Added Value: Wisdom

     

     Today I thought I'd share some quotes I found that contain more wisdom the more you read and think on them.

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. C. S. Lewis

Too many people today know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Ann Landers

When you live your life in alignment with a purpose that is centered on selflessly adding value for others, opportunities become abundant and your life becomes fulfilled.   Hal Elrod

1948. Jackie French Koller. “There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.”

1947. Linda Breen Pierce. “Simplicity involves unburdening your life, and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high quality life, as defined uniquely by each individual.”

1940s. Richard Foster. “We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy.”

1935. Harold Kushner. “Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth, or power. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter.”

341 BCE. Epicurus. “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”

The simple life is an authentic life.   Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

Every day, I like to wake up and remind myself to be grateful of the simple things. Miranda Kerr

     Enjoy your weekend. Appreciate those around you. Be with those you love. Find moments of peace, joy, and quiet. Just breathe. Look at the beauty around you. Make your space uniquely you. Rest. Give back. Live Simply.

Added Value: Thoughts/Prayers for Florida

   

     As I wrote yesterday, having so many family members in Florida makes it difficult to focus on much else. I have my mother, 2 siblings, aunts, uncle, and cousins there. My contribution to adding value today is simply this, here are some things to pray for them - if you don't pray, would you please either take a moment of silence for them, or send out these as good thoughts out to the universe, or however you are willing to participate? They need all the help they can get to get through Hurricane Irma - and Hurricane Jose is right behind it.

Before the Hurricane hits:

1.     I ask for safety for all those in Florida. May the storm die faster than expected, the winds reduce from what was projected, and may there be less devastation than anticipated. May the hurricane's path turn to a less devastating one. I ask the people to be safe wherever they have to weather this storm. If there's flooding, may it be either less than planned or else have it recede faster than expected. Allow safe travels for those trying to get out of its path, and may people unite to help one another as needs arise.

During the storm:

2.      I ask that the storm would move in a path that minimizes the damages and risk to the most people. I ask that people's homes and shelters would withstand the winds & rain. May the waters not rise too high that people are stranded or in danger. May the residents' supplies last as long as they need them to. Bring help to those who will need it. Special protection for those who are handicapped, special needs, or battling illnesses that put them in a weakened state to begin with. Bring everyone through this safely.

After the storm:

3.     I ask for help and rescue to arrive as soon as possible for those who need it most. May everyone be able to carry on normally as soon as possible after the storm passes. May waters recede and power be restored well ahead of predicted times. Keep those who've been damaged or injured be restored to health or at least not get worse from here on in. A special blessing for those who have nowhere to go, may they find safe refuge and the help they need to start again.

     If you took a few minutes to go through these, thank you. Please try to remember to revisit these as we get through the weekend. It does no harm to ask, but it could possibly mean a huge difference.

Added Value: Hurricane Irma

     Today my blog post will be different. It's hard for me to find a way to write about living a simple life while I'm worried about my family in Florida. Many live on the east coast, and my sister, mom, and brother are on the west coast of FL. There's no evacuation for them, and the media shows photos of highways full of non-moving cars, the gas has run out, like some end of the world or post-apocalyptic movie.

     I feel like the best way to "add value" to people's lives today from where I sit is to pray for the victims already struck, pray for the storm to change direction and head more over water and less contact with land, and for the safety of all those in its path.

     If you don't pray, would you maybe take a moment of silence for them? Or light a candle for them? Or do whatever you do in times like this.

     Today, hug your loved ones, tell your family and friends how much you love them, because before this Hurricane is done, there will be many people in its wake who didn't have that chance.

     God bless.

Added Value: Aesthetics

   

     Many people hear about minimalism and living simply and they picture stark white walls, white floors, white ikea furniture, and not much else. That's not what it's about. It has nothing to do with living like a monk in a centuries old cement monastery or making your home look like a prison cell. For your home to be a place of refuge, that brings you joy, you have to consider aesthetics.

     What type of person are you? What makes you feel at peace? Where are you most comfortable? If it's the beach, add some beach decor, just choose specially chosen, intentional pieces placed in a few areas without becoming "clutter". Maybe an art piece that's not busy like this:

     Then maybe just add a few things in matching colors, that pink sand color or aqua water or natural wood. It could be a vase, one throw pillow, a lap blanket draped over a chair, a candle on the kitchen or dining room table, or a large starfish or conch shell on a shelf next to a few books. Keep it simple, but bring in what you love.

     What if nature is your happy place? Again, find a piece of simple, minimalist art of a single leaf, or a set of 2 or 3, then continue to add that dark green or real wood in small pieces. It could be a piece of driftwood on a shelf or table, again, a vase or candle, a simple green rug on a bare hardwood or tile floor. It's up to you to decide what makes your home feel warm instead of stark and cold.

