Simplifying Life - Mark II

firework

ceridwen wrote:

firework - now you've got me confused - "difference between Catholics and Christians"..........errrr.....but Catholics ARE Christians (one of various types of)


:rotfl: oh yeah ! i'm so thick - rotfl! see what i mean... and now a little quote springs to mind..

... it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt

ps only joking about the devil worship no offence meant - lol!.

firework

well, the christmas tree & decorations have at last made it back to the loft:j so we can actually get in and out of our bedrooms without being spiked by the metal on the ends of the branches. when i replace that tree i will simplify Christmas preparations in one fell swoop, the current tree is 7ft, with approx 70 branches in total - all individual:eek: it has been taking up a space 6ft x 4ft x 4ft high piled on our landing, in front of the bookcase. when that went in the loft i also cleared out an old clothing rail to pass on to a friend in a new home - no wardrobes. more loft space...

and with the tree gone i was able to remove the leaning tower of dvds from the spare room and fit them all neatly onto the bookcase, and also took off a few of ds's old books for nephew who's just 2. funny how you can remove one barrier and it can clear the way .. well, to clear the rest of the way !

also got our bedroom cleared up and returned to a haven of peace and tranquility - shame all i ever get time to do is sleep in it ( as opposed to relax and read / listen to radio). it's very simplified in there, nice muted colours and just a deep pile carpet, a double bed, two wardrobes, 1 set drawers, 1 lamp, and a radio - still no curtains mind but we have blinds up.

in our old house we had a tv in every room except bathroom:eek:. now we have one.

Lula-Hula

Good morning to all.

It's a beautiful crisp sunny day here & still snowy across the fields although the trees are now bare.

DD was back at school today so we slid & crunched our way along the path & then I slid & crunched back & went out to the garden to leave some bread & chopped up apples for the birds - not sure whether they'll eat the apples but they're a bit too wrinkly for DDs taste. It really is beautiful, the sun making the snow all sparkly & there were loads of tracks to be seen. The fox's made me smile; the paw prints very clear with a line inbetween where his tail must have brushed.

So, that's my simple pleasures for the day.

With regards to simplifying life, I think mine has been emotional rather than physical over the last few days. Although I am sad about the 'loss' of the close friend; I have slept well, feel no angst or tension & am surprised to feel a sense of relief too. It was clearly causing me a lot of misery.

I have been thinking about how to define paganism & havent yet been able to come up with a 'better' wording than those who have already posted. I am fairly new to this path in terms of actually exploring it as in learning about my feelings & beliefs, connecting with like minded people & understanding how to express it externally although I would say that it has always been alongside me since early childhood. It's hard to explain; I've always felt drawn to certain places, people & ways of living, I've just never had the 'mental space' to actually take it further than 'dabbling'. As a single parent living in a very normal/ordinary suburban area I've always been far more concerned with fitting in ( more for DD's rather than my own needs) amongst others in 'normal' family situations. To be a totally sole parent is a minority in this area & regarded with a degree of suspicion :rolleyes: .

Apologies for the ramblings & thank you to all who have posted various links, I am working my way throught them all,

Wishing you all a happy day

lula
xx

mary43

Aril - beautiful quote as ever and I can just see your small person in the snow - love your description of the 'recycling into a snowball..............lol

Beliefs and faiths are strange things.....what means one thing to one person may mean something else to another. I was brought up to attend church and did all the things you do, married in church, kids christened in church (now I wonder why I did -their beliefs have no connection with it really) I have my own kind of faith which is probably a mish mash of several so I wouldn't know how to describe it but its something I feel comfortable with.

firework - you have been busy...........oh dear..........and I haven't. Not at all. Still loads need clearing up in my little den here but this morning I had a meeting and this afternoon, after having far too many 'bad hair days' I'm having a treat at the hairdressers. Not a regular event so I can sort of justify the £20 it'll cost. When I really look at the mess I seem to have created it really is just a case of putting stuff back where it came from or putting in the bin.............except the pictures that I must sort out before they haunt me:eek:

Lula - you seem to be dealing with the 'loss' of your friend very well and as you say, something obviously wasn't right with the relationship.
It's a beautiful day here, cold but sunny and blue skies......snow has all gone now (though we are forecast some more so they say)

Never apologise for your ramblings - they're a pleasure to read.
Now...........that chest of nine drawers...................:rotfl:

Charis

My latest simplifying habit to develop is, from now on, to ignore official reports and surveys. I have noticed two just this week, the one from the Children's Society and one I saw today which informed me that summer babies grow up to be taller and stronger than winter babies.

