Stuff
“Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show”
“Did you know there are only 19 weeks until Christmas? ” Hubs tossed out one of his famous random questions ever so casually while washing dishes this week. We were not talking about Christmas, shopping or winter, only dishes.
His holiday proclamation caused me just a slight mental twinge of anxiety.
The words had been spoken. It did not matter the wall calendar was turned to August and it was sunny and 85 degrees. The holiday march had poked its head ever so slightly onto our radar and frankly I was not ready.
We humans are an odd lot. Our minds are creative, eclectic and random. We are able to switch gears internally, gather data and imagine life as we peer into the future.
In a split second I had rushed past all the glorious remaining days of the summer-fall season while planting myself into a cold and hectic December.
My mind had skipped over chapters in time which separated the now from then. For a moment I traded my right now for something else.
Did you do you own momentary leap into the future as you thought ahead 140 days? Did your heart skip beat like mine?
Friends, let’s take a breath, regroup and settle back into the here and now.
Repeat after me three times and breathe slowly…
Not December. August. Not December. August.
Several years ago we made the choice to live a more intentional life by simplifying and focusing on growing rich relationships, making room for more adventure and owning less stuff. Skipping whole chapters in the story of our life no longer works for us.
Each day matters too much to skip over.
Question:
- What story would you like to write on the pages of life between now and the end of the year?
- Brainstorm one or two (or ten) adventures , experience or rich relationships you would like weave into the fabric of your days over the next several months.
- What do you need to put in place to make these happen?
- Do you need to simplify a part of your life to make room for the richer better part of it?
Share your answers in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter.
Blessings Friends… go live big and wonderful today!
Nancy
I would like to write in more times where I just hold little Olivia and I kiss those tiny little cheeks, like I did last week when I saw here. I’d like to write in more visits with my grandkids where I hear laughing and where I still enjoy the visit long after they are gone. And I’d like to write in a visit with Nathan and Heather where we can just sit and talk with breathing involved. Yep, those are the moments I want to add.
Anne- each of these are incredibly beautiful moments… go my friend- write them on the story of your days.Cherish each one of them… and then go- search out yet another- because there is truly never enough laughter and hugs from those we love; even if it means carving away more from the edges of the rest of life. Most of those edges we can do without anyway.
Blessings!
I know some of the stories I write between now and the end of the year will involve you and some adventures! But also heavy on my mind lately is clearing out the clutter. I’ve been reading Joshua Becker’s “becoming minimalist” blog and through him have found a couple of other blogs I like. Along with your writing and what you and your husband are doing I’m feeling more and more motivated to start tossing STUFF. I don’t have time or energy to maintain it. I’m losing my peace as it seems to close in around me.
This post has challenged me to come up with a plan for what I want my home to look like by December 25.
**August. August. August. August**
Kath- I look forward to hearing the steps you take.Your statement “I don’t have time or energy to maintain it” is very telling. We trade our serenity and peace for an abundance of possession and activity.
Let’s go live our adventures sweet friend. My car is ready to go 🙂
Blessings