 So what if your style is "country" as in Americana, or western, or bohemian, or Victorian, or a culture you embrace such as African, Indian, or Italian? The possibilities are endless, just keep it simple. Keep every single thing you bring in meaningful because it adds to your sense of style, personality, and makes your living space your "home". Here's a few examples:

 It can be art pieces, throw rugs, mirrors, frames, pillows, blankets, bookends, plants, lamps, anything that brings in who you are.

 Just be intentional. Choose carefully only after giving it serious thought. And if you decide in the future it no longer is necessary or bringing you joy, don't be afraid to consider it "clutter". Sell it, donate it, or give it away to someone who you know will enjoy it - and try again. Don't turn it into an excuse to shop. Don't use it to RE-clutter your space. Just make it yours, and keep it simple.

Added Value: Capsule Wardrobe

 

     First, a quick update on my hacked Amazon account. I want you to know I live what I blog. After doing all I could from my end, I was left to wait to hear back from them, and waiting for the bank to open this morning to make sure everything was okay. What I didn't do was panic. I truly had a good rest of the day yesterday once passwords were changed and notifications were set up. I absolutely was at peace mentally all day. I chose to not let anxiety and stress have a place in my head. I decided not to let things out of my control ruin my day. I hope you learn to live a more simple life like this over time too.

     Now, on to the business at hand in today's post...The number 1 top thing people ask me about is creating a Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe. Let's start off on the same foundation:

1.  It's not about how many items you own. It's only about creating a wardrobe that saves you time, space, wasting money, and eliminates the unwanted clutter. Lots of people have a wardrobe between 30 and 50 items, but it's not any type of rule. It's all about what works for YOU. The key is having things that layer and work together, and are made up of similar colors that work together as well.

2.  Where you live determines your wardrobe. If you live in a warm winter climate and super hot summer climate like in Arizona, Texas, or Florida, you won't need a wardrobe specifically designed with scarfs, winter hats, thick boots, heavy winter coats, tons of sweaters, etc. If you live in the northern areas like Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Maine, you will definitely have a much different wardrobe in January than you will in July. This is why no set number works for everyone.

3.  You don't need to "display" your off-season wardrobe along with your current one. This tends to make you waste space and time getting ready. Keep your unused clothing boxed and stored in a closet or under the bed, which should be easy if it's only a capsule sized wardrobe anyway. Only keep your current clothing in your closet.

     Okay, with that in mind, here's a few articles and videos that can help you either get started, or complete your capsule wardrobe. With fall approaching in just a few weeks, it's time to go through and figure out what you need, what to donate, and what needs to be thrown away. Enjoy! Just click on the links to see more:


How to build a Fall capsule wardrobe for women

How to wear a minimalist style this fall

Men's Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe

Men's Capsule Wardrobe - Business Casual - 34 pieces

Fall Capsule wardrobe

Added Value: Handling the Unexpected

   

     So this morning I had plans to sleep in (until at least 7 am), take a shower and ease into my day. That didn't happen. Instead I woke up to find my Amazon account had been hacked, and I know they store your credit card info. and it's nearly impossible to avoid it. I've tried removing it, editing so it's one number off so it won't go through, etc. but the info. stays there. I found out at 1 am my time, someone in Russia (or with a Russian email) changed my password, locking me out. I called customer service who was less than helpful. They filled out a "compromised account" form and someone will email me in a day or two. They couldn't get into my account without the new email and new password matching to shut the account down. This was totally unexpected - so how does someone trying to simplify their life handle the unexpected? I can't speak for everyone, but I handled it logically and methodically, step by step.

     I did call Amazon first, as I said. Next, I tried to contact my bank but of course it's a bank holiday today, so I moved all my money from my checking/debit account to my savings account - something I taught my son after someone drained his checking account last year by hacking his xbox account. Then I let everyone at home know what happened so they can make sure their accounts are protected, money is moved, etc. Next I called PayPal because it's tied to my bank account - and they were VERY helpful. They took all the proper precautions and suggested I change passwords on ALL bank/credit cards so if a stranger goes to use them, they won't match. I changed all of them immediately, then got the proper things done on each account until Amazon's case worker gets around to emailing me "in a day or two". I asked them, "Do you know how much stuff you can buy online in just a day or two?!" They said there's nothing else they can do and nothing I can do through them but wait.

    Okay, so what do you do when life hands you the unexpected? It's very urgent, it's very important, it becomes THE top priority to handle, and you already know everything else will either have to wait or be cancelled. The answer is to do what you CAN, but don't let your emotions get the better of you. I was shocked, worried, stressed, full of anxiety, nervous, and my mind was racing asking, "What do I do next?" And that was just the first 2 minutes. The most important thing you can do is to STOP. THINK. RESPOND instead of reacting. (In my case, the first step should always be to PRAY. If that's not your thing, that's up to you, just move forward from here.)

1.  Prioritize - what needs to happen first? What's got the most potential to stop or slow the problem? Or who needs to be notified FIRST? What will keep it from getting worse?

