Living Simply October Challenge: Day 15 Celebrate

   

 Today my post is late because it's my mom's birthday. When living simply and intentionally, I prioritize what, and who, is most important, especially in the moment. Today, it's her. I took her out for lunch after church, then while we were out, I arranged to have my brother and daughter get her a cake & card so we could surprise her after we got home. She never expected anything more after lunch, so it was a nice surprise. My daughter even got her a small gift card for a place close to home she would like to go to once in a while to eat. Today's challenge is to CELEBRATE something.

   

 Can you celebrate a birthday or anniversary this week? A friend getting a promotion or new job? A student who did well on a test? A spouse who did something good at work? What about welcoming a new neighbor to the area? Find someone or something to celebrate. Sometimes we're new to the area and aren't close to family or friends yet. Could you celebrate accomplishing something on your own? You're worth celebrating too.

   

 It doesn't have to be fancy. It can be simple. Celebrate with a picnic, cup of coffee together, enjoying tea together with a simple dessert, go see a movie with someone, grab a drink after work with the one you're celebrating. If celebrating something you did, you've earned the right to a nap, or a night in/out depending on what would be something different. You could treat yourself to a manicure or a massage. Maybe it's tickets to something? Be creative.

     

Many people ask me about minimalism and living a simple life and they automatically think it's a life of sacrifice, doing without the basics of life, a miserable, boring, lonely existence. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's not about living in an empty, cold, cement cell with nothing but a bare mattress on a bed frame. Fill your life with moments to treasure, people to be in relationships with, and joy-filled occasions for memories that last a lifetime. Today, I challenge you to find someone or something to celebrate this week. It's not expensive, it's not time consuming, it's intentionally celebrating this life we're living. Enjoy! 

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 14: Charity

     For today's challenge, let's talk about challenging you to give like a beginner philanthropist this season. You know if you really think about it, most people we give to this time of year have the ability to eat several times every day, live indoors, have clothes that aren't torn rags, and probably already own shoes. So what if we chose to suggest each family member donates a gift, time, or money to a charity this season in place of an unnecessary gift? Maybe you could tell people who will be shopping for you to make your gift, or even just ONE of your gifts, a donation to charity? There are many charities out there, so do your homework first. Make sure what you're donating will actually get to those who need it most - some less reputable ones may take up to 80% of your donation for "office costs" or some other name that won't part with the money to help those they're supposed to be supporting. Here's some great causes:

1.  Direct Relief - This charity earns a 100% fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes, and an A rating from CharityWatch. 

2.  St. Jude's Hospital - Pediatric care for children with catastrophic diseases, regardless if they're parent(s) can pay or not. This comes to the top of most lists when looking for accountability and making a real difference.

3.  Local Charities:  Choose something important to you - Animals? Donate to a shelter or a no-kill shelter. Police and Fire Departments have fund-raisers. Veteran's need your help. A local food bank could use donations, volunteers, cooks, and servers around the holidays. United Way, Salvation Army, YMCA/YWCA/Boy's Clubs and Girl's clubs of America, Have your family sponsor a little league team, there's so much out there if you bother to look.

4.  Find something that's important to you - Alzheimer's, Cancer, Red Cross (plan a family, friends, or coworkers day to donate blood), Compassion International, etc.

5.  Come up with something to have your group, family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors donate to together. It could be a person at work who your coworkers know has unexpected medical bills. Maybe an elderly neighbor just lost a spouse and the neighborhood could pitch in with repairs, lawn or shoveling snow, food gift cards, etc. Family could pull together to make a family member's dream come true - maybe to help them go back to school, or pay for a sitter so they can take on a new job, maybe there's someone who wants to start a small business. Again, the needs are great if you just stop to look around.

6.  Create a one-time scholarship for a student at either the local college, or in a drama class, or dance lessons, martial arts, a season of sports for one student or one family, be creative. Give back in an area that meant a lot to you growing up. 

I challenge you and your circle to find a charity for this holiday season's giving.

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 13 Evaluate

  

     Today's challenge is a little different. I wanted to say something, to make a point, then I read that The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, had put out an essay on the very topic I wanted to cover - and they said it briefly, and effectively. So today's challenge is to simply read this short essay I've linked to and cut & pasted here (I make nothing from this website, so I think it's okay). I hope it adds value to your life. 

https://www.theminimalists.com/material/

How important is the stuff in your life?

Your material possessions—those things you’ve worked so hard for by slaving 40, 50, 60 hours a week to acquire—how much value do they actually add to your life?

We bet it’s less than you realize.

Here’s an exercise for you. Take a moment and write down your ten most expensive material possessions from the last decade. Things like your car, your house, your jewelry, your furniture, and any other material possessions you own or have owned in the last ten years. The big ticket items.

Next to that list, make another top ten list: ten things that add the most value to your life. This list might include experiences like catching a sunset with a loved one, watching your kid play baseball, eating dinner with your parents, etc.

Be honest with yourself when you’re making these lists: it’s likely that both lists share zero things in common.

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 12 Atmosphere

     Today's challenge is to begin building a relaxing atmosphere in your space before the holidays hit. I don't know about you, but if I dropped in on my friends or relatives during the holiday season, I would find their home in busy mode. There's usually piles of things they don't have time to look through (like mail and magazines), stuff to be put away (laundry piles or baskets around), toys picked up but not put away (whether it be for their kids or their pets), a few pieces of clothing lying on furniture, shoes not put away, maybe a few pieces of trash not thrown out or put away (like a pizza box on a table or the half-eaten bag of chips). I'm not judging, my home was like that for decades. It's just the way most people live, busy, this time of year. So today, I challenge you to begin creating that relaxing, simple, intentional atmosphere in your own space.

