Purge.
Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. --Lao Tzu
With this job change comes worry: will we have enough? Of course we will have enough. We have more than enough, and still it seems so many times like we need more. Conrad and I go back and forth; as soon as one of us is really getting into a "simplicity" groove, the other is feeling a case of the overconsumptions coming on. We continually remind each other to fill up our lives with things that aren't things. I've been reading a lot lately that has not only brought me clarity about the social and spiritual and economic reasons to not accumulate stuff, but to in fact, get rid of it. Conrad and I almost always have a cardboard box (they're plentiful at both of our workplaces) sitting in the hall for items to donate. Though people have suggested to me that I might say, sell my clothes at Plato's Closet, or on eBay or whatever, I find it simplest to just donate them. I take all of our items to the same charitable organization. The reasons I love doing it this way are twofold: a cause I believe in is benefitting from my cast-offs, and it's simple. I just go and hand them the box. Done.
I've been very enamored with an industry term that professional organizers use: weed constantly. There is always, somehow, more stuff coming in. You have to constantly purge to keep it in check. Though I think I have pack-rat tendencies (my grandmother is a hoarder), I've found it gets easier, with practice, to get rid of stuff. I also think it's important to keep a box, all the time for this express purpose. Once something goes in the box, it's gone. No taking it out. The good news about that is that you don't have to take care of it any more. Your life just got a little easier.
Here are some web sites that have inspired me to pursue simpler lifestyle. Maybe you'll enjoy them too.
The Simplicity Forum: a clearinghouse of resources for the simplicity movement
Simple Living: faith-based group working to live lives of simplicity and walking in the ways of Jesus. I love this site. Lots of practical, logical ideas. I like practical, logical ideas.
Unclutterer: blog about getting and staying organized. Bite-size, digestible ideas.
3191: this site makes my pulse race. Last year the two photographers took photos of their mornings all year. This year, it's evenings. A visual treat; simple, everyday tableaux that champion the simple living aesthetic.
Ali Edwards: she of scrapbooking fame is all about stripping ordinary, daily life stories down to their bones. In the best way. Lots of "real-people" ideas and inspiration here. Where I picked up the quote up there.
Zen Habits: productivity blog from a simple point of view. GTD-based, life hacks.
I'm going to go clean out my dresser. I feel donation motivation building up.
April
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