thing for me. Do fun things, do more of what we enjoy, keep a perspective of positivity. Continue to say No to those things (and people) that drain us. Plan a fun vacation. Take care of myself by doing things I enjoy, spending quality time with friends, and doing things that decrease stress (massage, Reiki, diva days...)

3. Continue to create a home environment of contentment, peace, love, nurturing and joy.

Nurture a postive and loving attitude. Show my family I appreciate them by nurturing them with love, good food, and appreciation. Honor those who enter my house - family or friend, and nurture them with respect, good food, and love, and shower them with appreciation.

Honor our house by enhancing it with creativity and love:

• Indoors: Continue to get rid of clutter (those things that we feel bad/guilty about, things we don't need or like, or have space for) and create more space in our home. Paint the main areas, new curtains for dinning room and living room, new bed for Pook, clear out Pook's room to make room for new kitchen set, repaint basement, set up office/study area in basement, repaint study (this will be later, as when it's repainted, chances are, it'll be turned into a baby room), repaint Pook's room.
• Outdoors: Create our own Secret Garden of tranquility. Fence, clear out back, put in cement patio, steps to patio, garden, plant an apple tree. Shed, potting area, and compost bin.

*Not all listed above needs to be done at the same time, not all in 2007, though it would be nice to have it all done in 2007. :)

4 Spend more time outdoors.

Walk to the park. Take notice of walking to the car, or from the car to house, or building. Make the most of nice weather. Take pictures to help encourage more walks.

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I know that for some, this is a large list. It helps to just write things out, to get a clear view of things. Next year, I plan to blog more on how we are faring on each of these topics. I may need to edit here and there a bit as well. We shall see!

Make note: This is subject to updates!

Reflections on 2006

Last year, there were five things I decided to focus on. I must say, that I think I did a really good job of staying on target.

1. Continuing to Simplify my life

I continued to declutter and get rid of things we no longer loved nor needed. I think I made a total of at least five trips to the Good Will, and countless friends benefited from stuff we let go of.

In the last few months, I've really been clearing out my thoughts, focusing on the blessings in my life, and what we have. It's been amazing!

We said no. We scheduled weekends of no plans. We definitely did less, and did more of what we enjoy.

In 2007, we'll be continuing along this line, as we pare down to make more room in our home, that we're now staying in.

2. Continuining to improve my lifestyle and eating habits.

We did pretty good the beginning of the year, and have done a fair job through the year. Now, we are slowly working our way back to where we were.

3. Spend wisely and consciously.

We did well on this aspect, too. We've managed to save the most money since we've been married. Next year though, we've got specific house projects we'll be dealing with, but we've realized, that we really don't need anything. There are things we'd like, but we'll need to rearrange things to make more space.

4. Stay in tune with Rhythm; honor and getting to know my inner/intuition.

I'm gradually getting back in touch with myself, as for I while, I got lost. I allowed my knee injury to through me off, and I made excuses. Might need to revisit this in 2007.

5. Continue to connect with appreciation and gratitude.

This has been a big one this year. I've purposely gone out of my way to show my appreciation to others, and to be more appreciative in general. My Thank Yous are truly heartfelt, and I express this as often as I can. Basking in gratitude has been lifechanging for me, and helped me to really appreciate and be aware of the blessings in my life.

All in all, it's been a year of many, many blessings. I am filled with gratitude when I think about things. I've reconnected with people (like Stacie), got to spend time with Phil and see his home (finally), spent quality time with those I love, and bask in the bliss of being a mom.

We didn't move, but I think we've gained an even greater gift by deciding to stay. Ah... bliss.

More thoughts on simplicity...

Thanks for the input on my last post from Phil and Ed... lots of good things, really forming a new perspective of things.

This afternoon, a new revelation... the discussion from Saturday's been continuing over email, with a quite a few people admitting that, in fact, they do not live simple lives, but choose to live their lives at a complex level, because it makes them happy.

One person made this excellent point:
So the new question I’m asking myself is not, “How can I live the simple life?” or “What is the simple life?” but rather “Am I living the life I want to be living? If not, then what can I change and why am I not changing it?”

This is really starting to resonate with me now. I think I'm getting it.