1.  First, you need to get the room clean, whether it's your living room, bedroom (if you live with others who aren't minimalist or looking to live a simple life), dining room, or even kitchen, if that's the first room people see. Just set a timer for 30 minutes and see how much you can get done in one shot. If that seems too long, set multiple timers at 10 minutes each for picking up, cleaning, and doing the floors.

2.  Lighting. Does your living space seem cold and unfeeling? stark like a hospital? This is the time of year to add warmth to your home, to create a space that's inviting and relaxing - but not cluttered. Try adding a few new touches (using what you already own in another room or in storage, maybe borrowing or buying cheap from a flea market or Goodwill at super low cost). Try a table lamp or floor lamp instead of glaring cold overhead light. Add a few intentional candles - whether they're white and unscented, holiday colors scented like cinnamon or pine, or even just battery operated ones. After a long day at work or school, a room that's been dimmed showing off some flickering "mood lighting" can do tremendous wonders for your mindset as you unwind for the evening.

3.  Warm up space with one small throw blanket over a chair or sofa, or just a few throw pillows. Maybe it's putting a small placemat or runner on a table (depending on it's size). If the area looks stark, bring in a colored vase or bowl - with our without filling it. It can hold flowers, sea glass, colored rocks, or anything related to the holidays...even pine cones or cranberries.

4.  Could you bring in a small area rug on a tile or hardwood floor? We are heading into winter in a few weeks, so keeping the floor under your feet warm is a good idea anyway.

5.  If you have a fireplace, you could choose to use it, or else fill the void with stacked wood in a little triangle. Simple, yet it makes the room seem more inviting.

Whatever you choose to do, don't spend a lot of money. Think about it. Be intentional. Create that warm, relaxing, inviting atmosphere in your living space or spaces. And don't forget some relaxing music to keep handy to put on as well.

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 11 - Kids

     Does your holiday season look like this? If so, I'm here to help you. Why do we think we have to give our kids so many individual gifts? Where did we get the idea that they need or even want all that junk? For decades now I've seen friends buy their kids cheap, crappy, unwanted toys just because they only had so much money and they believe the kids would rather have 25 crappy things than a few that are worth more. I'm here on behalf of the kids who've told me, it's NOT that way at all. They don't want more stuff to pick up when they clean their room. They don't want a bunch of stuff they have to make room for when they know they won't play with it. They knew what they wanted (and I don't mean the $500 new game system and accessories). More is NOT better. INTENTIONAL gifts are better by far.


Here's how to think about shopping for kids this year:

1.  Give them something to wear. Face it, kids hate to get those clothing box sized gifts. Unless it's something very specific to their likes, they smile, hopefully say thank you, and put it aside, forgotten before the next box is opened. If your kid has a favorite sports team, they don't need a $300 authentic jersey - but you could get them a more reasonable one. MLB for example sells many baseball jerseys for over $100, but for a little over half that, you could get a nice one with either their favorite player on it, or even their own name on it. Don't forget department stores also sell team hats, shirts, pajamas, and more. It could be a shirt with a specific anime or cartoon character on it (Hot Topic has some cool ones). Maybe a favorite tv show can be found on a t-shirt, or superhero lounge pants. Make it intentional so they know you thought about what they like, and don't shoot for the higher price tag.

2.  Give them something to read (or an audio book if that's their learning style). I know kids don't necessarily enjoy books, but sometimes it's that one that interests them that leads to a love of reading in years to come. I'm not a huge Harry Potter fan, I believe there's much better literature out there, but I watched when it was a new thing...hundreds of non-reading kids suddenly picked up and read hundreds of pages in Harry Potter books. That led to other series, and now many continue reading. It could be the Narnia series, Lord of the Rings, some other fiction series, and for the older kids, and the teenagers, a self-help book could change their adult life. Maybe something like a Dave Ramsey book, or The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Give them the resources to understand adult finances, good work habits, people skills, things they'll need later on.

3.  Give them something they need. Does a teenager need a bike to pick up some extra part-time work? or babysit a few blocks away? or get themselves to their own practice and back? What about special school supplies, again with something relevant and intentional - like glittery pink notebooks or themed folders? What about some good pens, drawing pencils (very different from regular number 2 pencils), How To Draw type books for your artist? Maybe they need a membership to their favorite museum or zoo? Gift cards to department stores so they can buy what they need? Specific hair products or colognes aren't always great gifts, but the gift card is usually appreciated so they can buy those things for themselves, which also teaches them to budget what money they have to spend wisely.

4.  Give them one thing they want (within reason). It doesn't have to be expensive. You could give them a price limit on the ONE special gift. If it's something they really want, not just something they saw on a passing commercial, give it some thought. Be intentional. Consider if it's something you as their parent want them to have - is it good or bad for them to have it? - and if it meets your criteria, then go ahead and get the one thing they really want.

Again, gifts are optional if you're leaning towards a minimalism lifestyle as a family. This is much easier if the kids are very young because they'll grow up with a different mindset than those around them. If you're not quite ready for that, but still want to move towards a more simple life, this is a good place to start. Today's challenge is to begin your list(s) today.

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 10 Handling It

   
     This holiday season, no matter how well you plan, stuff is going to go wrong, plans will get messed up, and life will find a way to stress you out from time to time. Today's challenge is about putting into action a few things that will help you keep your head calm when the storms come. I will challenge you to begin new little baby steps, new habits, that will make all the difference in the midst of chaos. Here's what you can begin doing today:

1.  Accept the fact that things will get crazy sometimes. If you expect everything to simply work itself out, you're in for a lot of disappointment. There's no way everyone's life can coexist, and everyone gets their way. It's just not a possibility. Everyone has different motives, timelines, good and bad habits of their own, family issues, job related problems, cars break down, airports cancel and delay flights, ...Just know it's going to happen and be ready.

