Reflections on
"Simple Abundance"
May ~ Days 15-21
MAY 15 ~ Progress, not perfection
Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order" (Anne Wilson Schaef)
"How much of our lives is frittered away=spoiled, spent, or sullied-by our neurotic insistence on perfection?" - Do you spend so much time trying to do something the perfect way, that you never get anything done? In doing that one perfect thing, which incidently, you were never satified with, did you eat up all your time to where you were left in a pinch because of all the other things that you didn't get time to do? I'm not saying to not take any care and just slop thru something...but, I think where perfectionism really hurts us the most, is when we are so fixated on 'doing it perfectly' that we are paralyzed and can't move on it. Cleaning jobs that we could have been pecking away on a little at a time, but we were going to wait until we had the time to do it 'right'....still waiting. The quilt material that never got cut, because as long as it wasn't cut yet, it wasn't ruined yet. The exercise we were going to start as soon as we got everything else perfect.
What about the bedroom that we were planning to completely empty and clean from the ground up (it's that bad off)....but that is going to take a major time slot, and we haven't had one yet. What if we just picked up the clothes?...hanging the ones that got rehung and putting in the hamper the dirty ones. What if we just went thru that stack of paper/magazines/weird stuff by your bed every week, before it grew big enough to need its own day to 'do it right'?
Stop being afraid of ever making a mistake. The only ones that never make mistakes are those who never DO anything! Is that what you want written on your tombstone? She never did anything? Not being willing to take those steps and do your own personal best, is what is truly not perfect. It is to think on yourself so hard, that no one else and nothing else matters more than if others think you are perfect or not. To let your life and opportunities and nurturing of your home/family 'sit in lay-away' until you have the time to do it 'right', is the biggest failure you will ever achieve. The very act of waiting to be perfect is imperfection in thinking and living.
What if all the things we keep putting off and wondering why we aren't doing them....is really because we are afraid we won't get it right? What if we do it and it's not perfect, but we have fun and that is what we and everyone else remembers? The next time you find yourself wondering what is wrong with you and why you can't just start doing something, ask yourself, "is the fear of failing to do it perfectly lurking behind my immobility?" If you find it is - do it! Doing your best and living your life of joy _IS_ true perfection!
MAY 16
"Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful." (Wiliam Morris)
"...to use the Morris rule - ridding ourselves of anything we do not believe to be beautiful or useful - as we restore order to our homes and simplify our lives." Some people have no problems in this area, and will scratch their heads and wonder what in the world I'm talking about, on the other hand, there are some who will know:
This is very hard.....we don't like to think of ourselves like this We like to think of ourselves as that perfect guardian of information and useful products that can be whipped out at a moment's notice, amazing our friends and family at how bright we are, because we are the only ones that still have 'this'.....but...something went wrong. We can't use some of our furniture, because things are stacked there, in the way. We have to either move them or too many times 'skip it'. These things here would be in that closet...if I could reach the closet. We would eat dinner on the dining room table...if it weren't stacked up with strange stuff. Ladies? Did we mean to do this? To become a recycling center instead of a home? If we find ourselves in this position, then true, we are amazing our families and friends, but not by them thinking how clever we are.
Last night as I continued to reposition things into my kitchen that I had removed to mop....I found myself staring at boxes, empty boxes. I saw how wonderful, strong, sturdy they were, and knew they were 'valuable'. I then thought of how these valuable boxes were still here after 2 years, stacked here waiting for some 'perfect' thing to mail - then I'd be ready for that occasion! Unfortunately, having them stacked here for 2 years, meant I wasn't ready for THIS important occassion...you know, the one where you look at your kitchen everyday? Instead, I had been stacking, dusting, moving, restacking these things, and living with the stack of junk, when I could have been looking at a clear area that didn't fall over everytime I walked past it! Thinking of the time, effort and frustration these boxes had cost me, ruthlessly, I tore and flattened 3 and took them to the garbage....came back in and looked at 3 others and knew they had been 'saved' too long....what I wanted to do now was save my kitchen!
I'm not saying never to save anything for reuse....but there comes a point where you are going to have to decide that there is only so many you really need to 'be ready'. Ever once in a while, I notice things are getting too tight in my cubboards...yes, there they are again. A stash of TOO MANY jars, butter bowls, plastic lids. And I have to remind myself that 1 or 2 in each size is quite enough, I don't need 10 jars or butter bowls. You are not saving any money by having 25 butter bowls in your closet! And if you are wrong about that, then you will just have to get a box/jar/lid somewhere else for free instead of living with all this junk spilling around you indefinitely! -That would not be a disaster!
Look thru your homes, is it giving you beauty, use? or grief and depression from stacks of stuff that block your ability to clean it, and weariness from being surrounded by junkiness? Time to really look and see if the 'stuff' you have been guarding is really beautiful or useful.....or just stacked up, put off decisions.
MAY 17 Ritual of Restoration
"In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too moch of it. And they mst have a sense of success in it." (John Ruskin)
Today's reading deals with junk drawers, and cleaning them out one by one. It's a good idea, but before we go any further...I think we may need to know what caused the junk drawers. You know what they say, "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it!" There are some bonafide drawers that just need to be straightened, like the one that holds my screwdriver set, small hammer, small nails, picture hangers, -my things that are separate from the tool box - it's ok.
The ones that we need to worry about started out as space for other things, and include not just drawers, but closets, bags and boxes. These are not just storage boxes of old clothes, or purses. You can spot a bonafide junk 'container' immediately by the 'mixed-item' insides, which shout, "look!, all this junk is dumped here because no one dealt with it"! When we put off cleaning too long, we may one day fling it all in a bag and take it to the closet, or dump it in a drawer. It is a bonafide quick-fix for last minute calls from people who are dropping over...BUT... The problem comes when we don't make it back to clear it up within a day or 2 after company. It is the same problem we had that let it all accumulate to begin with - procrastination. At one time in my life, I honed procrastination to a fine skill. I once cut out an article about procrastination, hoping to learn more about how to solve it....and if I ever see it again, I will make a point to read it!
