Simplifying Life

ceridwen

Hi

Dont think Aril is up yet with any inspiring quotes for us....guess she'll be along later.:D

So - having watched a humdinger of a fight going on yesterday over on another Board on this website and thinking on how a poster earlier on this thread commented on how they find it positive here...I think it could be that one of the reasons we are enjoying ourselves (virtually) talking as a group of friends here is that we are doing just that...focusing on the word "positive". We are focusing on what we like/find interesting in each other/have in common - hence my quote I have in mind (from one of the religious books of the World this time - in this case the Bible...but I am just as likely to quote from another one some time in the future):

"Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are good, think on these things."

I think thats actually a very good motto for life as a whole actually...trying to see what is good in life and people (I aint saying its always easy....I find it hard myself frequently...but its a good target to aim for.)

moanymoany

ceridwen wrote: »

Theres a lot of us about lilac lady ie determined not to work on past retirement age..... life's too short and theres too many other interesting things to do/people to meet.

At this rate....I might just start with a Grand Tour of Britain meeting OS'ers at coffeeshops en route - probably in rather a lot of places en route.:rotfl:

Coffee shops, coffee shops - ceridwen, don't you mean an os flask in the park?

How long have you all to go?

ceridwen

...ok, ok, maybe the park it is...we'll see....:D

..."how long to go?" - well you know the answer for me personally Moanie...as to how far from retirement I personally am.

JenniO

Do it Today! - that was a great article thanks!

I too was a future fanatic. I had this goal that in 13 years time, I'd turn 50 and we'd sell my little house and move to the country. I would've built up a nest egg by then and we'd retire and live happily ever after.

Then, and I don't know how or why, it dawned on me, what was so magical about living in my little cottage in the countryside? So I thought, well:

I'd do my own vegetable / fruit garden
I'd make homemade jam and butter
I'd start knitting / making some of my own clothes
I'd eat healthier and cut down on meat and cheese
I'd start appreciating nature more and take long walks
I'd have a wood burning stove and an aga

Then I thought, well why can't I do most of all of that here in my own house now? And so these were my new year's resolutions. And I've now done most of them! I am so happy that I'm now living the life I thought I'd be living in 13 years time! And my mortgage will be paid off in 5 years so I figure I've just saved us £400k by not insisting on the cottage in the countryside!

Life isn't the future, life is now. I may never get the aga but I'm fairly certain I'll get my wood burning stove the day my back boiler dies!;) And, frankly that's good enough!

do_it_today!

Good for you JenniO!
a book I read not to long ago called "there are no mistakes" - had a saying that touched me "where ever you go you will take yourself with you" if you cant change whats wrong or not working now.... its likely to follow you... sometimes changing car/ partner/ job/ house/ town/ haircut wont solve your problem but how you feel(attitude) or how you deal with something just might!
I have moved quite a few times and still have the urge to move again but am I only moving as a distraction from doing the things I really want to do and believe I cant do?!?!?
Could I just do what I want to do now which is paint (ok maybe not make a living from it but just enjoy) instead of channelling my energies into superficial things such as moving to the ideal home blah blah blah for example if we didnt move I could think about downsizing my hammster wheel?
I have read too many articles known people who have moved or emigrated and are still unhappy or move back.

Its not always easy to see what the real issue is..... I think society has become more reliant on if theres a problem lets throw money at it to fix it.... (this approach doesnt always work) it can fix some things but then also create new ones.

