Day 7: Streamlining My Reading List

     Today's challenge is easy. I love to read, but don't always take the time to pursue books I want to read. I'm more likely to either come across one that seems interesting, or else I read something new by an author I already know and like. I spent quite a bit of time checking out books to read and I've come up with a few good ones. Here's my recommendations:

     Although I already have read these (finishing up the 3rd one in the next 2 days), I highly recommend them if you have ever thought about learning more about Minimalism. It looks different for everyone, based on your family size, values, relationships, space available, living quarters, square footage available, passions, etc. I generally wouldn't recommend books here that use some bad language, I believe if you can skip over the occasional bad language, you could get quite a bit of value from these. (And no, it's not just all over the place, it's mostly for real emphasis, about a PG-13 rating.) All 3 of these books are written by The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus.

After reading these, I pursued a few other books. Some were on minimalism also to get other people's perspective. Some were Christian books, both fiction and non-fiction, and some were on other topics. Here's what's on my To Do reading list:

1. Waking Up to Who You Really Are by Ted Dekker

2.  The Happiness of Simple by Dan Erickson (free on Amazon Prime kindle version)

3.  Daily Wisdom for Women - it's a January 2015 devotional collection by Barbour Books

4.  Minimalism (A minimalist guide to eliminate clutter, clear the mind, and increase productivity) by      Paul Silverman

5.  47 Little Love Boosters by Marko Petkovic

6.  Capsule Wardrobe (When Less is the New Black) by Hannah Hannigan * This one I read in under

     an hour, it has a pink cover, so you don't confuse it with the others by that name

7.  The Scottish Fairy Book by Elizabeth Wilson Grierson (not sure I'll get to this one)

8.  Child in the Mist by Kathleen Morgan (Scottish fiction)

9.  To Live is Christ by Beth Moore

10. Praying God's Word by Beth Moore

11. Who Is the Holy Spirit by R.C. Sproul

12. The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience by Stormie Omartian

13. Discover Minimalism, a Minimalist Budget by Adrian Pepperdine

Now that I have the next dozen or so, I need to streamline and prioritize it.  Here's my top 5:

#1, because I love Ted Dekker and this isn't a fiction story like he usually does, it's about faith

#2, because that's where I'm at right now

#4, ditto

#12, because I know lots of people who are in need of serious prayer right now, you probably do to.

#13, although I've got a great handle on our finances, I'm always open to learning how to be better

So if you had a chance to read even just 1, 2 or 3 books over the next 6 months, what would you read? What are you interested in? What needs improving? What would you like to learn? What kind of fictional story would you like to get lost in? Would you do better with an audio book? 

Don't forget you can find some books for free or just 99 cents with Kindle, or Amazon Prime, or others out there. You can request your local library find the book (even if it's out of state) and they will get it for you as long as there's no waiting list. This is a great option since it's FREE. You also could subscribe to Audible or KindleUnlimited for a monthly fee to read many books at no extra cost and they usually run around $10 to $15 per month for the subscription - great for those who love to read. 

Enjoy finding your own reading list. Good luck.

Day 6: Follow a Morning Ritual

     So for day 6 of the Minimalist Challenge I'm supposed to follow a morning routine. That could mean follow a typical morning's routine, or start a totally new, more meaningful morning routine. I chose the latter, although it's not all that different from what I've been doing for a few months.

     I woke up at 5am. It's supposed to reach 110 today, so around 104 by noon. That means in my routine, 1) Anything to be done outside, like yard work or manual watering should be done as early as possible. I went out to pick up the oranges that the birds ate at the top of our tree (that we couldn't reach to pick) that have now fallen on the ground. They (and the occasional other critters) typically leave a hollow shell. I picked up about 3 handfuls with gloves on and was bit over a dozen times by the ant coming out of the new anthill I noticed about a foot from the tree. It's the best place for them to find water and food, so they're everywhere. They bite - hard! So I stopped pretty quickly after killing at least 10 of them on my ankles & hands. They move quick too! Guess I'll be buying some ant killer for the ground today.