2.  Let go of perfection. Even when you do everything right, even when you're prepared, stuff happens. Let go of the minor things that keep you from living a simple life. Don't let little pet peeves get to you. Don't expect perfection in others - nor from yourself. Stop worrying if things were done exactly as you would do them. Don't micromanage people or things. Just learn to let go of the inconsequential things. Focus on the big stuff - let go of the small stuff. Start today. It will make the holiday season much easier and less stressed out for you.

3.  Breathe. Relax. Breathe again. You will have moments that you're heart is beating faster than it should, your mind's racing, you feel the/your temperature rising, you feel your anger and stress levels rising...that's exactly when you need to step away, take a deep breathe, relax your mind and heartbeat, and breathe a deep breathe again. If you need to step into another room, or away from the phone or computer, or even step outside - do it. Not doing it will cost you so much more in the end. Refocusing your life - taking a moment to get centered - takes a huge portion of the stress out of the way so you can think more clearly and be more calm before tempers flare. Start today when you feel stress getting to you. Stop. Breathe.

4.  Be IN the moment. This is an especially crucial challenge to begin immediately. Don't just let time pass you by. You've got to be IN the moment when it's happening. Remember to stop and look around, really listen if you're with someone else. Smell the scents of the holidays. See the festive lights or decorations around you. Remember to focus on what's truly important. Build relationships. Listen for the gentle sounds around you. Don't just tune it all out. Part of living simply is intentional living, and that means intentionally planting yourself in whatever moment you're in. Make it count.

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 9 Pay It Forward

     

We've been talking about gift giving and the holidays on here, so now let's shift just a bit and discuss Paying It Forward. If you haven't seen the movie by the same title, it's about a young boy who challenges people to do something nice for someone who isn't in a position to pay you back. It has to cost you something (time, emotional investment, etc.) Then that person is challenged to do the same, to Pay It Forward. What if during the holidays, we all decided to spend less on material things and instead, pay it forward? It would make the holidays more meaningful, bring joy to you as well as the receiver of your kindness. It would help make your corner of the world a better place. What would that look like? Here's a few ideas: 

'1.  Hold the door for someone behind you. This seems like a simple thing, but every day I see people who have no concept that they're closing the door in the face of the person behind them. Common courtesy isn't so common. Walking into that store, restaurant, or workplace, hold the door for someone. Even if you don't say hello, or "after you", or smile, it will still make their day a little nicer. It may even take them by surprise.

2.  Take some time to give some good reviews to the places you enjoy frequently. It helps their businesses when others see glowing comments on places like Yelp.com or on a business' Facebook page (or similar sites). Be specific about what they do right. It doesn't need to be long and all it costs you is a little bit of your time.

3.  Be a good listener for someone who's struggling. I don't mean to take on a whole project that's none of your business, and don't be the shoulder for someone else's hurting spouse (that's dangerous territory), but maybe an employee somewhere who needs to vent, a friend or roommate who's stressed out, or someone you see that just needs to feel heard and understood. Don't offer suggestions to fix their problem, just be there for them.

4.  Encourage others. Take a few minutes and go through your social media feeds. Say a quick line of encouragement to someone on Facebook or Twitter who needs it. Remind someone that it'll be okay.

5.  Let someone cut in front of you in the grocery store line who only has a few items. This goes a LONG way in making someone's day. When I do that, they say, "No, it's okay," at first, then ask, "Are you sure?", and they tend to smile, be nicer to the cashier, and say thank you to me several times before leaving. It's a 5 minute time sacrifice but makes their day go smoother. 

6.  Donate the change into a donation bucket or box at the cashier's register in stores and restaurants. Often there's a box for local or national charities and if everyone just dropped in their change, it could add up very quickly across your community. Look for them in grocery lines, coffee shops, clothing stores, everywhere you go this holiday season.

7.  Donate your time on Thanksgiving or during the holidays. People need help packing boxes for orphans, the underprivileged, the homeless, the hungry (food banks and soup kitchens), overseas mission trips, the list is endless, and so is the need. Give of your time when you can, and if you can't, then perhaps a check would be appropriate if it's something you believe in.

8.  If someone's sick, take some time and bring them some chicken soup and tea from the local take out place. Let them know you care. If you can't be there, drop them a quick, hand-written note to let them know you're thinking of them and hope they get well soon.

9.  Do you like to bake or cook? Make a double batch of something and share it with a friend, relative, neighbor, coworkers, etc. 

10.  If all else fails, you can still make a difference by simply smiling and saying hello to someone often overlooked. It may be the custodian or janitor at work, school, or the gym. It may be the person wiping tables at your favorite go-to eatery. It could be the elderly neighbor you wave to as you drive by. Just take a moment to notice those around you. Taking your eyes off yourself is a wonderful gift. 

I challenge you to tackle a few things on this list starting today.

   

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 8: Declutter your life

     At this point, you've probably already decluttered your living space, or are in the process of doing so. So what does it mean to declutter your "life"? It goes far beyond just material items cluttering up your space...it's about creating space in the other areas of your life so that you can find peace, freedom, rest, time, and all those other things that get lost in the shuffle of thousands of "other things" in your mind and in your world. Here's today's challenge:

1.  Declutter your digital life. This may take a few sessions depending on how social media and photograph dependent you are. Start by getting rid of apps on your phone and computer that are merely time-wasters. Remember, the intentional part of living simply involves removing any and every thing that doesn't bring you joy, serve a purpose, or add value to your life. After removing apps, go through your computer and phone files deleted everything you don't need to keep. Remove the photos from your online albums that you don't need. Usually we take multiples of our photos "just in case" one doesn't come out. Keep the best, delete the rest. Do you need 100 photos of your pet or will 20 do? If it's not meaningful to you, ditch it.