The bottom line here is just that "if you don't do it when you think about it, you are not going to do it when you are NOT thinking about it!" Consider this and let the fullness come to you. A little voice says, "don't forget to return your keys to your purse", you think "I'll do it in a few minutes". Later you leave the house, lock the door behind you and ...uh, oh, the keys are inside on the kitchen table. The thing is, the ONLY opportunity you have to do something is when you are thinking about it, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it when you are not! If you look at the things around you and let your eyes glaze over, thinking "I can always do it later" - you will wake up one day with your home full of junk drawers, bags, boxes and closets that you can't even use. Look sharp, think fast, and when the thought comes into your head, don't send it away with "later".
The first step is to go out of your way to STOP loading things quickly for hiding. Otherwise, you will continue to build the junk piles until you need 'professional help' to help clean and to save your sanity! And slowly, you will have to face those things you've hidden all this time...don't worry, I will be working right beside you on my 'archives' of boxes/drawers/closets!
MAY 18
Today's reading is rather short and to the point. The point being that 'lack of focus' can hinder us from ever following thru in keeping our homes in order. I think lack of focus and procrastination go hand in hand, as one reason to continually put off doing something is because you can't focus in on the reason or steps behind it. True, some things are just a matter of 'doing it' - like turn off the burner when you remove a pot or empty it. Others, like "clean the house" can be a multi-step procedure that leave one feeling dazed with no clear-cut plan of action.
The secret to solving this problem is to break any big job down into steps, and check off each step as you complete it. Like, instead of 'clean kitchen', it would be:
1. clear table
2. load dishwasher (if you have one) and wash hand washables
3. wipe off stove
4. wipe kitchen counters
Other things may apply in your particular instance, like you know if someone spilled a plate of crumbs you are going to need to sweep it up, -but above are the basics everyone is going to have to do. When you are thru for the night, leave your kitchen sink clean and ready for the morning to start.
So, the thing to remember is to not let the things swirl around in your head like "where do I start???" But, to look at the area that needs cleaning, and break apart the things that need to be done on a list, and then check them off as you go. You will be amazed at how simple it is when broken down, and how good you feel when you begin to check the things off!
If we simplify the steps of the things we are doing, we will be able to create order more successfully. The reward will be less time looking for things, less mess around us and less stress. Simplifying your routines will make for a more simple lifestyle - things will be getting done instead of 'getting your down'! And you remember what we've already said? - If it ain't beautiful or useful - get rid of it! Simplifying your closets/drawers/and living area by getting rid of those things you don't really want, will simplify your cleaning and homelife. Don't allow your home to be a 'storage' area for things that you don't want but don't know what to do with, -either hold a yard sale or give them away and set yourself free from being their 'curator'.
MAY 19 ~ ORDER WITHIN
"What a gift of grace to be able to take the chaos from within and from it create some semblance of order." (Katherine Paterson)
We've heard it said that as it is within, so it is without. There is no doubt that you can find people with cluttered homes and cluttered minds and they will often be the same people. No one can say which way it happened, and I imagine it is different for everyone, whether they lost grip of the home first and their sanity quickly began to follow the decline, or whether they had a bad outlook to begin with, and it wasn't long before it was reflected in their homes.
I can only tell you this, to return to a peaceful home and peaceful mind, you must reconcile with your own heart and mind. You have heard that we should all be investing in our futures? How does an investment work? It works when you look for a 'product' that you see potential in and decide to contribute to, in the belief that it will flourish and you will benefit from it. You are the product that you are investing in and putting the time and effort into, believing that you will ultimately benefit. If you sponsored a woodcrafter, you would look for one that made his handmade product carefully, and when it was assembled, used only the finest methods and oils to rub into the wood and bring out its beauty. Likewise, you will use your abilities in your home-crafting, but if you will be the successful investment you hope, you must not neglect the step that brings out your beauty to create the finished product. The extra time you put into yourself during reflection, prayer, contemplation, journaling, music that speaks to you, enjoying the beauty around you and expressing your gratitude - are all the precious oils that will make you shine. Investing time in yourself is protecting your investment and assuring a 'return'!
MAY 20 ~ Art of Puttering
"Puttering is really a time to be alone, to dream and to get in touch with yourself...To putter is to discover". (Alexandra Stofddard)
Puttering is not the work itself. It is more like 'choices' of what delights you. It is a little hard to 'putter' when you stumble over something everytime you enter your bedroom, or have to ease your way past an area where things have accumulated. But once you begin to actively participate in homecrafting, you will find that there are little things you now have time to enjoy contemplating. Things that are just a matter of which way does it make you feel the best, like this or like that? The same way men have been known to go to the garage and just mess around with their tools, doing nothing in particular, this 'puttering' is open to the homecrafter to enjoy also.
It's about enjoying the little comforts your home has to offer, as well as the big things. It is a relaxing form of creativity. Sure we know what it is like to enjoy the bed and bathtub! But, our home is riddled with little comfort possibilities, and we are not always up to heavier efforts every day. Sometimes it is nice to have an easy day and just look at the small things we can do to make our homes more 'cozy'. Like putting the conch shell on my bathroom floor. The plate of shells on my living room table. Yes, these rooms would be structurally the same without those items, but when I see these small additions, it is like a welcome to my spirit, reflecting back to me the things my inner woman enjoys. Give yourself 'small days' to just look around and see what little touches will bring your personality out in your home and make you feel more centered. Learn to putter! :)
MAY 21 ~ A Nest of Comforts
"Ah! There's nothing like staying home for real comfort." (Jane Austen)
Do you feel like this? Or do you harbor resentment when in your home? I know of people who were actually angry when in their own homes, resenting the fact that they were surrounded by items that were not all brand new -no kidding! If a home were to be only a collection of the newest things, it would still only feel like you were standing inside a furniture display at the store, if you had no love for your own space.
