A few months ago our Relief Society had a quarterly enrichment (yes I am still calling it that because to call it the Quarterly or Monthly Relief Society is even more confusing, so deal with it) meeting. At the end of the meeting they had a little crafty sign for us to make that says, "Simplify".
I hung mine up by my front door where I can see it from my work station. I have been trying since that night to simplify my life. I often ask myself, " What do I really need?" or "What is really important to me?" I've had lots of opportunities to reevaluate my life, what I'm doing, where I'm going, what I'm spending my time doing, who I'm doing it with, etc.
It's always good to clean out, change perspective, stake grounds, and evaluate your life a couple of times a year.
A couple of weeks ago at Time Out for Women one message that I got was not to over schedule my family. It's so easy to do. Often lately I've wanted to scream when something new comes up, "Not one more thing!". I have my stuff to do, house chores, taking care of my family, editing, sessions, keeping up and improving my skills, customer services, etc. It's easy for me to get busy with just doing my stuff and then throw the other kids stuff in the mix and time just gets crammed and I start feeling like a failure, or like I'm being pulled in 20 directions.
This is where the Simplify comes in.
What's important?
Is it important that we have a well designed meal every night, or is it more important that we have a meal together, even if it's pancakes?
Is it important that all the laundry is done by Wednesday, or is it important that I take time to play with and read to my kids?
It's not easy to do all the right things and make the right choices and it will take time to make new habits.
With simplifying I think also comes making sure that life is filled by enriching things. Good friendships. Uplifting and fulfilling activities that make life better, truly better, not just busy.
I want my life filled with deep family love, rich friendships, meaningful things to do.
"Not just busywork" keeps going through my head. I don't want things to keep me busy, just to give me something to do. I want them to make my life, my kids lives, my friends or loved one's lives better and more fulfilling. I want them to make our family relationships ones that they want to last for ever. I want them to want to get together for things after Joel and I are gone.
These are some things that matter to me.
3 comments:
thanks for the reminder! :)
Those are some deep thoughts, Jen. I'll need to spend some more time pondering them.
You're right. Simplify isn't a big word and it makes things easier. It's funny that some people don't believe that, but it's really true. I need to work on this. Thanks for the thoughts.
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