2.  Declutter your schedule. What do you have in your schedule that's maybe a habit, but unnecessary? People get into ruts because they do the same things over and over, yet often those things no longer add value or bring us joy anymore like they did in the beginning. Remove them from your life. If you KNOW you won't be going to that hot yoga class because you always dread it, stop stressing over missing it - just let it go. Replace that with something you'll enjoy more, even if it's functional fitness, like gardening, walking, biking, or swimming. Are you wasting time doing monthly or weekly things you get nothing out of anymore? Let it go. Maybe use the extra time slot to prepare for the holidays, or to recharge by enjoying some alone time to be at peace and reduce stress. You could use it to spend time doing what's important to you, like growing the relationships you enjoy.

4.  Declutter your mind. Do the myriads of things on your mind keep you up at night? Are you constantly thinking of a to-do list in your head? Trying to do too much at once? Take time and declutter your head. Accept the fact that you're human, you can only do so much, and beyond that is an unreasonable expectation. No one will ever reach perfectionism, so let go of trying to be perfect. Take time - or MAKE time - to clear your mind, let it all go, prioritize what absolutely HAS to be done, then what really SHOULD be done to eliminate a problem later on. The rest you can just add or subtract as you go through your day. Stop stressing over carrying the world on your shoulders. Let others be responsible for themselves (assuming they're adults) and if there's consequences to them expecting you to do everything for them, then so be it.

Make today a day to find that first glimpse of freedom - be at peace - settle your mind - enjoy the rest of your day. 

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 7 - decorating

     If you've gotten your space decluttered, and you're thinking you'd still like to decorate for the holidays, but don't want to clutter it all up again - I put out this challenge to you today - plan your decorating to reflect a more minimalist lifestyle. Here's a few examples:

1.  Bring in some holiday colors in things like pillows or small throw blankets over the sofa. You could bring in a piece of artwork or even a platter with holiday colors/themes to put over the mantle or on a wall. Perhaps a small vase or glass with a few carefully chosen flowers like poinsettias or white cotton balls still attached to their natural stems. They can be fake flowers too if they look good aesthetically.  And when it comes time to decorate something large like a tree, keep it simple. Maybe just lights and nothing else, or maybe just a few intentional ornaments leaving lots of green space between them.

      We do a themed Christmas every 2 years. This year our theme is "beach". Our simple ornaments will be clear plastic bulbs with sand we've collected during out travels over the last few years. We'll add only a handful of intentional, carefully chosen, beach-themed ornaments to add a splash of color, but as I said, only a few.
     We'll bring in the beige, white, light blue, and coral pink colors in simple things - pillows or candles or maybe just the wrapping paper we choose to go under the tree - but even then, we're not overdoing it on material gifts, either. Our focus will be on making a dinner that's casual and relaxing, beach-themed foods and beverages, and boardwalk type snacks. Nothing stuffy, fancy, expensive, or overdone. Clutter is the last thing we want in our space.

     If you don't need to do a large tree, or if you have no small children coming over, then there's no need to feel guilty about skipping that tradition this year. Forget everyone else's expectations and simplify your holidays. In the picture on the left, you can see a few oversize branches placed behind a sofa with a small wreath over head is simple, inexpensive, and looks very high-end. Bringing nature into the home during the winter is a great way to keep it simple but add that touch of warmth and interest this time of year. In this photo, you could choose festive intentional pieces to go on the tables, or change out the shade on the floor lamp. Maybe you could put a sprig of greenery around the top of the lampshade? The rug appears to be an area rug, so that could be changed out for warmer colors that would work from for 5 or 6 months.

     Maybe all you need to decorate is the fireplace (even if it's just a decorative one in a small apartment or condo). Bringing in simple decorations like the stars in the photo on the right, a simple word like "noel" on the mantle in natural wood, a few candles (even those battery operated ones), a simple string or two of either lights, greens, or decorated garland, and simple wood pieces and twigs in the fireplace...simple, inexpensive, easy. If you actually USE your fireplace, then obviously you'll need to keep the bottom cleared and don't hang anything across it that could catch fire. I'd stick with only what's on top of the mantle and maybe add a tall, skinny vase on either side with simple long twigs. If you live where you can just go outside and pick your own, that's even better! If not, there's lots of options in department and craft stores - even dollar stores have them sometimes.

     Homemade decorations can be simple, inexpensive, and yet fill your home with warmth. Here's a simple idea that has endless possibilities...pick a candle, real or battery operated, in the color of your choice, then put it in a simple glass vase that's just a bit larger, again, shape and color are up to you, then surround it with natural things that are the right seasonal colors - they could be cranberries, lentils in orange and green, black beans that are sold dry in bags, sea glass or colored stones found at any dollar store, twigs, candy corn, whatever comes to mind.

     I hope today's challenge gets you thinking about some easy, simple, minimalist ideas for your own living space. It doesn't have to be expensive, cluttered, or all over the place. Keep it simple. Enjoy the process. Have fun with this.

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 6 - $ for the holidays

     

     So, if you're trying to live simply, and you've decided you aren't ready to shock your family with the no material gifts, you're going to need some money. Whatever you do, don't use credit cards and go into debt to make other people happy or meet their expectations. Instead lets talk about ways to boost your income before then. Today's challenge will be to get to work on one or two of these ideas this weekend so that you're in better shape as the hectic holiday season gets closer.