I can recall a time when I lived in a bedroom that rented for $7 a week and bathroom on the floor for all. You know what? I was just as at home in my little room, tucked away and feeling safe, with the love for my privacy, safety and sanity, than anyone living in a mansion. My room had little, because I didn't have much money, but the few things I did have, all welcomed me and made feel blessed when I entered it.
Notice how the title for today is "Nest of Comforts"....it's plural...did you notice that? Your home has so many things to offer you, so many ways that it is there supporting you that you may not even have noticed - I think that is what's called 'taking something for granted'. I think it must be noticed how much our homes offer to us in comfort, protection, warmth, dryness, safety - no end to this list.
The important thing is to:
1. love your home and accept its shelter as a blessing
2. express your gratitude that you are there within its walls, rather than homeless
3. nurture and care for it as an act of love to yourself and anyone who shares it
4. look for ways to express yourself in the space around you
5. be willing to invest some money in your home
An aquaintance of mine was always furious everytime she came to my house and saw I had any new little trinket. I would explain, 'but it only cost $5 on sale'. And she would angrily reply "I don't have $5!" Well....maybe if she wasn't smoking 2 packs a day, she would...but it was easier for her to play the victim while poo-pooing my efforts. This is not a putdown if you are addicted to cigarrettes, only a wake-up call to realize that you may really have extra cash, but are perpetually spending it in other areas.
Our minister once told the story of the grade school teacher who instructed her students to draw a picture of something that represented peace to them. One drew a blue sky with flowers and butterflies, another happy smiley faces, but when the teacher came to one little boy's drawing she was not pleased - he apparently had not been paying attention when she gave the instructions. The picture was a scene of dark clouds and rain pouring down, lightening crashing. When the teacher asked what the meaning of this was, the little boy pointed to the bottom of the picture. While outside the rain and wind howled, tucked away from it all, deep in an old log was a little rabbit, snuggled into the nest it had created for itself. Real peace is to feel peace IN THE STORM, not just when times are good. Create your home as your oasis, and when the world beats you up, you will find a haven to retreat into and the love you created it with will surround you there.
The time and money you invest in your home, will offer you a kind shoulder to rest against when you retreat from the harshness of the world and a warm delight to all who enter as your friend. The small details you add will bring a smile to your weary spirit.
We often think "if only I could create a better world"....well, you can! It is your world you live in inside your own home!
MAY 22 ~ The Home of Your Dreams
"If I were asked to name the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters daydreaming." (Gaston Bachelard)
We all have a need and desire to have a home that embraces, nurtures, sustains and inspires us. It doesn't matter if 10 people or one live under a roof - it is a 'home', and the occupant/s of it look to it for the same comfort to their spirit.
Have you ever been away for a long time?....maybe it was a vacation, maybe someone was ill and you were at the hospital for 3 days, or maybe you were on a business trip....as you made your way back to your home, automatically finding all the old paths without even thinking about it, when your home came into view....did you feel it? Did you feel that jump in your spirit at the sight of your home? And when you entered the door and set down your bags, did you breath a grand 'ahhhhh'? When you laid in your own bed, did a little smile cross your face as you crawled in?
Emily Dickinson said, "I dwell in possibility". I think she meant that in her life and home she would continue to have the new thoughts and new chances to express what she felt inside. What may not be possible today....might just be tomorrow. The home of your dreams is the home in which you dream your dreams. Oh my! It just reminded me of one of my favorite songs....I've shared it before, but I think there are new people since I mentioned it before. Here is the link to it:
Sue�a / Dream
MAY 23 ~ Nurturing Your Authentic Flair
Any of you ladies doing "The Illustrated Discovery Journal" book? Some of you don't know what that is? It is another book by Sarah. It is large and has a large spiral ring built into the inside of the cover, so the pages will lie flat. There is writing in the book, so it is not just empty pages. She explains what the book is about and gives guidance. The objective of it is that as you are looking thru magazines and brochures, etc, you will leaf thru them, but on occassion stop and find yourself staring at one thing in particular. You are to cut out all the things you find yourself stopping to enjoy and make collages of them in this book. It can be fasion, jewelery, decoration, nature - doesn't matter. It is whatever talks to you and makes you think "mmmmmmm" when you see it. You are not bound by the way things are, like I am short, so I can't wear that, or my kitchen is small, so i could never decorate it like that". Instead, you are to just concentrate on what you really love, and when you get your collages in this special book, every page you turn and every thing your eyes land on, will be nothing but things that gave you pleasure when you saw them.
I have 6 pages completed in mine, and confess that I have cut 99% from the sales brochures I get with the newspaper! Pictures of rugs, fireplaces, candles, perfume, paintings, food, flowers, people doing things - all wonderful to sit and contemplate.
This is a great method to discover things about your likes and dislikes. So many times what we truly like inside is hidden by the knowledge of 'this is the way it is, so no need to look at that', and we begin to lose track of our authentic likes and dislikes. Start cutting things out that you see and enjoy, learn from the things you see that you didn't realize how much you even liked, but caught yourself staring at and daydreaming about.
If you don't have the money to buy this book, or are anxious about glue sticking something in it, cut out a few things from the adds and glue them to a piece of white paper, so you can get used to how it works. You can cover the whole page till no paper shows, or just put things around as you arrange them - it's up to you!
We often don't have the money to rush right out and start redoing things, so view this time of waiting as the opportunity to discover yourself as you cut out the things that expresses what beauty is to you!
