Simplifying Life - Mark II

Nargleblast

Good post, Judi. Two things I find to be true - firstly, that life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans (quote from John Lennon). And secondly, you have to learn to like being you and living in your skin, before you find contentment in the rest of the world.

I think the situation in Japan at the moment is making a lot of people count their blessings - it really puts all the things we stress about into perspective. I do hope things don't get worse for them.

ginnyknit

I watched the Amish programme and it pointed out just how many rules they have to their simple life! I do love the idea of the way they live but it is very hard work.

I am sorry to hear you are suffering a nuisance factor ceridwen, hope you sort it out soon.

At the age of 50 I seem to have led many kinds of life, poor, poorer, richer, poorer and onestly I find the way I live now is more interesting and satisfying than any other version so far. I do worry (especially about the problems in Japan affecting us all) but I am off to bed with my multiplied cats ( i had 1 last week now I have 2!) and a hot water bottle to write a list of jobs, projects and shopping.

The one thing I do know is becoming a grandma is the most fulfilling thing I have ever done and the pleasure I get from seeing the little man is enormous, he washes away all my woes with a cheeky grin

System

I seem to have been on this path forever. Lessons learned and baby steps all the way.

[Deleted User]

I visited the Amish place mentioned in the programme when I was in the US three years ago.My eldest DD who is errrm a little bit straight-laced kept texting me to make sure I was o.k.
Having survived rationing and the post war austerity period plus bring up two children ,losing my late OH and surving some nasty health problems I think I was more than able to get along o.k in the US with my oldest friend when we did our 'geriatric Thelma and Louise' trip.So having recieved her unpteenth text asking if I was O>K ect I finally snapped and replied 'I can't talk now I am in the middle of Intercourse' Stony silence from England for about ten seconds then she actually rang my phone to ask what on earth I was up to .I explained sweetly that 'Intercourse was the name of the Amish village we were in and not to keep fretting as I was perfectly fine' Far fewer texts from then on I think she realised that at 65 I was more than capable of getting around with my friend who had done several large road trips with her OH:):):) She still frets and worries far too much about the daftest of things but I suppose I'll never change her now after 43 years
They do have quite an amazing life style though and we had a wander around one of the stores in the village which sold their stuff and it was like stepping back a hundred years

Nargleblast

I think in Amish-speak "intercourse" is a word that means conversation/communication/socialising etc etc. In fact, come to think of it, I am sure I have seen that word used in novels set in Regency times, so it does not necessarily have the word "sexual" tagged on to it. I suppose in a simpler life in simpler times you could use words like that without anyone making anything crude of it. When I was a teenager, a friend of mine was called Gay - a beautiful name that summed up a nice personality. Sadly we cannot call our daughters Gay any more because of the new meaning of the word. It's sad that we have lost some of the innocence of past times.

[Deleted User]

Please help everyone!

Am fairly new to the forums, and as you will see from my signature have big debt problems.

Initally I used the forums to get debt advice from the many experienced posters and have been getting wonderful advice and fab support. Whilst I am keen to continue this, I have also been interested in the old-style boards, initally to save money but further reading has revealed a life style I soooo want.

Basically my debt problems have arised from the pressure I have put on myself and my poor family to have 'the perfect lifestyle'. Have spent thousands on home interior magazines that portray wonderful looking homes with a perfect looking family, then tried to replicate this - surprise, surprise I havent managed it- all its brought me is debt, depression and low self-esteem.

I have spent hours reading the tough times, simplifying life and the simple pleasures threads - I want in- these threads are so inspirational.

I wondered if anyone else felt like this at the moment and like me are at the begining of their 'simpler life' journey- perhaps we could make suggestions and support one another, hopefully with guidance from more experienced folks (pleaseeeee).

At present I am trying to distance myself from the people I have tried to 'keep up with'- hasnt been easy- had been meeting for coffee in lunchhours (spending a fortune), been buying the latest replica designer handbags, my friend have the real ones and had tried to always have a 'stylish' home, again mine was the smallest and this put huge pressure on.

Feel ashamed to admit all this, makes me sound so spoiled and selfish, havent always been so materialistic, started when I began working with this group of people and tried to fit in. I now realise my depression and weight-gain began at this time, and of course my debt.

So, over recent weeks, since discovering this wonderful forum I have felt a huge weight lifted, although I feel bit isolated at present watching my colleagues going shopping or for lunch, I also feel liberated and keen to progress to a much simpler life.

So, if anyone fancies the journey or an advisory role I would be so very grateful.

Simpler life here I come!!!!! :rotfl:

mumfirst_2

Hi

i'm new here too, not sure if I can help but I think to have a more simple life you just have to be yourself and accept who you are. when you look back on life it won't be the designer hand bags or the over priced coffee you remember but the people whose lives you touched. Have you thought that those people you were trying to keep-up with may just have been in the same boat, just credit card millionaires.

Keep smiling

Anna

tigerfeet2006

I have to agree the boards are fabulous, with so many amazing people.

I am doing the grocery challenge to help bring my bills down and have some extra money left at the end of the month.

Rummer

I think it is useful to tackle things one at a time instead of jumping in whole heartedly (unless urgent). I started by examining household bills and using comparison sites etc to get the best deals which saved me a small fortune initially. Then I moved on to food shopping and meal planning which again reduced costs. We also cut down the amount we used the car and power within the house. Once we had those things in hand (allowing for slip-ups) we then started to grow a lot of our own fruit and veg. Now I am using the flylady thread to get on top of my housework.

Take time to look at the areas of your life that you want to improve and then take things one at a time. That way things become habit and you don't feel overwhelmed!

moonpixiewitch

my sig read like yours in 2003 , and I was miserable , depressed , stressed and I thought life was never going to get better. Since then , I have, split from my long term partner of 16 yrs ,gone bankrupt (i had no choice) , got married to a wonderful man, moved house (albeit rented) , started my own business , stated growing my own veg, actually started saving for the first time ever .... the list goes on ......next I am trying to go vegan and want to join the flylady thread (no time yet) ......a huge thank you to everyone on mse forums , you have helped me spend less, eat better , be tolerant , learn from my mistakes and pick myself up when i fell down .