I have always made gaols at the first of the year with real intentions on doing them. However after a few weeks or months with the day to day challenges I fall back into my old habits. Last year was the first time I had ever heard of this one word idea from Ali Edwards. I chose a word and I know I am a better person because of that one word. Think. I have learned a ton of new things on the computer, I have become better at taking pictures, I have been able to focus on my feelings more and write things down I would have never even thought to share. I have also met so many wonderful people who truly inspire me each and every day! Ü
This year I want to focus on the simple things in life. Family, self, time. I always feel so busy yet never seem to get anything done. I was telling my neighbor Diane about the "one word for the year" idea and told her mine was Simplify. She walked right into her office and came out with a book by Carolyn J. Rasmus called,
I took it home and skimmed thought the first few pages. I cannot tell you how perfect this book is for me right now, at this very moment of my life.
Page 5 paragraph 2 reads:
Since those early beginnings to improve my life and make increasingly more effective, I have come to believe that to simplify our lives goes beyond mere management of outside interferences, such as interrupting phone calls and hectic schedules; it is far more than organizing closets or cleaning out unwanted or unused things that clutter our homes. To simplify is about enhancing our ability to focus on things that really matter, to deliberately choose our priorities, and to refuse to let unimportant things take over the things of real importance.
*****
That paragraph jumped off that page. It was exactly what I have been feeling and needing to do with my life. I have also been blessed this past week with an ability to have no emotional ties to anything in this house. That has been hard for me these last two years because I have so much of my parents things stuffed into ever crook and cranny of this house. I have felt freed this week and have gone through three rooms and de-junked without any feelings of guilt. I love walking into a room knowing that every area is clean. Even the parts you can't see!!!
Throughout this book there are quotes that I have fallen in love with and will post over time. She also breaks down the word Simplify and talks about each letter:
S-stillness
I-integrity
M- mercy
P- prune
L- let go
I-impossible
F- fortify
Y -you
I can definitely feel that this is going to be a good year for me and my family.
One last quote from the book Simplify:
Our priorities determine what we seek in life. (Dallin H. Oaks)
