My Journey Toward a Simpler Life
Many years ago I came across one of those morning news shows that was doing an interview with an author by the name of Claire Cloninger. The author immediately had my attention as she was discussing her journey to simplifying her life and to removing the "clutter" of sorts from her day to day life. She had me hooked since I had always sought after a life of simplicity.
So many times I have longed to have freedom from "stuff". I owned more things than I had a spot to store and would still find myself shopping for more even when my finances didn't permit. My mind didn't have the freedom to stop worrying about work and finances even on my days off.
I have always been a minimalist at heart, however, by looking at my surroundings and watching how I would scamper willy nilly throughout my day, you would never know that my heart was always seeking after a much simpler life. I am and have always been a planner! Almost every night before I would fall asleep, I would plan the next day and it was written down. Although this seemed to help, I never allowed for the "add-ins". You know, the things that just happen. The kids call and someone needs a ride somewhere or my husband needs me to run an errand or I forgot to pay a bill or the dog had to go to the vet or a million other things! Each day, I was left feeling like I had failed!
After watching the program, I quickly set out to order her book, "A Place Called Simplicity." This became my favorite book of all time and I read it once a year for the next 15 years. Really! It takes repetition to refocus and it was, after all anenjoyable book to read. Claire and her husband Spike had reached the empty nest time of life and they set out on a journey to move to a small place by a river and completely simplify their life. I would highly recommend the book as it has had a great impact on my life and although I am still on my journey, every year I try to incorporate a few more of her tips into my life.
One thing that stuck in my mind was that instead of having a stack of serving dishes, when Claire began simplifying, she picked out her favorite. The best that she had and that is what she took to her home on the river. All of the other bowls got donated, given away or left behind in some fashion.
Do you have your grandma's old china just sitting in the hutch collecting dust and never finding its way onto your dinner table? One day as I was walking through a garage sale looking for that perfect treasure, I glanced at some beautiful china dinnerware. I began to think about the person who might have purchased it and how wonderful it must have seemed when they used it to serve their special people. I thought about my grandma's pretty china and how I seldom used it for fear a piece might get broken. As I looked at that china that had once been someone's treasure, I realized that in a couple of generations, it no longer had that special meaning and literally had become garage sale material.
Since that time, I have decided that my china was for simple tea parties with my granddaughters and dinners whenever I decided to use it. Things really have no meaning when they sit as dusty relics, untouchable by those that you love. The real meaning is the value that you put on the person for whom we are willing to share "our stuff" with!
Resolving the issue of too many dishes was only a small part of the journey that Claire set out on. She tackled the area of her finances, her work space, and her appointment calendar as well. While I have been on this journey for some time now, I am always at odds with the American way of life that "more is better". Less is actually better. Less stuff that actually has a proper place in your home. It is freeing to open a closet or cabinet door and have an empty spot for what actually belongs there.
God never meant for us to live in this chaotic state that many of us have gotten ourselves into. He meant for us to live a quieter, simpler life. One much more like the one that He created for us in the garden of Eden.
If you are like me and have ever yearned for a simpler way of living, a place where you can slow down and escape the rat race of life and enjoy your own thoughts and actually have the time for the people and things that you love, I invite you to get your hands on a copy of this book. While I am pretty sure that it is out of print at this time, copies can be purchased via Amazon or Ebay and it will change your life!
I am still on this journey and suspect that I will be for some time to come. However, every year when I look back I can see that I have also come so far from where I started. Each year, I have whittled out a little more time for the important things in life and have achieved a bit of "de-cluttering" in my life.
I am sure that some of you have your own ideas on simplifying life and I invite you to share them. Life is a journey. Give yourself time and take this process slowly. Above all, live each day as if it were a gift and enjoy the journey!
Julie Atkins