Without discussion or fanfare, I decided I would only decorate for Christmas this year. It's really my most favorite holiday to decorate primarily due to our ornament collection. However, the real reason why I stopped is that it doesn't matter to my husband or pup. It probably doesn't matter to my neighbors. It just stressed … Continue reading Tis the Season for Fun, Not Stress
Tag: expectation
What Do You Do?
You meet someone new and to break the ice they ask "What do you do?". I am not sure about you but that question gets on my last nerve. Do I respond as expected with my job title? Or could I respond with the following: I am passionate about running, spending time with my family, … Continue reading What Do You Do?
Where Minimalism Started for Me: Decluttering the Mental Stuff
I stopped drinking years ago. I stopped shopping this year. And now I am dealing with all of the mental clutter without a vice. Situations that happened when I was a small child are bubbling up. Traumatic events are bubbling up. Old pains, old loves, and old shit is bubbling up. Some nights I wake … Continue reading Where Minimalism Started for Me: Decluttering the Mental Stuff
Stop the Default Response of No
Now that I have decluttered my stuff and life, I find that I do in fact have more time to say yes. Yes, I can meet you for a walk. Yes, let's watch a movie. Yes, let's go for a bike ride. Yes, to reading a book. Yes, to myself. Yes, to my family. Yes, … Continue reading Stop the Default Response of No
What Happens When You Opt-Out of Family Expectations?
We live where we grew up. Then over the past 5 years my family all moved to another state. For some reason the law of less seemed to apply for all holidays. There are less in my family so we felt obliged to take time off from work, pack up the car, and travel. We … Continue reading What Happens When You Opt-Out of Family Expectations?