Read May days 24-31
*In order to understand the full context of these reflections, you will enjoy your own copy of the Sarah Ban Breathnach book:
"Simple Abundance ~ A Daybook of Comfort and joy"
Sarah's Website ~ ENJOY!: www.simpleabundance.com
Uploaded June 15, 2001
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-COPYRIGHT 2001
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page
MAY 15 ~ Progress, not perfection
Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order" (Anne Wilson Schaef)
"How much of our lives is frittered away=spoiled, spent, or sullied-by our neurotic insistence on perfection?" - Do you spend so much time trying to do something the perfect way, that you never get anything done? In doing that one perfect thing, which incidently, you were never satified with, did you eat up all your time to where you were left in a pinch because of all the other things that you didn't get time to do? I'm not saying to not take any care and just slop thru something...but, I think where perfectionism really hurts us the most, is when we are so fixated on 'doing it perfectly' that we are paralyzed and can't move on it. Cleaning jobs that we could have been pecking away on a little at a time, but we were going to wait until we had the time to do it 'right'....still waiting. The quilt material that never got cut, because as long as it wasn't cut yet, it wasn't ruined yet. The exercise we were going to start as soon as we got everything else perfect.
What about the bedroom that we were planning to completely empty and clean from the ground up (it's that bad off)....but that is going to take a major time slot, and we haven't had one yet. What if we just picked up the clothes?...hanging the ones that got rehung and putting in the hamper the dirty ones. What if we just went thru that stack of paper/magazines/weird stuff by your bed every week, before it grew big enough to need its own day to 'do it right'?
Stop being afraid of ever making a mistake. The only ones that never make mistakes are those who never DO anything! Is that what you want written on your tombstone? She never did anything? Not being willing to take those steps and do your own personal best, is what is truly not perfect. It is to think on yourself so hard, that no one else and nothing else matters more than if others think you are perfect or not. To let your life and opportunities and nurturing of your home/family 'sit in lay-away' until you have the time to do it 'right', is the biggest failure you will ever achieve. The very act of waiting to be perfect is imperfection in thinking and living.
What if all the things we keep putting off and wondering why we aren't doing them....is really because we are afraid we won't get it right? What if we do it and it's not perfect, but we have fun and that is what we and everyone else remembers? The next time you find yourself wondering what is wrong with you and why you can't just start doing something, ask yourself, "is the fear of failing to do it perfectly lurking behind my immobility?" If you find it is - do it! Doing your best and living your life of joy _IS_ true perfection!
MAY 16
"Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful." (Wiliam Morris)
"...to use the Morris rule - ridding ourselves of anything we do not believe to be beautiful or useful - as we restore order to our homes and simplify our lives." Some people have no problems in this area, and will scratch their heads and wonder what in the world I'm talking about, on the other hand, there are some who will know:
This is very hard.....we don't like to think of ourselves like this We like to think of ourselves as that perfect guardian of information and useful products that can be whipped out at a moment's notice, amazing our friends and family at how bright we are, because we are the only ones that still have 'this'.....but...something went wrong. We can't use some of our furniture, because things are stacked there, in the way. We have to either move them or too many times 'skip it'. These things here would be in that closet...if I could reach the closet. We would eat dinner on the dining room table...if it weren't stacked up with strange stuff. Ladies? Did we mean to do this? To become a recycling center instead of a home? If we find ourselves in this position, then true, we are amazing our families and friends, but not by them thinking how clever we are.
Last night as I continued to reposition things into my kitchen that I had removed to mop....I found myself staring at boxes, empty boxes. I saw how wonderful, strong, sturdy they were, and knew they were 'valuable'. I then thought of how these valuable boxes were still here after 2 years, stacked here waiting for some 'perfect' thing to mail - then I'd be ready for that occasion! Unfortunately, having them stacked here for 2 years, meant I wasn't ready for THIS important occassion...you know, the one where you look at your kitchen everyday? Instead, I had been stacking, dusting, moving, restacking these things, and living with the stack of junk, when I could have been looking at a clear area that didn't fall over everytime I walked past it! Thinking of the time, effort and frustration these boxes had cost me, ruthlessly, I tore and flattened 3 and took them to the garbage....came back in and looked at 3 others and knew they had been 'saved' too long....what I wanted to do now was save my kitchen!
I'm not saying never to save anything for reuse....but there comes a point where you are going to have to decide that there is only so many you really need to 'be ready'. Ever once in a while, I notice things are getting too tight in my cubboards...yes, there they are again. A stash of TOO MANY jars, butter bowls, plastic lids. And I have to remind myself that 1 or 2 in each size is quite enough, I don't need 10 jars or butter bowls. You are not saving any money by having 25 butter bowls in your closet! And if you are wrong about that, then you will just have to get a box/jar/lid somewhere else for free instead of living with all this junk spilling around you indefinitely! -That would not be a disaster!
Look thru your homes, is it giving you beauty, use? or grief and depression from stacks of stuff that block your ability to clean it, and weariness from being surrounded by junkiness? Time to really look and see if the 'stuff' you have been guarding is really beautiful or useful.....or just stacked up, put off decisions.
MAY 17 Ritual of Restoration
"In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too moch of it. And they mst have a sense of success in it." (John Ruskin)
Today's reading deals with junk drawers, and cleaning them out one by one. It's a good idea, but before we go any further...I think we may need to know what caused the junk drawers. You know what they say, "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it!" There are some bonafide drawers that just need to be straightened, like the one that holds my screwdriver set, small hammer, small nails, picture hangers, -my things that are separate from the tool box - it's ok.
The ones that we need to worry about started out as space for other things, and include not just drawers, but closets, bags and boxes. These are not just storage boxes of old clothes, or purses. You can spot a bonafide junk 'container' immediately by the 'mixed-item' insides, which shout, "look!, all this junk is dumped here because no one dealt with it"! When we put off cleaning too long, we may one day fling it all in a bag and take it to the closet, or dump it in a drawer. It is a bonafide quick-fix for last minute calls from people who are dropping over...BUT... The problem comes when we don't make it back to clear it up within a day or 2 after company. It is the same problem we had that let it all accumulate to begin with - procrastination. At one time in my life, I honed procrastination to a fine skill. I once cut out an article about procrastination, hoping to learn more about how to solve it....and if I ever see it again, I will make a point to read it!
