My husband came home one Friday at the end of a busy week, took his shoes off, and left them sitting by the front door. He took his backpack over to the dining table and left it on the floor behind his chair. Then he asked what plans I had for the evening. How did […]
How Minimalism has Simplified Cleaning our Home
Sometimes, it is hard to see the benefits of a life change until you have actually lived that life for a while. Then, you can look back and assess the differences with pristine, hindsight clarity. In our nearly 33 years of marriage, it has always been my heart’s desire to make sure our home is […]
A Slower Pace
The way I viewed time changed in 2007. The year I quit my desk job, threw some essentials in a large suitcase, and moved 5,000 miles east to a town I’d never heard of in southern Spain. I arrived in Jaén with only one real responsibility: teach English. But I, of course, touted my own […]
My Intentional Journey
One of my favorite simplicity books is titled “Journeys of Simplicity: Traveling Light with Thomas Merton, Basho, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard and Others.” This book is essentially a compilation of lists detailing what various people brought with them on specific journeys or carried with them regularly. I have read this book at least four times […]
Resistance
My oldest kiddo begins cross country running soon, and so we set out on a mother/daughter jog last week to train. It’s funny how time flies. When she was little, she accompanied me in a stroller. Then, she rode alongside on her bike. Now, we run together. It makes my heart full. However, I am […]
Finding Happy
While sitting in the family room one evening I heard wails emanating from another part of the house. The crying got louder and louder as my littlest love came right up to me, staring at me intently as she approached. When I asked her what was the matter, she pointed to her leg and explained […]
What a “Just Right” Mango Taught Me About Minimalism
“How do you pick one of those?” I looked up from the small display of mangoes, mildly startled. Even pre-COVID, I was surprised to see someone standing so close and engaging me out of the blue at the grocery store. But I love to share my wisdom — who doesn’t? — so I happily paused […]
Our Lives Are Not Content
Last summer I stopped posting on Instagram. We hadn’t long come out of our first lockdown in Scotland, but despite the clear skies and emerald trees, everything was overwhelming. I worried about my temporary job contract, my family, paying the mortgage, my partner’s work. To reduce my anxiety, I stopped sharing moments of my life […]
Four Things I Will Live Without This Year
When life feels full and overwhelming, as it often does at the start of a new year, I find it helpful to assess what I can live without. Instead of starting a new year with new resolutions and goals, I prefer to refocus and refine my previous goals and dreams. Instead of adding, I choose […]
How to Teach Children the Value of Self-Care
I recently listened to a podcast with a psychologist who explained the concept of mirror neurons. Mirror neurons are especially important for young children who are absorbing so much new information every day. These neurons help them learn not only by listening to others but also by observing others and “mirroring” their actions. This becomes […]