I have had so many wonderful people urging me to start writing on here again. I really have missed it. So happy to be back.
I have read and re-read the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. I know there has been a lot of hype about this book and rightly so. We have so much in our lives that we do not need.
In her book she asks you to pick up each item in your house and ask yourself, "Does this item bring me joy?" It sounds a bit wacky, but it works! Due to this book, simplifying has been on my mind a lot.
If you haven't listen to this talk by Elder Uchtdorf, you really need to! I will tell you some of it. He explains that a sister is preparing for her a church lesson. She got busy with children, helping sick husband, etc. The day of the lesson was near and she had a lot to do for her lesson. She hardly slept the night before her lesson because she was trying to finish sewing a quilt, which would be the back drop of her lesson. She was exhausted that next day, but the quilt was finish and looked amazing! "And at the center of it all was a single word that triumphantly echoed the theme of her lesson, Simplify!"
Of course we all laugh at the story, but haven't we all been guilty of doing something similar?
Here are some things that have been on my mind about simplifying.
- Simplify your negative thoughts: The first way to simplify your mind is to accept them and not judge them. We all have them! Try to continue on during the day without letting them control your life. It's just a thought that can change in an instant.
- Simplify your words: Avoid Gossip. Mean what you say. Be kind.
- Simplify your commitments: learn to say no. Make time for people, things and food that really bring you joy!
- Simplify being busy: This goes along with #3. Stop being so busy. Take time for you. You need it. You deserve it. Enjoy your surroundings. Don't take the little things for granted.
“That’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” – Steve Jobs
Have a lovely week!