1.  Have a "stuff" sale - call it a yard sale, tag sale, garage sale, estate sale, whatever you want, but sell off your unwanted stuff. Pick a weekend (As soon as possible if you live where it's cold!), and schedule a sale. People will buy your stuff even if you think it's worthless, there's always people out there looking for things like it for cheap money. Here's some ideas:  kitchen appliances (George Foreman grills, doughnut pop makers, popcorn poppers, irons you never use, mixers or food processors you won't use, etc.), Bath or Body gift sets - you know, all those gift packages of soaps, lotions, bath salts, etc. that you've never opened. Most people never do, they just leave them packaged as a decoration in a bathroom or spare bedroom. Sell it! Old dishes & glasses, clothing, toys your kids have outgrown, board and card games and puzzles no one uses anymore, old music and computer cds, radios and those old boom boxes stored away, coats and boots, shoes, books, unused perfumes, lotions, makeup and colognes, old ties, knick knacks, statues, and basic decorations that aren't necessary - they just clutter your home.

2.  After you've sold off the smaller, cheaper things, consider selling your more expensive things on websites like www.letgo.com, or www.offerup.com. Those are great places to sell larger or pricier items like real jewelry, furniture, artwork, collections and collectibles, old cameras, larger appliances, etc. I have a friend who sold almost $1000 worth of unwanted pieces of furniture in one weekend, and another couple of hundreds worth of jewelry another weekend.

3. Craig's list or some other local website where you sell to people near you is great for stuff like tools, or things someone who works in your field can use. It's also great for selling off things you don't need like that spare car, bike, motorcycle, fishing boat, etc.

4.  Pick up a TEMPORARY part-time job. If your car is 5 years old or newer, you could become a driver for Uber, Lyft, or any of the other dozens of new driving services out there in your area. You know exactly who's picking you up with a photo ID before-hand, and it's built to protect both driver and passenger. The best part is that you get to set your own days and hours, and you can be as flexible as you want.

5.  Afraid of picking up strangers? Try UberEats. People order food, you drive to go get it, charge a fee for the service and they tip you. Never underestimate how many people will pay to have food delivered instead of going out to get it themselves.

6.  There are also sites out there that will pay you to take online services. Each survey is worth points, and when you get so many points (varies from company to company, even AARP has a program like this), you trade it in for gift cards and items that can be used to do your holiday shopping. It takes time, but it's flexible enough to work around other things. What if you scheduled one or two days/nights a week to work on just that? You'd have a fairly steady stream of additional income.

7.  Mystery Shopping. If you've got pretty good language and grammar skills, you can be a mystery shopper. You walk into businesses, view apartments, check out casinos, or make phone calls, then report back if they did everything right according to instructions given to you ahead of time. Usually it's easy things like ordering food and beverages, making sure they're all in uniform, time how long it took to receive your order, maybe take a photo of the food, and report if it looked and tasted right, was the establishment clean? easy things like that. A word of caution though, be careful you choose a reputable company, and they should NEVER ask YOU to pay for ANYTHING to join them. A few I've worked for are:  EPMS (epsomonline.com), Intellishop, Sentry Marketing, BestMark, MarketForce, and A Closer Look. Sometimes you get lucky and get a great shop that offers you a free night in a hotel in another city that you needed anyway during the holidays. You get reimbursed plus a small fee paid to you but it saved you from paying for one and not getting reimbursed.

     Be creative - there's lots of ideas how to make money before the holiday sets it. I challenge you to plan something to get started on today.

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 5 - Being in the Moment

     What does it mean to live in the moment? What comes to mind? Sipping a hot beverage by a mountain lake just after sunrise? Relaxing in the sun by the beach letting everything else go? Rowing a canoe down some rapids through a canyon? Taking a walk in the cool of the day? Really sitting and listening to someone who needs you without any other distractions? Enjoying looking over that new baby, spending time memorizing their little face, fingers, and toes, taking in that powdery "baby smell"? Now let me ask you another question...

What does it mean to live in the moment during the holiday season? 

     Have you ever thought about how to do that during the hustle, bustle, and busyness of the holidays? Or is it more like there's never enough time to really stop and just BE in the moment? Are you rushing from work to shopping to your kid's play? Are you working at a hectic pace over a meal for 2 days knowing it'll be eaten and over in 15 minutes? How can you stop and live in EACH important moment during this holiday season? Here's a few ideas, and I challenge you to start some of them TODAY:

1.  CHOOSE the most important moments you think you want to make happen. Will you choose to spend time with a particular relative or friend? Will you arrange a block of time for your family to enjoy one event together? By saying YES to that which is most important to you, you can feel free to say NO to the unimportant things without guilt or obligation. It's your time. You choose how to spend it.

2.  MAKE any projects you've got planned, but make it during a specific time you've set aside for it. People think making gifts is fun, and it can be, but not if it's shoved rapidly between dozens of other things, rushed and done poorly. Schedule blocks of time in your schedule now so that as the holidays approach, you've already got the time-consuming, important, creative things done.

3.  INVITE people to do things with you. Get them on your schedule now too. Plan time to see those people you know you won't see over the holidays. Maybe plan a girls/guys night out with your favorite coworkers or friends. Plan a lunch or dinner with a relative who won't be around or able to come to see you during the holiday special days/events.

4.  LIST the moments you want to capture in pictures. Are there things that you never remember to capture year after year? Maybe kids decorating the tree? Picking a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch? The Thanksgiving meal on the table with everyone around BEFORE everyone starts eating? The gifts under the lit tree the night before Christmas? The special passed down recipes with a photo of the finished product? Think about these things and list them somewhere you'll remember to capture them this year.

5.  TIME FOR YOU. This is especially important if you're an introvert. Plan some time to just be alone, or at home away from everything. Think of when you'll need a night off. Put it in your schedule so if people ask you to go to things you really don't want to attend, you can tell them you already have an appointment that night (with yourself). Take time to breathe. Time to maybe just sit home enjoying music, candles, a book, or a favorite movie with your favorite beverage. Don't feel guilty. Living simply means taking time to do less - and it's far more rewarding than you'd think.