     I went back inside and washed the bites which were now tiny little welts, like a mosquito bite but much smaller, and no, they didn't itch or hurt, just as they're biting. Since I was already up, it made sense to do my workout. For the challenge, 2) Workout for better health, strength, flexibility, and a leaner body. I've been using the Trim Healthy Mama DVDs set. It's an intro DVD, 7 DVDs with a different workout on it, and the 8th DVD is the smartest thing ever - it lets you pick the beginning, middle, and end (warmup, strength, and cardio) parts of different workouts - you can mix & match to create your own favorite workout. It also has Gentle Fit starting moves to do if the regular ones are to hard in the beginning, and there's a third section to keep them challenging. I feel the sore muscles after almost every workout so I know they're doing something, and I'm working out different muscles as I switch them up.

     After my workout I always immediately head to the shower and get dressed for the day. Not very exciting, but it's my #3 of the routine: 3) shower/dressed.

     Next I'm trying to spend more time on something important to me, my faith. Feel free to insert your own routine or steps in your own challenge. But for me, 4) Read my bible while taking notes. Sometimes I go through Psalms randomly and pick out things it says about what God does or who He is. Other times I go through and pick out things Jesus said in the New Testament about how we should live to have a better life. It's whatever's on my heart that day.

     5) Read - although I like to take a little time to read throughout the day, I like to start the day in whatever good book I'm into at the time. (I've almost always got a book going.) It helps me start the day with a topic, or metaphor, or something to think on throughout the day. I try to figure out how what I'm reading can add value to my life, regardless of if it's a How-To book or some kind of fiction.

     That's a pretty good start for a morning routine of intentional living, simple but meaningful. Where it goes from there may vary from day to day, but it's a good routine for me.

     What would your routine look like?

Minimalism 30 Day Challenge: Day 5 - Identify 3-6 Top Priorities

     What an interesting challenge this is in light of all The Minimalists books, videos on YouTube, and podcasts I've been absorbing. I have to really give this one thought because it's not about being the best at what others need from you, or what others want you to do or be. It's about figuring out what I'm truly passionate about. It's not about what "job" should I have, or what "career" do I want (although there's one I'm pursuing I am passionate about); instead it's about what motivates me, what would I do if I had the time to do it, even if it didn't pay me a penny.

     Over the last 20 years I knew the answer of the tip of my tongue - HOMESHOOLING. It paid me nothing, cost us quite a bit of sacrificing, took most of my time, but it was important. It came with a whole slew of rewards that money can't buy, mostly my close relationships I have with each of my grown children, each one is totally different but all are just as deep. I woke up every day knowing what I did mattered. It mattered to me, to the kids, and when they become adults, it will matter to the world beginning with their bosses, spouses and kids (someday), their volunteer and charity organizations they choose to support, their logical thinking, problem solving abilities, hard work ethic, compassion, the list goes on and on.

     After graduating our last a year ago I really spent all this time considering what it is I'm supposed to do in this new season of my life. I could go get some minimum wage job, trading most of my hours for a few dollars, to buy stuff we don't need. I suppose I could use it to save for our next (used) car or a future vacation, but what would I lose in the process? The answer I came to was:  MYSELF

     I need to be able to make a difference in what I'm doing. It needs to help people. It needs to have a purpose other than making money for some faceless corporation. I don't judge anyone working a minimum wage job because in many cases, it's paying the bills, or provided the extras their families can't get any other way, or helping them get out of credit card debt, or paying for medical expenses. In my particular case, I needed to follow my true calling, my passion, the purpose I believe God put me on this earth to accomplish. My heart is 100% in Women's Ministry. So what are my new priorities based on that?

     1.  I'm going back to college 30 years after I had to leave (ran out of money back then). I'm
          taking Psychology to focus on Counseling, which I hope to bring to Women's Ministry. I'd
          love to do that in my own home church, but in any church, I'll be pursuing my passion. If
          I can't do that, I can still be a counselor in a non-profit organization. Worst case, I can still
          work in Human Resources at any company and earn a decent living compared to min. wage.