The bottom line here is just that "if you don't do it when you think about it, you are not going to do it when you are NOT thinking about it!" Consider this and let the fullness come to you. A little voice says, "don't forget to return your keys to your purse", you think "I'll do it in a few minutes". Later you leave the house, lock the door behind you and ...uh, oh, the keys are inside on the kitchen table. The thing is, the ONLY opportunity you have to do something is when you are thinking about it, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it when you are not! If you look at the things around you and let your eyes glaze over, thinking "I can always do it later" - you will wake up one day with your home full of junk drawers, bags, boxes and closets that you can't even use. Look sharp, think fast, and when the thought comes into your head, don't send it away with "later".
The first step is to go out of your way to STOP loading things quickly for hiding. Otherwise, you will continue to build the junk piles until you need 'professional help' to help clean and to save your sanity! And slowly, you will have to face those things you've hidden all this time...don't worry, I will be working right beside you on my 'archives' of boxes/drawers/closets!
MAY 18
Today's reading is rather short and to the point. The point being that 'lack of focus' can hinder us from ever following thru in keeping our homes in order. I think lack of focus and procrastination go hand in hand, as one reason to continually put off doing something is because you can't focus in on the reason or steps behind it. True, some things are just a matter of 'doing it' - like turn off the burner when you remove a pot or empty it. Others, like "clean the house" can be a multi-step procedure that leave one feeling dazed with no clear-cut plan of action.
The secret to solving this problem is to break any big job down into steps, and check off each step as you complete it. Like, instead of 'clean kitchen', it would be:
1. clear table
2. load dishwasher (if you have one) and wash hand washables
3. wipe off stove
4. wipe kitchen counters
Other things may apply in your particular instance, like you know if someone spilled a plate of crumbs you are going to need to sweep it up, -but above are the basics everyone is going to have to do. When you are thru for the night, leave your kitchen sink clean and ready for the morning to start.
So, the thing to remember is to not let the things swirl around in your head like "where do I start???" But, to look at the area that needs cleaning, and break apart the things that need to be done on a list, and then check them off as you go. You will be amazed at how simple it is when broken down, and how good you feel when you begin to check the things off!
If we simplify the steps of the things we are doing, we will be able to create order more successfully. The reward will be less time looking for things, less mess around us and less stress. Simplifying your routines will make for a more simple lifestyle - things will be getting done instead of 'getting your down'! And you remember what we've already said? - If it ain't beautiful or useful - get rid of it! Simplifying your closets/drawers/and living area by getting rid of those things you don't really want, will simplify your cleaning and homelife. Don't allow your home to be a 'storage' area for things that you don't want but don't know what to do with, -either hold a yard sale or give them away and set yourself free from being their 'curator'.
MAY 19 ~ ORDER WITHIN
"What a gift of grace to be able to take the chaos from within and from it create some semblance of order." (Katherine Paterson)
We've heard it said that as it is within, so it is without. There is no doubt that you can find people with cluttered homes and cluttered minds and they will often be the same people. No one can say which way it happened, and I imagine it is different for everyone, whether they lost grip of the home first and their sanity quickly began to follow the decline, or whether they had a bad outlook to begin with, and it wasn't long before it was reflected in their homes.
I can only tell you this, to return to a peaceful home and peaceful mind, you must reconcile with your own heart and mind. You have heard that we should all be investing in our futures? How does an investment work? It works when you look for a 'product' that you see potential in and decide to contribute to, in the belief that it will flourish and you will benefit from it. You are the product that you are investing in and putting the time and effort into, believing that you will ultimately benefit. If you sponsored a woodcrafter, you would look for one that made his handmade product carefully, and when it was assembled, used only the finest methods and oils to rub into the wood and bring out its beauty. Likewise, you will use your abilities in your home-crafting, but if you will be the successful investment you hope, you must not neglect the step that brings out your beauty to create the finished product. The extra time you put into yourself during reflection, prayer, contemplation, journaling, music that speaks to you, enjoying the beauty around you and expressing your gratitude - are all the precious oils that will make you shine. Investing time in yourself is protecting your investment and assuring a 'return'!
MAY 20 ~ Art of Puttering
"Puttering is really a time to be alone, to dream and to get in touch with yourself...To putter is to discover". (Alexandra Stofddard)
Puttering is not the work itself. It is more like 'choices' of what delights you. It is a little hard to 'putter' when you stumble over something everytime you enter your bedroom, or have to ease your way past an area where things have accumulated. But once you begin to actively participate in homecrafting, you will find that there are little things you now have time to enjoy contemplating. Things that are just a matter of which way does it make you feel the best, like this or like that? The same way men have been known to go to the garage and just mess around with their tools, doing nothing in particular, this 'puttering' is open to the homecrafter to enjoy also.
It's about enjoying the little comforts your home has to offer, as well as the big things. It is a relaxing form of creativity. Sure we know what it is like to enjoy the bed and bathtub! But, our home is riddled with little comfort possibilities, and we are not always up to heavier efforts every day. Sometimes it is nice to have an easy day and just look at the small things we can do to make our homes more 'cozy'. Like putting the conch shell on my bathroom floor. The plate of shells on my living room table. Yes, these rooms would be structurally the same without those items, but when I see these small additions, it is like a welcome to my spirit, reflecting back to me the things my inner woman enjoys. Give yourself 'small days' to just look around and see what little touches will bring your personality out in your home and make you feel more centered. Learn to putter! :)
MAY 21 ~ A Nest of Comforts
"Ah! There's nothing like staying home for real comfort." (Jane Austen)
Do you feel like this? Or do you harbor resentment when in your home? I know of people who were actually angry when in their own homes, resenting the fact that they were surrounded by items that were not all brand new -no kidding! If a home were to be only a collection of the newest things, it would still only feel like you were standing inside a furniture display at the store, if you had no love for your own space.