Start today planning so that the holidays don't sneak up quickly and attack your world. Be at peace this holiday season.

     

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 4 - material gifts

     As much as people will say the holidays aren't about gift giving, we all know that's still the expectation around us. Maybe a percentage of us are coming to the realization that stuff won't make you happy, but the majority of people just aren't there yet - and may never be - so let's talk a bit more on gifts today. (We'll switch up the topics tomorrow.)

     I read a quote yesterday that was in the book Everything that Remains by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, aka The Minimalists. I don't know if I have it exactly right, forgive me if it's off a bit, but I believe it said,

"Everyone is selling what everyone can't buy."  

     Think about what commercials look like in the last few months of the year...What do they look like compared to the rest of the year? Have you ever though about it? During the holidays is when you see ads for the most ridiculous, wasteful, unnecessary gifts companies want you to buy. Remember back when the big seller for Christmas was a singing, wiggling, bass fish to mount on the living room wall? I think it was called Big Mouth Billy Bass. MILLIONS were sold. Do you think it would've sold if advertised around say, mid-February? or early August? No. It sold mostly around Christmas and Father's Day. What about the pet rock that sold for $3.95 in 1974? They sold 1.5 million in just 6 months! Then it suddenly just died out. Remember Billy Bob teeth? fake "redneck" teeth, big spaces, stained, fake teeth? They sold into the tens of millions of dollars and today can be found in 95% of countries across the globe according to articles online. Are these gifts worthy of the "meaning of the holidays" or do people just get caught up in spending, regardless of the poor quality, junk value of cheap fads? I think it's the latter.

     If you're going to give gifts this year, and you are working towards a more intentional, simple, minimalistic lifestyle, then put thought behind what you give, and don't be shy in telling others that you're NOT interested in frivolous, meaningless gifts like those mentioned above. Don't let others waste their money, and don't waste your own, on things that will quickly be thrown out, or stored in some dusty garage or attic never to be seen again until the owners pass away - leaving their children to wonder why the hell they kept junk like that all those years. 

     Be honest with people. Let them know the new path you're on. Let them know that in place of some "expected" gift, you'd rather have time with them (to grab a meal, or a movie, or a project or class together). If they insist they're buying you a gift (like a parent, spouse, kids, etc) then ask for experience or consumable gifts like mentioned in yesterday's blog post. Don't fall victim to the advertising gimmicks. Don't get caught up in the fake hype of holiday advertisers. Be smart with your money, and do others a favor helping them reign in their own finances a little bit. 

The stuff you buy will never make you happy, it's a never-ending cycle. People are seeking fulfillment but material junk will never fill that hole in your life. 

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 3 - Gift ideas

     Christmas doesn't need to be a time of excessive spending or accumulating piles of "stuff".  For those of you who aren't quite to attempt a 100% gift-free holiday season, here's a few ideas that can work your family in the right direction.

1.  For material gifts, why not give things you know your family & friends would buy for themselves or need? How about a new planner? a 2018 calendar? (Make one online using photos specific to them to personalize it.) a subscription to their favorite magazine? books?

2.  Homemade gifts (thousands of ideas on line, especially on websites like www.pinterest.com): artwork if you're creative, bath salts/scrubs, flavored cooking oils, homemade limoncello or other alcoholic drinks, "kits" - like cookie in a jar, s'mores, soup mix, chili mix, cake mix, cookies, fudge, etc. Again, google ideas like that, anything you knitted or crocheted,

3.  Gift Certificates or Cards:  restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, massages, spa visits, retail stores, amazon, movie theaters, google play, itunes, Xbox, phone plans, bowling, online sites like Shutterfly so they can print photo albums and other items, Wine & Painting class, educational classes, cooking classes, dance classes, etc.

4.  Tickets:  Movies, Plays, Concerts, Speaking Engagements, Sports Events, Airfare, Admission to a favorite attraction

5.  Consumables:  Gift baskets (purchased or homemade) - wine, pasta & sauce, produce, gourmet, snacks, chocolate, choose an ethnic theme (like Italian, Mexican, Southwestern, etc.), card games, candy, cookies, flavored popcorn, etc.

6.  Other ideas:  Memberships to local attractions, personalized ceramic mugs/platters (see online ideas or visit places like As You Wish), decorate a photo frame, blow up and frame a picture you take that you know they'll love to hang in their home,

     I hope these ideas help you get started, especially since we're getting a good head start. Good luck!

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 2 - Declutter early

   

   

     Many people stress over the holidays because they're too busy, they have people coming to their home to celebrate, and they don't have enough time to get (or keep) their homes looking good. There always seems to be too many last minute scrambles to hide piles, remove trash, clear the tables and counters, and get stuff out of the corners. What if you started by decluttering in baby steps now so that when the holidays are here, you've already minimized the mess? Here's a few baby steps you can put into practice over the next week or so to get you going. Just do a little each day and before the holidays are here, the house will already look better.

1.  Every morning when you get up, do 5 minutes of cleaning - putting clean dishes away, putting in a load of laundry, or transferring one to the dryer, or folding clothes. You could use it to sweep a floor, or take out the trash. Just find 5 minutes to do something in the morning before you leave/start your day.

2.  Keep a box by the door (or back door). It's for things you want to donate. Every day, put an item in the box and keep it up for a week. If you have a family, get them to do it too, but try to start with things in the "public eye" first - where guests would see it. We can talk about decluttering closets and drawers another time, but if you've got some useless knick knacks around the house, or old blankets, books no one will ever read, shoes that have been sitting by the door for six months without being worn, donate them. Maybe you could keep this habit going right up to the holidays. The average home in America has over 300,000 items! Imagine how much cleaner your home would look if you got rid of 30 items each in the first month. Things would seem less cluttered, more intentional, and you'd spend less time cleaning.