     2.  I'm moving my mother (and brother) here from FL to AZ. She's not all that old, and she
          isn't in such bad health that she belongs in a nursing home or assisted living center. I just
          know how badly she and my brother have struggled over the decades now just to survive
          and the rug is being pulled out from under them through no fault of their own. I believe our
          family has been through what it has, and we own the larger home we have now, so that we
          can be a blessing to them and give them a new start. Where would we be if my in-laws
          hadn't stepped in when that was us? It's our turn to give back and pay it forward.

     3.  I have an opportunity to grow with a new church that took over our building when the last
          one had to close its doors. I'm so excited about every aspect of it so far. I hope to really be
          able to thrive, as well as help other women thrive, through the Women's Ministries and small
          group opportunities they offer. I can truly pursue my heart's passion through them.

     4.  I have a great marriage. Like most couples, there's been a few times in 25 years that it wasn't
          great, when one of us felt like giving up, fortunately it was never on the same day! We've been
          through a lot and I won't speak for what Tim feels about it all now, but I know I've come
          through the messes to the other side with a wonderful new appreciation and respect for Tim.
          My faith helped me stick with it during the challenges, but now, I know without a doubt, I
          CHOOSE to stay, every day, because I love Tim deeply, want him to be happy, and want to
          never forget about his needs and desires. I seek to put even more into our marriage. On his
          home time he usually just wants to rest watching tv, catching up on all the shows he misses
          being gone for 3 weeks at a time (or more). I plan on coming up with some things to do
          together besides tv that will appeal to him - as well as spend more time just being his friend
          and companion watching some of his shows with him. And I can't wait for our 25th
          Anniversary cruise that we're taking (4 months after the fact) in September to the Southern
          Caribbean. I love cruising alone with him!

     5.  Number 5 for me is at a crossroads. Health is important to me, so I exercise, eat a mostly
          gluten free diet (a low carb tortilla a week is about it), take supplements, avoid all forms of
          sugar except Stevia and a little monkfruit, cut out all candy/chocolate/baked goods unless
          they're remade with a Trim Healthy Mama recipe, and barely eat some type of chips once a
          month - and I'm currently trying to perfect a recipe for homemade oven sweet potato chips.
          With that said, after considering all I've read and heard from The Minimalists, health is one
          the most important things, but if it's something you're passionate about, don't do it. I'm not
          passionate about exercising, I'd rather just have a Dunkin' Donut or bubble gum ice cream
          or salt and vinegar chips once in a while - but I don't because I want the results. I want to
          drop a few sizes, lose some inches, feel better, live longer, have more energy, think more
          clearly, get sick less often, etc. but I'm not yet "passionate" about it. I'm hoping that as I keep
          up what I'm doing, I'll learn to enjoy it, or at least, I'll see results that give me more passion
          for continuing.

     So there's my Day 5 challenge priorities. As I typed this out and reread it all, I really do feel excitement in what I say I'm passionate about. If I were to add a #6 it would be travel. It's all I ever really wanted to do but never got much of a chance until about 6 years ago. I choose to get my finances in better order (although they're very good now) before taking off somewhere again. I'll be
more than satisfied with my cruise, then maybe it'll be time for some local travel to see CA or CO.
Maybe big trips will become rewards that are earned for getting my college degree(s)? Or after I
have all the money saved up and I'm completely debt-free except for our mortgage? We'll see where that goes, but I've got enough to work on with priorities #1-5.

Day 4: No Complaining

     Well, I'm glad I didn't have this one yesterday! As soon as I got done blogging, I looked out the living room window and realized something was wrong with my sprinklers. The water was flooding the lawn instead of shutting off after a few minutes and beginning watering the other side of the lawn. I also noticed there was water bubbling up from the ground next to one of the sprinkler heads. I ran outside and switched off the sprinkler at the system - and nothing happened! Then I turned the valve that I thought was supposed to shut off water to the whole house - and nothing happened! Now I was in a total panic, and all I could think of was the hundreds of gallons of water I'd be paying for, to water the sidewalk and street. I called the water department who said they couldn't get here for an hour and no, they will not note my account, and I will definitely be billed for all the water that continues to come out.