I can recall a time when I lived in a bedroom that rented for $7 a week and bathroom on the floor for all. You know what? I was just as at home in my little room, tucked away and feeling safe, with the love for my privacy, safety and sanity, than anyone living in a mansion. My room had little, because I didn't have much money, but the few things I did have, all welcomed me and made feel blessed when I entered it.
Notice how the title for today is "Nest of Comforts"....it's plural...did you notice that? Your home has so many things to offer you, so many ways that it is there supporting you that you may not even have noticed - I think that is what's called 'taking something for granted'. I think it must be noticed how much our homes offer to us in comfort, protection, warmth, dryness, safety - no end to this list.
The important thing is to:
1. love your home and accept its shelter as a blessing
2. express your gratitude that you are there within its walls, rather than homeless
3. nurture and care for it as an act of love to yourself and anyone who shares it
4. look for ways to express yourself in the space around you
5. be willing to invest some money in your home
An aquaintance of mine was always furious everytime she came to my house and saw I had any new little trinket. I would explain, 'but it only cost $5 on sale'. And she would angrily reply "I don't have $5!" Well....maybe if she wasn't smoking 2 packs a day, she would...but it was easier for her to play the victim while poo-pooing my efforts. This is not a putdown if you are addicted to cigarrettes, only a wake-up call to realize that you may really have extra cash, but are perpetually spending it in other areas.
Our minister once told the story of the grade school teacher who instructed her students to draw a picture of something that represented peace to them. One drew a blue sky with flowers and butterflies, another happy smiley faces, but when the teacher came to one little boy's drawing she was not pleased - he apparently had not been paying attention when she gave the instructions. The picture was a scene of dark clouds and rain pouring down, lightening crashing. When the teacher asked what the meaning of this was, the little boy pointed to the bottom of the picture. While outside the rain and wind howled, tucked away from it all, deep in an old log was a little rabbit, snuggled into the nest it had created for itself. Real peace is to feel peace IN THE STORM, not just when times are good. Create your home as your oasis, and when the world beats you up, you will find a haven to retreat into and the love you created it with will surround you there.
The time and money you invest in your home, will offer you a kind shoulder to rest against when you retreat from the harshness of the world and a warm delight to all who enter as your friend. The small details you add will bring a smile to your weary spirit.
We often think "if only I could create a better world"....well, you can! It is your world you live in inside your own home!
MAY 22 ~ The Home of Your Dreams
"If I were asked to name the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters daydreaming." (Gaston Bachelard)
We all have a need and desire to have a home that embraces, nurtures, sustains and inspires us. It doesn't matter if 10 people or one live under a roof - it is a 'home', and the occupant/s of it look to it for the same comfort to their spirit.
Have you ever been away for a long time?....maybe it was a vacation, maybe someone was ill and you were at the hospital for 3 days, or maybe you were on a business trip....as you made your way back to your home, automatically finding all the old paths without even thinking about it, when your home came into view....did you feel it? Did you feel that jump in your spirit at the sight of your home? And when you entered the door and set down your bags, did you breath a grand 'ahhhhh'? When you laid in your own bed, did a little smile cross your face as you crawled in?
Emily Dickinson said, "I dwell in possibility". I think she meant that in her life and home she would continue to have the new thoughts and new chances to express what she felt inside. What may not be possible today....might just be tomorrow. The home of your dreams is the home in which you dream your dreams. Oh my! It just reminded me of one of my favorite songs....I've shared it before, but I think there are new people since I mentioned it before. Here is the link to it:
Sue�a / Dream
MAY 23 ~ Nurturing Your Authentic Flair
Any of you ladies doing "The Illustrated Discovery Journal" book? Some of you don't know what that is? It is another book by Sarah. It is large and has a large spiral ring built into the inside of the cover, so the pages will lie flat. There is writing in the book, so it is not just empty pages. She explains what the book is about and gives guidance. The objective of it is that as you are looking thru magazines and brochures, etc, you will leaf thru them, but on occassion stop and find yourself staring at one thing in particular. You are to cut out all the things you find yourself stopping to enjoy and make collages of them in this book. It can be fasion, jewelery, decoration, nature - doesn't matter. It is whatever talks to you and makes you think "mmmmmmm" when you see it. You are not bound by the way things are, like I am short, so I can't wear that, or my kitchen is small, so i could never decorate it like that". Instead, you are to just concentrate on what you really love, and when you get your collages in this special book, every page you turn and every thing your eyes land on, will be nothing but things that gave you pleasure when you saw them.
I have 6 pages completed in mine, and confess that I have cut 99% from the sales brochures I get with the newspaper! Pictures of rugs, fireplaces, candles, perfume, paintings, food, flowers, people doing things - all wonderful to sit and contemplate.
This is a great method to discover things about your likes and dislikes. So many times what we truly like inside is hidden by the knowledge of 'this is the way it is, so no need to look at that', and we begin to lose track of our authentic likes and dislikes. Start cutting things out that you see and enjoy, learn from the things you see that you didn't realize how much you even liked, but caught yourself staring at and daydreaming about.
If you don't have the money to buy this book, or are anxious about glue sticking something in it, cut out a few things from the adds and glue them to a piece of white paper, so you can get used to how it works. You can cover the whole page till no paper shows, or just put things around as you arrange them - it's up to you!
We often don't have the money to rush right out and start redoing things, so view this time of waiting as the opportunity to discover yourself as you cut out the things that expresses what beauty is to you!