2.  Organize your steps - work down a short list from the most important to the least important, whether it be who to call, what to do, where to go, just stay calm and do one thing at a time. You can't fix multiple things all at once so why stress over them all at once? It does nothing to help you or your ability to deal with the situation.

3.  Double check - go back through the situation and think about if you missed anyone/anything that still needs to happen. Settle your mind down and think carefully. This way, once you get through all you can do on your end, you can let go of the worst of it.

4.  Wait - this is the hardest part, but it's necessary in almost every case. Either you wait to hear back from someone, or you wait for results, or you have to wait until further action can be taken (more information is necessary). Since this part can't be avoided, don't stess over it. That won't stop bad things from happening anyway. Do something else to relax you, or be productive, or clean, or take your mind off it however you choose - but wait in a calm state, not an anxious one - it won't help.

5.  Results will vary on this one depending on the situation. It may change everything, it may fizzle out and be resolved. Either way, it's a new set of decisions to make. Just try to handle those unexpected things one at a time, in a less stressful way.

As for me, I'm in the waiting stage until Amazon gets back to me. I've done all I can from my end, so now I will go through my day normally - refusing to stay upset and nervous - and we'll move forward once I hear back from them.

Stay calm. Breathe. Think. Respond. Be at peace.
   

Added Value Day 3: Use Time Wisely

   

Does it seem like we live in a world that's too busy? Are people always making excuses for why they don't take vacations, play with their kids, make time for their friends - and the excuses are the same - "I have no time"? The truth is, everyone has the same amount of time, 365 days a year, 12 months a year, 52 weeks in a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours in each day, 1440 minutes a day (doesn't that seem like a lot?), and 86,400 seconds every day. So how are we spending our time?
     Fourteen HUNDRED minutes. Such a large number, but it never seems like it as we're running on the hamster wheel of life every day. What do most people who are busy do with them? Here's a breakdown according to one website (click on the link): How Americans spend their time

     According to this article, the average American over the age of 15 spends most of their time sleeping, over 8 hours each 24 hour day. Most older folks I know sleep far less than that, rising before dawn, and most teenagers and young adults I know sleep far more than that, often sleeping til noon on days they aren't at work or school - so I guess it's a fair "average". It does say people with kids sleep a little less. Statistics show more men work full time and many woman work part time, again this is on average. The surprising statistic is that people have 5-6 LEISURE hours every single day, and even more on weekends! So how is that time being spent since people have "no time" for what they say is really important? Here's another link to tell you how most of that time is spent:

 How Americans spend their time

     MORE THAN HALF OF OUR LEISURE TIME IS SPENT IN FRONT OF THE TELEVISION!

     I'm sorry, but that seems appalling to me. With kids desperately missing out on quality time with their parent(s), families aren't eating dinner together nor talking about their day anymore, friends don't make as much time for each other like they used to a generation or two ago, it's so sad to think the few precious hours and minutes we get, we waste it watching television.

     America LEADS other nations in how much time is wasted in front of the TV, followed closely by Australia, Italy and Poland. Which nations watch the least? Korea, China and Sweden. What does Sweden offer to do with all that extra leisure time? They exercise (sports, walking, etc) and spend time building relationships. As a result, 83% of their children under 16 are healthy. Compare that to the U.S. where only 33% of kids get exercise daily, and only 30 - 44% of adults in different age groups do. American children spend more than 7 1/2 hours in front of the TV! The Swedish spend their long winters with friends and family where most Americans stay inside and live sedentary lifestyles.

     What about Korea? What do they do to limit too much internet and television? They actually have programs with counseling and psychological treatment for roughly 2 million people to break the addiction. They also eat healthy, make entertainment (live theater, family events, local events) a priority, exercise, enjoy the outdoors, especially camping, and engage in meditation/relaxation practices regularly. Their average life expectancy by 2030 is said to be over 90! Americans could learn a lot from them.

     And lastly, what about China? Exercise is a way of life, along with eating healthy, fresh foods. Many articles I've read talk about the retired aged couples of China never owning (some never even seeing) a can opener before. China even has a province called Guangxi where many residents live to be over 100 years old! Also, relationships are key to a better life. Their elders are revered, and it's a treat to spend time with them whenever possible, as one generations teaches the next, on down the line. People are socially connected. They promote restorative sleep and are serious about managing stress. Compare that to the U.S. where we sleep less, thrive on stress as a badge of honor, ignore our elders in nursing homes so we don't have to "deal with them", there's less and less respect with each generation, we exercise less than any other nation, and instead of many centenarians, the average lifespan in America is barely 79, and dropping every year as cancers, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other sedentary lifestyles outweigh the modern miracles in medicine.

     Use your time wisely. Spend it with your loved ones. Spend it moving, exercising, hiking, walking, participating in sports, etc. Don't waste what time you have creating a life that's neither filled with joy, nor adding value - use your time wisely.