     Now imagine if yesterday was the No Complaining day! (Fortunately, it all turned out okay, as it always eventually does. A neighbor had a contractor working there who was kind enough to shut off all water to the house to make it stop. The water company showed up within 5-10 minutes instead of an hour & found the valve to shut everything off to the sprinkler system while returning water to the rest of the house. I had called Tim for advice, and fortunately he was at a rest area for the day and was able to look up and call a landscaping/sprinkler system guy to come figure this out. Turns out he can fix everything, including the back yard that had an underground leak and uneven watering, all for an unexpectedly low price.)

     Today is going to be a much easier day to not complain. I have the house to myself. It's a holiday so there's no errands I need to run, no responsibilities, financial or otherwise, that I need to get done today. Instead, I got to work out, clean things I haven't had a chance to do. I got to workout, do my bible reading/study, read, listen to the Minimalists podcast, blog, get some planning done for the rest of the week. But what if Day 4 didn't fall on a day like today?

     In the real world, I would complain when someone cuts me off in traffic, or if something caused my well-planned day to get behind or off-track. I would complain if I had to deal with that one person we all have in our lives that does nothing but complain 24/7.  I would complain if I had to be out in the heat involuntarily - like when someone messed something up and I have to go fix it. But here's a big question:

What good would that have done?!

It wouldn't have changed anything. It would've brought more negativity into my thoughts. How would I come up with solutions? or remove stress? or learn to bounce back to a relaxed state quickly?

Maybe on a regular basis, when things go wrong, a better way to get through it might be to ask an important question:

Will this matter in 5 years?  - if not, let it go. Also, if the answer is no, ask again...
Will this matter in 1 year? - if not, let it go. Again, you may ask...
Will this matter in 6 months? What about in 1 month?

in most things like people cutting you off in line somewhere or in traffic - will it even matter in just 5 minutes from now? No? then LET IT GO.

With that said, I understand there are serious issues that happen in life that affect our lives dramatically. I also know that most people with the worst chronic pain, or are fighting cancer, or the single moms working full time while trying to raise good kids, they tend to be the last ones to complain. Maybe because they're thankful for every day, or have a good handle on what's really important? But most of us tend to complain way too much - and it doesn't need to be that way. It is a choice. It may have to be a learned behavior if you're one who complains on a regular basis, but the truth is, you CAN overcome complaining - and it starts with a single step, a single day.

Try it for yourself.

Minimalism 30 Day Challenge

     I've really begun embracing a minimalist lifestyle. No it's not about owning only a certain number of items, or living without, or tiny house living. It's about simplifying your life until everything that remains brings or adds value to your life (and you in turn should also be seeking to add value to the lives of others). To get started, you can watch the Minimalism documentary on Netflix, or go to www.theminimalists.com and read their essays, listen to their podcasts, or even read their 3 books. The Minimalists are Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus. Although I follow their recommendations and often their schools of thought, I also include people like Joshua Becker who is a married guy with kids, as well as a few others. It's different for everyone, but the added value principle and removing excess is the common thread. This will be my journey into a 30 day challenge even though I'm not "a beginner".