3.  Menu Plan. This may be easier to do in the morning for each night, or just do a few days ahead, but if you can sit down on the weekend and plan a week, even better. Don't waste money. See what you have on hand FIRST. THEN plan what you can make without needing to buy a bunch of new ingredients. Planning even just one day ahead saves so much time when you get home at the end of a tiring day. You can just start right in knowing what to do instead of taking 45 minutes thinking about it and discussing it - then ordering out something that takes another half hour and costs you money you didn't need to spend. All you need is a base (rice, salad, quinoa, pasta, etc), pick a protein (meat, poultry, fish, vegan options), and add some nutrition with vegetables or even fruit (salad, broccoli, carrots, beets, mixed veggies, sliced apple, diced pears, applesauce). Saves time and money.

4.  Make a point to get dishes done before you go to bed, whether it's after dinner or half an hour before you want to go to bed. I know no one enjoys dishes after a long day, but you'll be so happy in the morning not to walk into a messy kitchen with dirty dishes piled up in the sink.

5.  Remove things from the main living area that are unnecessary (at least for the next 90 days through the holidays). These aren't things you'll donate, just things to remove for now to declutter guest space. It can be things like extra toss pillows and blankets you've been having to straighten every day, or decor that doesn't need to be on display for a few months, or piles of things you want but haven't figured out where to put them yet. Take a quick look around your space and pretend you have someone offering you $50 for every item you're willing to remove - what do you not really need to look at every day? Again, it's only temporary and you aren't giving it away. You're just making things more simple for the next few months.

We'll discuss more baby steps as the month goes on, but for now, just these few things can make a huge difference at the end of 30 days. Are you up to the challenge?

Living Simply October Challenge: Day 1 - Preparing for the holidays

   

   
     Finally, I'm back on a normal schedule again. I'm ready for this next 30 day challenge starting today! Every year the holidays tend to creep up on us, then we find ourselves all stressed out. Time flies faster than expected, we didn't get as much done as we'd hoped, and everything seems to be keeping us overwhelmed with busyness, right up to the last minute. This year, let's start the fall season right. Let's take a day to figure out what we want for/from/out of the holidays. I would say I'm a minimalist and working at it every day, but I'm not quite ready to say people should just have zero fun, no decorations, no planned family events and parties, let the kids learn how to live without expectations of Christmas (or whatever other holidays you celebrate), etc. I am however, willing to adapt my holidays to fit a more simple lifestyle. One without an excess of the unnecessary. Are you willing to go there with me for the next 30 days? Here's today's challenge:

Think about what you want the holidays to look like this year - and figure out if it could use a little more simplicity. 

1. Gather your family (household/roommates/extended family/whatever you want) and discuss what are everyone's favorite things about or parts of the holidays that you definitely want to stick to. Make a list so they can be incorporated into the holiday plans.

2.  Then discuss what things in the past everyone does NOT like. Maybe there's a family tradition that the kids have outgrown and they wish you'd stop doing it, lol. Perhaps a destination or cruise event would be better? As our kids got older, we decided Thanksgiving wouldn't be a big, loud, family thing anymore. Instead, we opt for a quiet, plated, candlelight dinner before those last 4 weeks of craziness and crowded stores.

3.  Does anyone have any memories of the holidays at someone else's house and they did something your family could add or benefit from doing? Maybe something found on Pinterest or an article? Maybe a cookie swap or something new to try? Be creative. In our home, we do a Victorian tree every other year since I've spent a lifetime collecting Victorian ornaments, many that invoke memories for each of us. In the off years, we pick a theme - beach, Greek, Mexican, Scottish, Italian, Baseball, etc. We integrate the theme into our tree, menu, gift wrap colors, and decorations. Just don't go overboard buying a bunch of things you don't need - nothing that's just "stuff" or clutter. A few pieces that can be reused or remade into something else later on work just fine. Don't waste money.

4.  Have everyone come up with one food they'd like at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or whatever you'll be celebrating. Then everyone can have their favorite food(s) there and no one's spending hours on something no one likes nor wants.

5.  Decide how you feel about gift-giving. I really want to try to give non-material gifts whenever possible this year. Experiences like tickets, lessons, etc. are going to be remembered and used long after the "shiny new thing" becomes just clutter around the house, or stuck in a closet/garage somewhere. If you need ideas for this, check out previous posts on gift ideas. I know I've posted at least a few times about them during Minimalism and Living Simply challenges in July and August.

Once you've gotten the plans down, just be done for the day and enjoy each other's company. Share a meal, a dessert, or a drink. Don't stress over the plans you've listed out - just let them sit so you have time to think about them, make necessary changes, and in the end, you'll have a less-stressed more simple holiday season. Good luck!

Added Value: Now what?

   

     So, if you've begun to make the switch to minimalism, or living a more simple life, or even just finding ways to add value to your world, you may be asking, "Now what?!"  What is supposed to happen or what do you gain by this lifestyle change? In what ways is it supposed to be better than before you made the switch? Here's a few things I want to touch on today:

1.  When you aren't tied to your home's cleaning, dusting, yard work, piles of laundry, mounds of dirty dishes, stacks of unopened mail, etc, you free up time. I'm not saying you should stop cleaning and live in a pig sty, but if you have a capsule wardrobe, you don't own enough clothes to make piles on the floor anymore. If you don't hoard junk mail and stack unnecessary items on flat surfaces around your house, you don't have to find an hour to go through it all. If you don't own the typical 300,000 items most Americans do, there's minimal cleaning and dusting. Use that time to add value to your life by engaging in hobbies and your health. Begin to add time for walks or workouts, fresh air, hobbies, interests, educating yourself in whatever you've always wanted to learn.