I love this thread..... lets keep going :j :j :j

Rowan9

Thanks for the quote Ceridwen - another one to go in my diary.
Thanks JenniO for your post - I love hearing how other people feel about either downsizing or doing what they want to do now! I agree that we can all start to eat more healthily (if we choose) or at least become more aware of what we put in our mouths. I try harder these days to get my 5 a day and although it isn't necessarily simplifying, it can be if you just pile a big salad in a plate along with whatever you eat. Does this make sense? I mean if I want to eat fish fingers because they are there (!) or I just fancy them - and I know they're not the best thing for you - I can eat a big salad along with it. Also, I tend to make a big pot of soup or chilli or stew these days and then eat it until it's gone (not in one sitting). That simplifies cooking and eating for me and I tend not to get fed up of the same thing so that helps.
It is a lovely sunny day here today and I am going to have a look in the garden and see if there is any new growth coming up yet. My dogs tend to tear about and play games so plants have to either be in pots or else be very hardy!
I'm going to continue using nice crockery and glasses. Someone posted here or another board about keeping nice things for, well, 'nice'. I received a tea set a few years ago from an aunt. It was her wedding present from my late mum (her bridesmaid) and she was very pleased to say it had been in her china cabinet for 40 years and had never been used. I don't have a china cabinet so it was packed away for a couple of years until i had that lightbulb moment that i don't have to follow her rules and could actually enjoy it. So, I took out 2 cups, saucers and side plates and enjoy having my cups of tea in something nice. I'm not very minimalist with teas sets as I have 4 but I like to choose which I will use at any one time. I keep most bits in the loft so have a few of each ready for use.
I also use crystal tumblers for water as I am not a huge fan of drinking water and should increase my intake. The best way, for me, is to use something nice to drink from, maybe with a slice of lemon (sliced and frozen so you can just take one out).
This might not come under 'simplifying' although I think I disagree! It is the simplest way for me to enjoy my 'nice things'!
Last thing - did anyone here watch Wife Swap last night? I know, I know...you are all far too cultured to watch it! BUT.... it was the one where the wealthy wife swaps with the eco wife who lives on a boat - both in Marbella I think. For me, it would be a mixture of the two, in that i couldn't go so eco-friendly as the family on the boat.
Ah well, on with the day.
I sold 2 books on Amazon - both Paulo Coelho. It was time for them go to someone else to discover meanings for them. I usually take books to the charity shop but put these on for sale at the lowest price as I kind of need a bit of extra cash coming in right now. Every little helps!
Take care everyone
w

JenniO

WMF - I think what you were trying to say is you've started enjoying simple pleasures in life. How fantastic is that! When an old beautiful tea cup or a crystal water glass can lift your mood then you're on the right track! Good for you and keep it up!

Aril

Very quick nip in and nip out as I'm on my lunch break. The small person has generated yet another 3 bags for his Mummy to sort through but has now finished his room. Thankfully many of the haul are torn Beanos and they've gone straight into the paper recycling for tomorrow. The freezer is now shiny and I have composted a few lurkers in jars I found lost at the back of the fridge.
This is a lovely calm quote that I pass every day on my way to work and it's outside our local Quaker meeting room. I like its simplicity and the fact that it could be applied to almost any area of your life:
Be open to new light wherever it might come from.
Cheerio
Aril

rosieben

JenniO wrote: »

...
Then I thought, well why can't I do most of all of that here in my own house now? ...

I've just posted on the Shabby Chic Thread that you've inspired me Jenni! I've been waiting to do things 'until I move' and I'm really not living in the sort of home I want. I'm not sure when I will move but this morning I've made a list of things I want to do and its cheered me so much to realise that I can make progess toward the sort of life I want whilst still living here.

My projects include repainting and recovering furniture and also displaying the kind of things that please me (so this means getting rid of the stuff that doesnt please me!).

JenniO

ROSIEBEN - that is sooo sweet and I'm thrilled!

You know with the cost of property these days, which in my opinion is highly inflated, I'd rather make the most of every inch of space in my current house than sell up and move somewhere I can't afford.

There was a thread a few months ago here in OS somewhere about a lady who wanted to make every room in her house 'earn its keep' and pay the mortgage or save her enough money to make keeping that part of the house the way it was worthwhile.

It really changed how I looked at my own house and I thought, yeah I can start doing some www.squarefootgardening.com 'square foot' gardens in my back garden and grow some veg. Yes I can turn the 3rd 'box bedroom' into a home office and start a business, yes I can build shelving at the top of the stairs and start growing veg seedlings. Things in my house started having to take on 'a purpose'.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I looked at what my house could give me instead of what it didn't offer and like i said earlier, that realisation has saved me thousands and thousands of pounds.