See the challenge here:
30 Day Minimalist Challenge

Day 1:  I switched Day 1 & Day 2 on purpose to fit my life better. MY Day 1 was adding an intentional 15 minutes of relaxation/meditation to my day. I'm not into eastern mysticism type of stuff, so for me it just meant a quiet time to clear my head, doing absolutely nothing during those 15 minutes. I recently found a youtube video called Weightless by Marconi Union that neuroscience says listening to it will reduce your anxiety by 65%. Not sure if I believe it but it couldn't hurt to try. Read the article through the link below:

Neuroscience report on Weightless reducing anxiety by 65%

I listened to it before bed. I did feel pretty relaxed, and I don't think I was full of anxiety at the time, but I'm not sure I felt overwhelmingly relaxed. Still it was a good thing to focus on clearing my mind for more than 30 seconds. I tried to concentrate on listening for a particular instrument in the song, then move on to another, then another, until I finally had my mind blank. I didn't sleep any better than normal because of it, but if it had been one of my stressful days, or if you live in a constant state of stress, this is a healthy exercise for you anyway.  Dr. Daniel Amen, a leading psychologist on the brain, strongly recommends time every day to relax your mind. We all need better mind health, right?

Day 2:  Stay offline for the day

Obviously this doesn't work if your job requires you to be online for the day or something, but in my case I took the day 1 and put it on day 2 because it fell on a Sunday. That's an easy day for me to stay offline since it usually involves church, watching baseball in the afternoon, and having a quiet Sunday night as I either read, watch TV I recorded on the DVR (I almost never just channel surf out of boredom - I'm much more intentional with what I allow into my head.), or else I work Sudoku puzzles, or plan out my week, etc.

Day 3:  Reduce digital clutter

This one is easy for me. I went through Facebook a few weeks ago and unfollowed or un-liked pages I'd randomly collected over the years - mostly ones I agreed to like for some coupon or freebie. Then I took a serious look at my friends list. If I have someone on there that I never will see again in my lifetime, or someone I know posts nothing but total negativity and horror stories (abused animals, abused children, murders, political rants and nothing else, etc) I didn't unfriend them - they're still people I may want to pray for, or get in touch with for some reason in the future - but I did unfollow them so they don't show up in my newsfeed every day. I can choose to see what's going on in their lives when I want to but I don't need to see hatred, anger, darkness, or companies trying to sell me products over and over.

The next thing I did was go through my Twitter account. That one was easy too because aside from a few friends & family, I use it mainly to follow baseball - trades, injuries, stats, important plays, etc. I simply went down my list of those I follow and deleted all but those on the 2 teams I follow the most (Dbacks & Red Sox) and a handful of other players I like (Ender Inciarte, Anthony Rizzo, Chase Anderson). I was able to drop about half of those I follow, Many turned out to be temporary follows of authors, or famous people, as something was going on at the time but now I don't care.

I did the same thing with Instagram.

THEN I HAD TO GO THROUGH PHOTOS ON MY COMPUTER.

Anyone that knows me knows I was a scrapbooker for 20 years. I've come to that place in my life though that although I want to pass down those books to my kids and their kids, I don't need to continue scrapbooking them all to keep the memories. The memories are inside me, not just on a piece of paper. Important events I still photograph, maybe journal about it, but not in a formal way. I do an occasional Shutterfly book when it's free or almost free, but just a little 8 x 8, like after a cruise or vacation or something.

I went through my photos on my computer as well as those on my memory stick where they now live if they're older than the current year. After going through ones from 2011 - 2016, I realized I was hanging onto a lot of pictures I'll never need again, no one's in them, how many pictures of sunsets do I REALLY need? So I deleted literally hundreds of them. Now what I have is the best of the best, or ones with people I love in them, and not much else. It feels good to know I'm not carrying around (figuratively) all those extra things I don't need. They add no value to my life whatsoever.

The nice part about today's challenge is that now when I go to social media or look through my photos on my computer, I'm only seeing what's important, only that which adds value to my life, with no wasted time on uninteresting, unimportant things or even better, no more things that take the joy from my day.

Looking forward to tomorrow's challenge - it's the 4th of July, we have no plans, the kids will all be somewhere else doing something so I may actually get the house to myself. That almost never happens for more than 10 minutes, once a month or more. Tomorrow the challenge is No Complaining.  Oddly enough, as I simplify my life, I find less and less to complain about anyway - but being home alone should make it easy too.

Enjoy your own journey.