The first, which sums up by saying that all children need love, tells us nothing new and I suspect will have no suggestion as to how the conclusion can be put into effect, but it indulges in the usual blaming of single parent families. The lone mother is to blame for all social ills, as usual. That's doubly hurtful for widows. It also makes me hopping mad because it is untrue and also very short sighted to generalise. I know that from personal experience and so does Barack Obama's mum. Waste no more energy on ignorance, methinks.

The second just made me laugh. The tallest of my 'babies' is 32, 6ft 3ins, and muscular, born a week before Christmas. The smallest and slightest is my DD who is 26, 5ft 4ins and slim (a little underweight) born early June.

Maybe I should apply for a grant for a survey and report on whether people could care less about the results of surveys? :rolleyes:

ceridwen

Well Charis - they do state the obvious sometimes in these surveys - well either the obvious or the inconsequential..

Even childless me could have told them, for instance, that children need love. Childless I may be - but I can spot the difference between loved and unloved children a mile off and feel sorry for the poor little tykes that are obviously unloved.

LULA - Glad you're coming to terms with this okay....

MARY - Ultimately - it doesnt matter what set of beliefs people have or havent does it - as long as they are acting from some ethical code or other - does it matter which one? I dont think so....and I think quite a lot of us have evolved our own personal "mish-mash" as you might put it of ideas. According to Beliefnet's "what are you?" questionnaire when I did it once out of interest - top of the list that came back was Buddhist...and I agree with some of the ideas there....and then, at an on the street level, I guess one's temperament comes into things too and I've had a couple of Buddhists virtually rolling on the floor laughing visibly at the thought of me being one......errrr.....guess that means they think I'm not "detached"/peaceful enough a temperament to fit comfortably under that.....and I have to admit they were right:D . So - I've had to take into account both my ideas and my temperament...and a few other aspects all round....to work out the nearest to a "home base". I guess most of us have to do much the same - as we dont fit totally neatly 100% into any given "slot" - but then at least that has the advantage of us being readily able to accept whatever different way someone else thinks in that respect:D It doesnt make a scrap of difference to me what belief system anyone has - or whether its none at all - its accepted whatever....as long as they dont "push it" onto people. Maybe it helps that I've seen my mother latterly go back into her church services that she likes and she obviously gets something out of being involved with her church on the one hand - and my father (closest applicable label being "humanist") quite happily accepting this and giving her lifts there if need be - and then going off to do whatever he wants to do on the other hand. She goes one way, he goes another and I go off in a totally different direction altogether....My best friend, on the other hand, well....she could quote me chapter and verse of the Bible - and sometimes isnt too happy with how I think and I find some of the ideas a bit "hair-raising" (I'd go totally grey if I thought about some of them too much - but I'm sure she'd say the same back)....so we both keep a bit quiet all round....but she is my friend because she is very caring/generous/loving - thats what matters - and, for some astonishing reason, I'm apparently the first person she'd turn to if she was in severe trouble....me! - but I take it as a compliment.

*moggins*

Until I hit 40 I've always been quiet about my beliefs as a) they are that, my beliefs and no one else's business. b) there are a lot of people around me who are happy to take the mick.

As I grew older I realised that my beliefs were more pagan than anything else I guess.

Do good because it needs to be done and not for the promise of a mansion in the next life.

Treat others as you would wish to be treated

Care for the earth and it will care for you

Never take without giving something back.

Those are my personal beliefs and they've always stood me in good stead.

ceridwen

Well Charis - they do state the obvious sometimes in these surveys - well either the obvious or the inconsequential..

Even childless me could have told them, for instance, that children need love. Childless I may be - but I can spot the difference between loved and unloved children a mile off and feel sorry for the poor little tykes that are obviously unloved.

LULA - Glad you're coming to terms with this okay....