Read May days 24-31
*In order to understand the full context of these reflections, you will enjoy your own copy of the Sarah Ban Breathnach book:
"Simple Abundance ~ A Daybook of Comfort and joy"
Sarah's Website ~ ENJOY!: www.simpleabundance.com
Uploaded June 15, 2001
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-COPYRIGHT 2001
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page
Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order" (Anne Wilson Schaef)
"How much of our lives is frittered away=spoiled, spent, or sullied-by our neurotic insistence on perfection?" - Do you spend so much time trying to do something the perfect way, that you never get anything done? In doing that one perfect thing, which incidently, you were never satified with, did you eat up all your time to where you were left in a pinch because of all the other things that you didn't get time to do? I'm not saying to not take any care and just slop thru something...but, I think where perfectionism really hurts us the most, is when we are so fixated on 'doing it perfectly' that we are paralyzed and can't move on it. Cleaning jobs that we could have been pecking away on a little at a time, but we were going to wait until we had the time to do it 'right'....still waiting. The quilt material that never got cut, because as long as it wasn't cut yet, it wasn't ruined yet. The exercise we were going to start as soon as we got everything else perfect.
What about the bedroom that we were planning to completely empty and clean from the ground up (it's that bad off)....but that is going to take a major time slot, and we haven't had one yet. What if we just picked up the clothes?...hanging the ones that got rehung and putting in the hamper the dirty ones. What if we just went thru that stack of paper/magazines/weird stuff by your bed every week, before it grew big enough to need its own day to 'do it right'?
Stop being afraid of ever making a mistake. The only ones that never make mistakes are those who never DO anything! Is that what you want written on your tombstone? She never did anything? Not being willing to take those steps and do your own personal best, is what is truly not perfect. It is to think on yourself so hard, that no one else and nothing else matters more than if others think you are perfect or not. To let your life and opportunities and nurturing of your home/family 'sit in lay-away' until you have the time to do it 'right', is the biggest failure you will ever achieve. The very act of waiting to be perfect is imperfection in thinking and living.
What if all the things we keep putting off and wondering why we aren't doing them....is really because we are afraid we won't get it right? What if we do it and it's not perfect, but we have fun and that is what we and everyone else remembers? The next time you find yourself wondering what is wrong with you and why you can't just start doing something, ask yourself, "is the fear of failing to do it perfectly lurking behind my immobility?" If you find it is - do it! Doing your best and living your life of joy _IS_ true perfection!
MAY 16 "Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful." (Wiliam Morris)
"...to use the Morris rule - ridding ourselves of anything we do not believe to be beautiful or useful - as we restore order to our homes and simplify our lives." Some people have no problems in this area, and will scratch their heads and wonder what in the world I'm talking about, on the other hand, there are some who will know:
This is very hard.....we don't like to think of ourselves like this We like to think of ourselves as that perfect guardian of information and useful products that can be whipped out at a moment's notice, amazing our friends and family at how bright we are, because we are the only ones that still have 'this'.....but...something went wrong. We can't use some of our furniture, because things are stacked there, in the way. We have to either move them or too many times 'skip it'. These things here would be in that closet...if I could reach the closet. We would eat dinner on the dining room table...if it weren't stacked up with strange stuff. Ladies? Did we mean to do this? To become a recycling center instead of a home? If we find ourselves in this position, then true, we are amazing our families and friends, but not by them thinking how clever we are.
Last night as I continued to reposition things into my kitchen that I had removed to mop....I found myself staring at boxes, empty boxes. I saw how wonderful, strong, sturdy they were, and knew they were 'valuable'. I then thought of how these valuable boxes were still here after 2 years, stacked here waiting for some 'perfect' thing to mail - then I'd be ready for that occasion! Unfortunately, having them stacked here for 2 years, meant I wasn't ready for THIS important occassion...you know, the one where you look at your kitchen everyday? Instead, I had been stacking, dusting, moving, restacking these things, and living with the stack of junk, when I could have been looking at a clear area that didn't fall over everytime I walked past it! Thinking of the time, effort and frustration these boxes had cost me, ruthlessly, I tore and flattened 3 and took them to the garbage....came back in and looked at 3 others and knew they had been 'saved' too long....what I wanted to do now was save my kitchen!
I'm not saying never to save anything for reuse....but there comes a point where you are going to have to decide that there is only so many you really need to 'be ready'. Ever once in a while, I notice things are getting too tight in my cubboards...yes, there they are again. A stash of TOO MANY jars, butter bowls, plastic lids. And I have to remind myself that 1 or 2 in each size is quite enough, I don't need 10 jars or butter bowls. You are not saving any money by having 25 butter bowls in your closet! And if you are wrong about that, then you will just have to get a box/jar/lid somewhere else for free instead of living with all this junk spilling around you indefinitely! -That would not be a disaster!
Look thru your homes, is it giving you beauty, use? or grief and depression from stacks of stuff that block your ability to clean it, and weariness from being surrounded by junkiness? Time to really look and see if the 'stuff' you have been guarding is really beautiful or useful.....or just stacked up, put off decisions.
MAY 17 Ritual of Restoration
"In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too moch of it. And they mst have a sense of success in it." (John Ruskin)
Today's reading deals with junk drawers, and cleaning them out one by one. It's a good idea, but before we go any further...I think we may need to know what caused the junk drawers. You know what they say, "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it!" There are some bonafide drawers that just need to be straightened, like the one that holds my screwdriver set, small hammer, small nails, picture hangers, -my things that are separate from the tool box - it's ok.
The ones that we need to worry about started out as space for other things, and include not just drawers, but closets, bags and boxes. These are not just storage boxes of old clothes, or purses. You can spot a bonafide junk 'container' immediately by the 'mixed-item' insides, which shout, "look!, all this junk is dumped here because no one dealt with it"! When we put off cleaning too long, we may one day fling it all in a bag and take it to the closet, or dump it in a drawer. It is a bonafide quick-fix for last minute calls from people who are dropping over...BUT... The problem comes when we don't make it back to clear it up within a day or 2 after company. It is the same problem we had that let it all accumulate to begin with - procrastination. At one time in my life, I honed procrastination to a fine skill. I once cut out an article about procrastination, hoping to learn more about how to solve it....and if I ever see it again, I will make a point to read it!
