It All Adds Up

I'm working on decluttering my sugar intake.  I will begin my journey by starting my each day with a smoothie.  I would normally stock up on a week's worth of food for one recipe, not knowing if I like it.  And then, if I don't, the food is wasted.  I have a different mindset knowing I'll be at the store each day; everything can change tomorrow.

Isn't that an interesting thought; everything can change tomorrow.  Like any major change, the first steps are little and oh-so subtle.  You often can't see any change, things seem like they will never change, but they are.  They're changing because you're trying.  Don't stop trying.  The little things add up.  Give yourself time.  Make it through today.  Make it through tonight.  Everything is changing.  It's the only constant.

I will try many recipes in my journey.  I will keep trying. I will find something that works. I may even find multiple things that work.  The little changes will add up.  I will see the change.  I will feel the change.

Dare to be Free

The loss of my father, surgery, and minimalism are all helping me learn to let go.  It's something I must learn but my hope is it becomes a natural state for me.  My wonderful family is incredibly supportive and I'm so thankful.  It is hard for me to let go and harder for me to ask for help.

Preparation for the surgery started before my father's sudden passing. Because I have not had the best history with the medical community, I was challenged to view this surgery as restorative.  The 2 year lead up, strong relationship with my doctor, fabulous support system, and all-around fantastic communication with all parties suggested that restoration could happen; and it is.

The surgery itself has restored a part of my body that has been badly hurt for a long time.  The recovery period has allowed me to explore feelings about the loss of my father and process them in safety.  I am trusting that I am loved and cared for.  It helps that my support network proves themselves daily, even though they shouldn't have to.  Not having to stress about massive clutter is freeing.

Freeing . . . that should be my new motto.  I choose to live with less because it is freeing me to be  content, to love myself, and accept the love of others.  Dare to be Free!

Clutter Comes in All Forms

This minimalist gig is far bigger than I imagined when I started.  I thought I'd get rid of some stuff in the house, pair down my wardrobe, have some clean surfaces, and be good.  I learned relatively quickly that it is an ongoing process to keep the clutter out and the surfaces clear.  I then began to learn that busyness was a form of clutter and started to simplify my schedule.  I enjoy a slower pace of life.  It's probably the hardest thing for people to understand because society has taught us to find worth and importance by how much we have to do.  We are not allowed to simply say no to something.  Rather we are required to list off every stinkin thing on our to-do list to justify that we are indeed too busy to say yes to a request.  The poor folk who are incapable of saying no, even when their to do list is longer than the day has hours, are totally overwhelmed.  I get to save my yeses for things I really want to do and will bring me joy. I may struggle at times with societal guilt, but I'm working on that.

I'm also finding that I'm minimizing my words.  It's not something I've read about or even a goal I've set for myself. I think it's a byproduct of simplifying life in general.  I'm realizing that people don't need the whole story in order to understand my simple answer to a question.  If they want more info they will ask.  I rather sound like an imbecile at times as I sensor myself and that's okay.  I'm living in the moment and long answers usually involve the past.  Simple is better.

Clutter also involves all the negative self-talk and worry that rattles around in my thoughts.  This is my area of focus during my recovery time from surgery.  I don't feel well and that leads to a lot of negative thinking.  I have been working on accepting compliments, combatting negative self-talk with affirmation statements, and putting worry to rest by staying in the now and accepting what I have control over.   It's challenging, but like the rest of my minimalist progress, it's worth it.

Winter Capsule Wardrobe Week #3

I've enjoyed the cooler, yet sunny, weather this week.  I got to wear my sweaters and my coat.  I recycle my black slacks frequently as they are super comfortable and a great weight.  The jeans are getting more comfortable as I continue to heal from surgery.

Supporting My Love's Blue Mondays:

This outfit looked much better without one arm raised.  I love the sweater.

Chilly day before Christmas allowed me to wear my green sweater.  Doesn't get much sweeter.

Feel Good Friday did not disappoint.  It's hard to feel bad looking this good.

I love all my clothes, I really do.  Looking at these pictures, it's obvious that the last outfit compliments my shape the best by far.  I will keep that in mind as I move forward with my wardrobe in the spring.

Making the Most of the Thrift Store

I am making a conscious effort to reduce my carbon/environmental footprint.  I wouldn't go so far to call myself an environmental minimalist, but I'm starting.  I've decided to use the thrift store for as many items as I can.  Online shopping like Amazon is extremely convenient, but I'm determined to try the local thrift place that is near by first.  I don't go to the thrift store without a purpose.  I have specific items and a plan to use them with a relatively short time frame.  This is my way to combat clutter that takes up space.  Recently I have purchased:

1) Ice Cube Trays - I took a friend's advice to freeze milk and yogurt for daily power smoothies.  I actually went to a box store first and was not successful.  It opened my mind to the possibilities.

2) A basket and bows - I used in making a raffle basket for a charity.  The basket was $1 and so was the bag of bows.  I used it immediate upon getting home. I wish I had snagged a picture, it looked great when it was done.

3) Wrapping tissue - It's new and still in its original packaging.  With Christmas around the corner, I couldn't pass up the deal.  I used it the next day while wrapping present.

4) Books - A friend of my daughter makes a version of an altered book by creating artwork on the pages of old books.  Sometimes the art relates to the story on the page and other times, it does not. I gave them to her the next time I saw her and she was delighted.

5) T-Shirts for a themed quilt - You might have noticed I'm into a turtle theme.  I would really like a t-shirt quilt along those lines sometime in the future.  I have started looking now so I only use what I love and not the items that are available when the time comes. This requires some storage space but I've made that choice

6) Pearls - enough said, right? I wear them regularly.

As you can see, I had a plan for each purchase.  I put the items to use within days, save the t-shirts for which I have a long term goal.  I use this same philosophy when going to a regular store.  The thrift store is wily because there's a sense that the item will not be there next time and certainly not for such a low price and there's always some use for it.

Go in to a store with a plan.  Don't purchase what you don't need.  Make use of the item(s) purchased asap.