MARY - Ultimately - it doesnt matter what set of beliefs people have or havent does it - as long as they are acting from some ethical code or other - does it matter which one? I dont think so....and I think quite a lot of us have evolved our own personal "mish-mash" as you might put it of ideas. According to Beliefnet's "what are you?" questionnaire when I did it once out of interest - top of the list that came back was Buddhist...and I agree with some of the ideas there....and then, at an on the street level, I guess one's temperament comes into things too and I've had a couple of Buddhists virtually rolling on the floor laughing visibly at the thought of me being one......errrr.....guess that means they think I'm not "detached"/peaceful enough a temperament to fit comfortably under that.....and I have to admit they were right:D . So - I've had to take into account both my ideas and my temperament...and a few other aspects all round....to work out the nearest to a "home base". I guess most of us have to do much the same - as we dont fit totally neatly 100% into any given "slot" - but then at least that has the advantage of us being readily able to accept whatever different way someone else thinks in that respect:D It doesnt make a scrap of difference to me what belief system anyone has - or whether its none at all - its accepted whatever....as long as they dont "push it" onto people. Maybe it helps that I've seen my mother latterly go back into her church services that she likes and she obviously gets something out of being involved with her church on the one hand - and my father (closest applicable label being "humanist") quite happily accepting this and giving her lifts there if need be - and then going off to do whatever he wants to do on the other hand. She goes one way, he goes another and I go off in a totally different direction altogether....My best friend, on the other hand, well....she could quote me chapter and verse of the Bible - and sometimes isnt too happy with how I think and I find some of her ideas a bit "hair-raising"....so I keep a bit quiet all round....but she is my friend because she is very caring/generous/loving - thats what matters.

mary43

Charis - I loathe the way people are 'pigeon holed' into becoming a statistic

the usual blaming of single parent families. The lone mother is to blame for all social ills, as usual.

Single parents are single for a number of reasons and it doesn't make them a bad parent - I do loathe the headlines so often seen 'single mother.......!!!'Why not just Mother or woman ? We're all so very different and should never be 'labelled' whatever our circumstances. The endless surveys that flood through the door really annoy me - but they do make handy paper to use as a base on the table if I need too glue anything when I'm card making...............lol So, they do have a use of sorts.

ceridwen - I have a friend who's beliefs have fluctuated between spiritulism christianity and probably most others,almost as if she can't find one that makes her feel comfortable with herself and more settled than she is. There has been so much tragedy in her family its any wonder that for a while any form of belief was totally shaken. One day she'll find a foothold with something that gives her the comfort she needs but meantime, its a subject I tend to avoid if I'm with her, unless of course she mentions it first. Mum and Dad always frowned on any discussion that might involve the 3 taboos -sex, politics and religion as they were private affairs and could well involve family disputes. After Dad died, strangely enough Mum became far more open about all manner of things............maybe Dad would have done the same had he been the one left. It was almost as if one held the other back .......pity really as I learnt so much of Dad from Mum and so much of Mum herself that I would love to have known before.

moggins - they sound like good rules to live by. Its such a pity that we hold things back for fear of being mocked until we get to an age when really, does it matter what anyone else thinks............I must admit to not feeling really comfortable with myself until I reached 40 and even then I still had that dread of mickey taking about anything I might say, do, wear etc. Now, it matters not a jot. I am me, I like me.............if someone doesn't - their loss not mine.

Lula-Hula

I like it here, everyone talks sense.

I think a generally kind & caring non-judgemental attitude towards all other living beings is hard to beat - irrespective of which faith it stems from.

Mary - I wish I'd never mentioned those drawers now, but it's good that you remind daily, imagine your shock when one day I proudly declare that they are done. I wouldnt recommend holding your breath though.

On another thread I mentioned that I still have over 100 bits of vinyl - you know, those round black things that could be bought with a weeks pocket money back in the 80's. Anyway, my plan this evening is to ruthlessly sort them out. That means not keeping them because although I cant stand the tune... they remind me of something/one from 20+ years ago. It's just another from of sentimentality & as one who hopes to be living on water in the future... they have to go. If I even half them I'll be happy.

If anyone knows of a place where I might be able to raise a bit of cash towards debt repayment I would be very grateful... otherwise the charity shops will get the lot.


I'm still working my way through the first thread & was delighted to see an item on the one show tonight about teepee valley in Wales, bizarre as I was just reading about it earlier.

I will return to confess how much vinyl I have retained...

Lula