She also added, "For me simplicity might just be too broad a concept to be of any value. After some reflection since Saturday I see that I want my life to be rich with wonder, complexity, compassion and love and free from unnecessary nonsense and baggage. The unnecessary nonsense and baggage is easy for me to pinpoint, define and make steps to change and/or eliminate while simplicity is none of those things for me (easy to pinpoint, define, make steps toward). "

I'm beginning to wonder if I've been complicating things in my search for a simple life. Hmmm...

All good, good stuff! Keep it coming!

Simplicity

This word has been very prominent in my life, especially since November, and not just because it's what I'd like my life to be more like. I've literally seen it on magazines, websites, and this month, Sarah Ban Breathenache's book Simple Abundance promises to focus on it. So, I'm thinking the universe is giving me a message. Now, am I willing to listen and put it into practice?

Saturday I went to a discussion on what constitutes "The Simple Life", or, a life of simplicity. It was amazing to discover what everyone considered neccessary to live a simple life, and what people weren't willing to "give up", and just what the general definitions were.

Quite a few of the people there, were farmers who believe in growing organic food, getting eggs from chickens, raising cows or pigs for meat, selling fruits and veggies at local farmer's markets, and were all in agreement that the life they were leading, was anything but simple. In fact, it was a lot of hard work.

I've been working at simplifying my own life for the last 7 years or so after reading a book by Elaine St. James: Simplify Your Life, Inner Simplicity and I forget the other one. My life might have been much simpler had I not have gotten married and had a kid. :) And lately, I've not only admitted that my life is not only not simple, but that I have a tendency to complicate it.

I suppose that knowing this makes me ahead of the game. What's been really funny though, is that back in November, I began to crave simplicity. So, I dropped one huge thing. Since then, work's picked up considerably and complicated things much more.

Friday I was sitting in our library while Pook napped, and I looked around to see a mass of half- read books, half done projects, and a ton of added extras around the house. It was then I realized, that I've a nasty tendency to makes space in my life, only to "fill it" with other projects or activities, that I may or may not finish. As I sat there admist journaling long hand, and just sitting letting my mind putter about, I realized, that if just got rid of the half-read books, half-done projects, I wouldn't be worrying about how to find the time to finish them.

Or, I could also go through and finish them... which would take up more time...

I was beginning to see why I felt as though I'm spending all my free time catching up with my life. And I realized, I'm tired of racing to catch up, but still ending up so far behind.

Thus, I've come up with two questions:
* What can I live without?
* What do I want in my life?

At the discussion, we made a list of what the simple life excluded and included. We then started off by starting with what we all considered to be the simplest life, the life of a monk who lived in a cell with one robe, a board to sleep on, no other material possessions, plenty of time to meditate and pray, who begs for food. Not everyone might agree, and could probably take this down further, but, this is where we started.

Then we added to it. What helped me, was realizing that I already have a good part of the list in my life, I've just got a lot of added extras.

I realized, that for me, a simple life would include the following:
* time to meditate
* serenity
* peace and quiet
* community support (in other words, people who enjoy doing things I don't like to do: changing oil and caring for cars, accounting, helping with gardening, cooking, etc.)
* basic needs provided for: food, place to sleep and live, etc.
* creature comforts: hot, running water and plumbing, flowers outside, books to read, journal to write in, etc.
* comfortable
* living in the present moment
* balance and moderation (which is the key!)
* Fun, joy, play, create

Basically, more than enough to sustain me, but I want it to be a pleasureable experience.

I have most of this, or the ability to do most of this. Of course, I'm a mom to an almost 3-yr-old, I work (lots lately), and I'm married to a hubby not willing to give up the TV as it's good for playing games and watching movies, even though we don't watch TV programs (our TVs are to old to get clear channels).

And so, I come back to those questions:

What can I live without: TV (movies, DVDs, videos, games), a dining room, most of my decorations, worry, fear, frustration, anxiety, excess pots and pans, extra chairs and sofas,

What do I want in my life: Serenity, Pook, hubby, fun, play, painting/crafts, comfort, solace, organic food, wholesome-homeade foods as opposed to packaged microwaved foods, would love someone to cook aforementioned foods or more time to cook aforementioned foods, flowers, trees/nature, hot running water and indoor plumbing including a toilet, a comfy bed, at least some sort of seasonal decoration, chocolate, a good pair of jeans, music, books...

These are the things I'll be giving thought too, probably adding or maybe even subtracting from. I don't know. But what I do know, is that simplifying my life seems more attainable to me.

Now, if I could only find that anonymous benefactor so that hubby and I wouldn't have to work, it'd really be much more simple. ;)