Sunday, January 6, 2008

Simplify

Simplify: To make simpler, less complex, less complicated.

My defining word this year: simplify. To make our family life less complex, less complicated. To make things simple.

Tomorrow will finish the first week of 2008. When I choose the word simplify as my defining word for 2008, I thought it would be...well, simple. Declutter a few things, practice saying no, cook at home, go to the gym a few times. I've learned a lot of things about myself this week, just by focusing on the word simplify.

Nothing I do is simple.

I want things to get done NOW.

I need to relearn a lot of things about life.

I'm thrilled to tell you that my sewing table is still uncluttered. I've completed cleaned my desk (and even used a magazine picture as a motivation for how to organize it!). I'll take a picture and post it. I did take a picture of the cluttered desk. As thrilled as I am to tell you that these two tasks have been accomplished, I'm ashamed (yes, very ashamed) to admit that I've barely touched the tip of the iceburg. And I'm a tad overwhelmed by how much more work there is to declutter my home. When I committed to simplifying my life, I thought it would be an easy task to undertake. Not so much. I've had to remind myself a million times this weekend that I've made this committment for a YEAR. I don't have to finish everything this moment, this weekend, even this month!

This idea of simplification will probably take all year. I'm remaking my thought process, my relationship with my "stuff" and my ideas about home and family. This idea of simplify is NOT very simple.

One way I want to simplify is to enjoy the small things in life.

The feeling of cookie dough.



Cookies decorated by the three cutest nephews and the funniest two year old you've ever seen. (And their aunt who is the one who REALLY wanted to decorate the cookies!)



Warm cookies, cracked M and M's, and giggles of the kids who made them and the two year old who keeps sneaking M and M's out of the bag.



Simplify: To make simpler, less complex, less complicated.
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3 comments:

ZachB said...

I'm glad that you guys are trying to simplify things. Just remember that you need to just take things one day at a time.

You can't simplify everything this minute or this hour or this day. Just do what you can today and continue on until tomorrow. If you take your time it will feel like you are making more progress.

If you get frustrated then it is going to seem all is loss and nothing is done.

I love you and keep working it will get done!

Christina said...

One day at a time...one small step at a time. You have made a great start! I have the same problem, I get over-enthusiastic, want to do it all NOW and then get overwhelmed. But as you said, it's an ongoing process that doesn't have to be completed today!
I love the cookie pictures...and even more your sweet words and the reminder to slow down. And simplify. :o)

Arizaphale said...

I too love the cookie pictures and the idea of simplifying makes my head explode. It is waaaaay too complex for me :-D (not kidding actually!)Good luck with it. I'll be interested in how your ideas develop during the course of your journey.