2.  Happiness starts to creep in unexpectedly. The craving for all that you don't have fades. The "keeping up with the Jones'" feelings go away. You no longer care what other people wear, what they drive, where they vacation, what they buy, etc. You end up removing the monkey on your back that urges you to constantly "chase more" just to find out it never satisfies...NEVER. When all that passes away, what's left is a calm sense of being content. It's a very peaceful feeling, and over time, it turns to happiness on a regular basis.

3.  Space. When you declutter your home, your digital life, your relationships, and your thoughts, what's left is soothing, empty space - and that's okay. It's very freeing to have lots of empty space around instead of mounds of clutter. Space asks nothing of you or your time.

4.  Freedom. Why and how do you gain freedom? Because you aren't always worrying about losing all your "stuff". You don't worry about what if someone breaks in and steals your stuff. You let go of the stress trying to gain more stuff, and where to put it, and how to protect it, and how best to insure it, and how to keep it from leaving/going away. Your mind is freed. I only own about 35 pieces of clothing, not including underwear, socks, etc. If they all got ruined in a load of laundry (like someone spilled bleach into the washer full of clothes), I wouldn't panic. They don't represent years of hard work, hours and dollars spent accumulating them, one of a kind things I'll never be able to replace...seriously, everyday things should never be considered irreplaceable, with only the exception of old photos (which you can scan & save digitally now). Only people should be irreplaceable.

5.  Peace comes when you've learned to make time for it. Taking time you've gained for prayer, or meditation on higher things, or quieting your mind, or centering yourself, it all brings peace that you probably never knew when you were in the throws of chasing brand names, knick knacks, and stuff.

     Yes, it's worth it.

Added Value: Sept. 26th

     Hello Again! Well, we're back after quite the adventure, I've completed half my college homework, taken a quiz, and an exam. I got all A's so far. Today is the one last day to get everything else done before our son gets married 200 miles away in just 2 days - and I'm in school all day tomorrow. I'm feeling overwhelmed a little, but, because I've been living simply for a while now, I am learning how to stop - organize my thoughts - plan out a timeline to get the most important things done - delegate a few minor things that really need to be done but not by me, necessarily - and I'm taking time to breathe in between.

     So what take away points did I learn on my vacation that I can pass onto you to, to add value to your life too? Here's a few:

1.  Plans change, accept it - our cruise itinerary changed several times due to Hurricane Irma & Hurricane Maria. We barely left 12 hours before it hit the Dominican Republic. Flights got changed and delayed by hours. There were unmet expectations on board too. What I learned though, and hope to share is that it's okay if plans change. We may not get everything we hoped for or wanted (or paid for) but there's only 2 choices - Get angry and miss out on the good things going on around you, or accept it, recalculate the plan, roll with it, and find the stress leaving as quickly as it came. In our case, the interrupted plans were still better than no vacation, or being hit by the hurricane, or being stranded at sea for extra days and missing our son's wedding this week. Let it go.

2.  Many people who live on islands in the Caribbean or Bahamas live a TRUE simple life. Many Americans assume a small hut, no car, in the middle of nowhere, no typical jobs available means the residents live in abject poverty - but when you get to talking with the people there, you realize they love their life. They have time freedom. They work like farmers did - up with the sun, rest in the heat of the day, evening is for family, get to bed early so you can rise with the sun again. No harsh schedules to keep like we tend to do. They can barter with neighbors for things they need. They form Farmer's Market type of areas where produce, goods, and other things are exchanged. They have no dependence on money to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in mortgages, don't work themselves to an early grave just to drive a luxury branded car or walk around with a $500 purse. Think how ridiculous that seems to them. When you drive by what Americans see as their "poor village", everyone's happy, smiling, waving hello to the tourists on the buses riding by, they wear clothes that are clean and neat, their hair is done up, and they aren't starving considering their healthy weights. I don't expect everyone to stop what they're doing and live like this - but it truly is a life of simplicity.

3.  Talk to people wherever you go. We met more new people on that trip in one week than we have in a year! Many of them we ran into over and over again in different places and it was like seeing friends all week. We made friends with one couple in particular that made the trip 100% more fun that it would've been without them. They were from Indiana and we all hope to stay friends and plan to see each other again sometime. They were so much fun it was like we were traveling with a couple we've known forever. Amazing how much we had in common. We also met a guitarist from Nashville, and bartenders from Croatia, Serbia, and Mexico. People are people - get to know them - you will add loads of value to your life by including new people on occasion. Be willing to smile or shake a hand.

4.  Getting back on track can be hectic, but it can be done with reduced stress levels. As I mentioned before, take time to just stop - organize - plan - and breathe. You can't do everything all at once, and multitasking usually results in doing only a fair job at each thing. Instead, focus on just one important thing at a time and do your best. No point worrying over everything else because it won't change anything anyway. Focus. Relax. Breathe. Take time to sit quietly to calm your thoughts. Get fresh air for a few minutes if that's what will help. To add value to your life, stop trying to be a Superman or a Wonder Woman. Just be you. It'll be enough if you truly try to do a good job and take time to restore your self.

For your enjoyment, here's a few pictures from vacation:

Quick Update: Monday 9/25/17

   

     Hi Everyone, I'm home again. Heading to school today but I promise I will have a blog post tomorrow worthy of your time. Our trip was re-routed, we missed a Category 4 hurricane by just 12 hours, ended up far from where we planned, but it was beautiful, calm, and sunny - and we're safe. Sorry about not posting more but the internet on the ship was spotty at best. Can't wait to get back into my daily blogging and gearing up for another 30 day challenge in October. Stay tuned.