Simplifying Life

ceridwen

mary43 wrote: »

I can't see anyone on this forum ever being anything other than friendly and supportive. We're all here for a common goal.........though I have to say mine isn't in the cooking area so much as lifestyle in general.
Best place I think I've ever found, everyone so full of encouragement when things go well and sincere thoughts when they don't.
If only life could be like that wouldn't it be a better world

Couldnt have put it better....to me personally its a tonic to come back each day and see how people are being nice/helpful/etc to each other on here. I guess I could rewrite the phrase "you can choose your friends, but not your relatives" into "you can choose your friends, but not your work colleagues". The "world of work" these days is a LOT "harsher" place than when I started WAY back when...and mine is a (probably fairly typical) workplace of this era...."supportive" and "friendly" are NOT words I would use about it. "Aggressive"/"insecure" and various other similar words would fit my workplace (and, I guess, a noticeable number of others right now).....hence I find it a "balm" to come back here and remind myself of the things that really matter.

mary43

"you can choose your friends, but not your relatives"

I've got a fridge magnet that says similar.........'Friends are the family you choose yourself' and it's very true. Often its much easier to be totally honest and true to a good friend than family who often have certain 'expectations' - that you will succeed, do well, cope with life etc. Makes if difficult then to admit to them any so called 'failures' for fear of letting them down. Friends accept us for who we are, warts and all.

I've been out of the 'workplace' for some years now ceridwen and from what I hear sometimes I'm glad I am. But at least you have threads like this to put things into perspective and sometimes you need to have the c**p in life to see the beauty of it in full.Hope that makes sense.

groatie_queen

Thanks ceridwen, for the reminder re donating books to hospitals. I work at two hospitals and sadly neither of them has a book lending service. In fact, they are always more desperate for magazines for the clinic waiting rooms. Back in the 70's, when I lived in Edinburgh, the old Royal Infirmary had a library - staff and patients could use it.

It will probably suit me, instead of buying 'new' books, to occasionally swap one of my existing ones for a readitswapit book. I would only be doing it if I saw something listed which I couldn't obtain through the local library reservation service. It will just be one of the ways I'll prevent my book stash from getting out of hand again.

Re simplifying possessions, I am part of a group of friends who lend each other larger pieces of equipment so we don't have to duplicate the purchases. I share my sewing machine, a garden shredder and I have a spare vacuum cleaner out on loan at present too. Another person has good ladders, greenhouse space and a wheelbarrow. Others share expertise in exchange for loans, e.g. picture framing and complementary therapies. We know and trust each other to look after the borrowings. Even to hire some of these items is expensive, so it is a real help. It needs that basis of trust to work.

Wishing all of us joy in simplicity,

GQ xxx

ceridwen

...makes perfect sense mary. I certainly spent time today - again - at work reminding myself to keep a sense of perspective...that there are many in a worse situation....and also that mine will resolve at some point (as in - I will retire)...but it aint that easy for someone starving in a poor country ... At least I can walk out at the end of my workday...a lot of people cant walk out from their problem stuff.

I also remind myself that I must have chosen the life I lead for a reason...ie to learn particular lessons from it....and I reckon I am getting plenty of "learning opportunities" shall we say:D . One of the things that strikes me as I get older is just how much of the "problem stuff" I have seen going on/perhaps still does in the lives of others that I know...and many do have it a lot worse. So I remind myself that - yes, my job is soul-destroying - but it is the case that many people have things a lot worse and I do try to count my blessings (dont always succeed - but I AM working on it).

mary43

Like the idea of sharing the bigger things .........some we only need now and then.We've got ladders and a wheelbarrow that are often 'out on loan' and likewise we have things from others we know. In fact, that reminds me, I bet ex foster girls hubby still has our garden spade.....................lol
If he has then he's welcome. They;ve recently moved to a country cottage with a large garden, loads of work to do. Lot more than ours.

Well I'm off to spend some quality time with OH.........he's had his after dinner doze (why do men do that? or is it just OH ?)

See you tomorrow:T

ceridwen

...and a couple of quotes from me for today (because I need them myself - lol):

"I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness".

"Be still and cool in thine own mind and spirit".

- both are by George Fox

Ellidee

ceridwen another beautiful quote. The last line reminds me of my siggy.

ceridwen

,,,and with thanks to the "poster" who introduced us to it - I will take the daily thought from this site to bed with me tonight...

http://wonderofitall.com/

Move_To_Portugal

Wow this thread has grown! It makes for lovely reading as well so thank you all.

My house is two rooms away from being de cluttered to the hilt. I gave myself a target to do the whole house by the end of February so I'm on schedule. I'm planning a car boot sale in March as soon as it gets a bit warmer and then there will be no more clutter entering the Move To Portugal household.

mtp

do_it_today!

Hi All :hello:
to the op - the whole thanks button thing -sometimes there is a time delay but alot of the time it just wont acknowledge that I have asked it to thank the poster- I have sneaking suspicion that it is a mac thing (yes I have a mac laptop - it does strange things that pc based laptops dont) also sometimes when I click into MSE forums It wont give me an updated page of new posts - only if I go into subscribed posts will I get the updated posts.

keep going girls :j :j :j