Simple as it Seems

Many a year ago (back in 2006!) I started following a blog called Walk Slowly, Live Wildly and was enamored with everything the blog author (Sara) wrote about. Some of it was too extreme for me at the time. Well, not just some of it.... most all of it. But I was challenged to my core and God hasn't let me forget it (he's great like that, isn't he?). To understand why, I am going to give you a very very short version (she has a longer one on her site if you are oddly fascinated, like me, about personal background). She and her husband sold their newly purchased home and gradually got rid of most of their possessions and moved into an RV. With a child. They began touring the country on a personal mission to spread how to Live Lightly (they did a tour in 2007 and one in 2008 and are now officially done touring). Currently they are still living in an RV but now have a 6 year old and a toddler and they travel around the country and are still making a living while doing it. Impressive, no?

Hm.

4 years ago I was hooked. Nothing in my life changed as a result of my fascination. I secretly wanted to be like this little family, though my life was nowhere near it - and let's face it, it still isn't. But back in 2006, my spirit (now knowing my mind had been exposed to living differently) began to be dully dissatisfied with my consumption. Which I mostly ignored. At some point -this post to be exact- I realized I that Sara and her ideals were waaay out of my league (er, comfort zone) and she became on of "those" people to me. You know, them. The one's who are able to do that which I am unwilling to. Anyway.

So I've just gone on my merry way falling into the trap of my culture. I've spent countless hours in stores, malls, super centers, and online and come home with numerous things I either returned or was stuck with. I've stared into my closet, kitchen cabinets, and drawers trying my best to get rid of stuff because I knew I needed to, only to come out with one or two things for the Goodwill pile. Don't get me wrong, I definitely made some improvements during the past several years, but I still felt the dissatisfaction in my spirit that I wasn't doing things right.

At the moment, I cannot even remember how many times I've either journaled, thought, had conversations with my husband or friends, and prayed about this unrest in my spirit. I basically felt like I needed to simplify my life. All of my thinking and talking left me with no clarity and I was mostly discouraged by my inability to make my life simple. Dang it.

Now is a good time to mention what my definition of simplicity is. You see, I have never taken the time to actually sit down and come up with a definition of "simple" until last week. Why I have waited this long is beyond me. Striving for a completely undefined ideal was easier, right? But when I actually sat down and thought about what my life would look like if it were simple, I came up with my very own definition. Here's what I wrote in my journal:

"Simple, for me, is this: I know what's necessary, important, and what I enjoy and I'm able to do those things with my time (in an orderly and not crazy fashion. If I'm crazy then I need to re-think where I've been spending my time). It also means that I know what is unnecessary, not important, and what I don't enjoy (as for entertainment and free time) and I have figured out how NOT to do these things."

Some would say this is just being intentional with your time. And I suppose you could condense what I wrote into that one word:

Intentional



For the next several weeks, or however long it takes, life is going to change here in our household. First off, we're going to be getting rid of a lot of stuff. I say "we," but I really mean me. Hubby has no extra time and my 3 and 1 year olds won't be much help in the sorting process (they usually mess up my piles). One thing I know is that we have more than we need or can use. So we'll be getting rid of it and either garage selling, craigslisting, or giving it to those in need. And guess what? I'm going to blog about it!

Talk soon,
Anna