June 2, 2009

Keeping it Simple   I vowed I would never have one again.  And I haven't. I didn't say I would never attend one.  And I have, but I attended to help out, not to buy.    What is it?  A garage sale.   Check the signs around town and your local newspaper - there's always a garage sale happening.  Why?  Everyone is trying to get rid of their stuff.  You know, the thigh master that you had to have and never used, those cute shoes that gave you blisters the first time you wore them, the gardening tools you bought to start the garden you never got around to starting because you were too busy, the toys you bought for your children who would rather have played with your pots and pans, and various other items you had to have to keep up with your neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Jones.   We've all been there. And now, all that stuff has ended up in a garage sale.    Ah, the simple life, free of clutter and junk.  If you only had what you needed and truly wanted (that's the tricky part), and no more, how would your life be different?   How would you benefit?   Living simply costs less.  There's no need to continually purchase more and more that doesn't make you any happier in the long run.  Examine where you are spending your money and your priorities will surface. Do they match your values and vision for your life? When you live more simply with less possessions, you will have more time on your hands to do what really matters to you.  That's because you often become a slave to all those possessions.  There's more upkeep to a mansion than a smaller house, there's maintenance to a pool in your backyard that doesn't get used much anymore, plus some people have to work longer hours and carry two or more jobs just to cover the cost of all those possessions.  What would you rather be doing with your time? There will be less to stress and worry about.  No need to wonder how you'll pay off that credit card, where you're going to put all that stuff you must have, who's going to take it off your hands when you do decide to get rid of it, or where to find that important document among all those other papers.  You get the picture.  You will gain greater focus and clarity for your life.  Clear away all the stuff that clouds your vision and voila' - what do you see?  Is there a new opportunity awaiting you? When you go a step further, and rid yourself of some of your "busyness" activities that take you nowhere, you will have more energy to focus on going where you really want to go.  Where is that?   "Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough," said Charles Dudley Warner.  How much baggage do you have?  Is it enough or too much?      "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."             Hans Hofmann   "In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity."             HenryWadsworthLongfellow   "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."             Leonardo da Vinci   "The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity."             Ludwig Wittgenstein     I received a breath of fresh air when I cleaned out my home office the other day.  The room looked and felt twice as big.  Amazing.  Then I helped with the garage sale for our local PEO chapter to raise money for scholarships, and watched as people bought more stuff to take to their homes.  So glad I wasn't bringing any home with me. I actually have a good amount of my own stuff to get rid of - the home office was just the tip of the iceberg, but since I spend a lot of time there, it was of high priority.   Keeping it simple is doable - if you put your mind and energy to it.   The Woman of Distinction luncheon was the other day and it was very humbling to be recognized by your community for your achievements.  My thanks to my family and friends for sharing the afternoon with me.   Have a fantastic week and keep it simple.   Stephanie     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com