The bottom line here is just that "if you don't do it when you think about it, you are not going to do it when you are NOT thinking about it!" Consider this and let the fullness come to you. A little voice says, "don't forget to return your keys to your purse", you think "I'll do it in a few minutes". Later you leave the house, lock the door behind you and ...uh, oh, the keys are inside on the kitchen table. The thing is, the ONLY opportunity you have to do something is when you are thinking about it, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it when you are not! If you look at the things around you and let your eyes glaze over, thinking "I can always do it later" - you will wake up one day with your home full of junk drawers, bags, boxes and closets that you can't even use. Look sharp, think fast, and when the thought comes into your head, don't send it away with "later".
The first step is to go out of your way to STOP loading things quickly for hiding. Otherwise, you will continue to build the junk piles until you need 'professional help' to help clean and to save your sanity! And slowly, you will have to face those things you've hidden all this time...don't worry, I will be working right beside you on my 'archives' of boxes/drawers/closets!
MAY 18
Today's reading is rather short and to the point. The point being that 'lack of focus' can hinder us from ever following thru in keeping our homes in order. I think lack of focus and procrastination go hand in hand, as one reason to continually put off doing something is because you can't focus in on the reason or steps behind it. True, some things are just a matter of 'doing it' - like turn off the burner when you remove a pot or empty it. Others, like "clean the house" can be a multi-step procedure that leave one feeling dazed with no clear-cut plan of action.
The secret to solving this problem is to break any big job down into steps, and check off each step as you complete it. Like, instead of 'clean kitchen', it would be:
1. clear table
2. load dishwasher (if you have one) and wash hand washables
3. wipe off stove
4. wipe kitchen counters
Other things may apply in your particular instance, like you know if someone spilled a plate of crumbs you are going to need to sweep it up, -but above are the basics everyone is going to have to do. When you are thru for the night, leave your kitchen sink clean and ready for the morning to start.
So, the thing to remember is to not let the things swirl around in your head like "where do I start???" But, to look at the area that needs cleaning, and break apart the things that need to be done on a list, and then check them off as you go. You will be amazed at how simple it is when broken down, and how good you feel when you begin to check the things off!
If we simplify the steps of the things we are doing, we will be able to create order more successfully. The reward will be less time looking for things, less mess around us and less stress. Simplifying your routines will make for a more simple lifestyle - things will be getting done instead of 'getting your down'! And you remember what we've already said? - If it ain't beautiful or useful - get rid of it! Simplifying your closets/drawers/and living area by getting rid of those things you don't really want, will simplify your cleaning and homelife. Don't allow your home to be a 'storage' area for things that you don't want but don't know what to do with, -either hold a yard sale or give them away and set yourself free from being their 'curator'.
MAY 19 ~ ORDER WITHIN
"What a gift of grace to be able to take the chaos from within and from it create some semblance of order." (Katherine Paterson)
We've heard it said that as it is within, so it is without. There is no doubt that you can find people with cluttered homes and cluttered minds and they will often be the same people. No one can say which way it happened, and I imagine it is different for everyone, whether they lost grip of the home first and their sanity quickly began to follow the decline, or whether they had a bad outlook to begin with, and it wasn't long before it was reflected in their homes.
I can only tell you this, to return to a peaceful home and peaceful mind, you must reconcile with your own heart and mind. You have heard that we should all be investing in our futures? How does an investment work? It works when you look for a 'product' that you see potential in and decide to contribute to, in the belief that it will flourish and you will benefit from it. You are the product that you are investing in and putting the time and effort into, believing that you will ultimately benefit. If you sponsored a woodcrafter, you would look for one that made his handmade product carefully, and when it was assembled, used only the finest methods and oils to rub into the wood and bring out its beauty. Likewise, you will use your abilities in your home-crafting, but if you will be the successful investment you hope, you must not neglect the step that brings out your beauty to create the finished product. The extra time you put into yourself during reflection, prayer, contemplation, journaling, music that speaks to you, enjoying the beauty around you and expressing your gratitude - are all the precious oils that will make you shine. Investing time in yourself is protecting your investment and assuring a 'return'!
MAY 20 ~ Art of Puttering
"Puttering is really a time to be alone, to dream and to get in touch with yourself...To putter is to discover". (Alexandra Stofddard)
Puttering is not the work itself. It is more like 'choices' of what delights you. It is a little hard to 'putter' when you stumble over something everytime you enter your bedroom, or have to ease your way past an area where things have accumulated. But once you begin to actively participate in homecrafting, you will find that there are little things you now have time to enjoy contemplating. Things that are just a matter of which way does it make you feel the best, like this or like that? The same way men have been known to go to the garage and just mess around with their tools, doing nothing in particular, this 'puttering' is open to the homecrafter to enjoy also.
It's about enjoying the little comforts your home has to offer, as well as the big things. It is a relaxing form of creativity. Sure we know what it is like to enjoy the bed and bathtub! But, our home is riddled with little comfort possibilities, and we are not always up to heavier efforts every day. Sometimes it is nice to have an easy day and just look at the small things we can do to make our homes more 'cozy'. Like putting the conch shell on my bathroom floor. The plate of shells on my living room table. Yes, these rooms would be structurally the same without those items, but when I see these small additions, it is like a welcome to my spirit, reflecting back to me the things my inner woman enjoys. Give yourself 'small days' to just look around and see what little touches will bring your personality out in your home and make you feel more centered. Learn to putter! :)
MAY 21 ~ A Nest of Comforts
"Ah! There's nothing like staying home for real comfort." (Jane Austen)
Do you feel like this? Or do you harbor resentment when in your home? I know of people who were actually angry when in their own homes, resenting the fact that they were surrounded by items that were not all brand new -no kidding! If a home were to be only a collection of the newest things, it would still only feel like you were standing inside a furniture display at the store, if you had no love for your own space.
I can recall a time when I lived in a bedroom that rented for $7 a week and bathroom on the floor for all. You know what? I was just as at home in my little room, tucked away and feeling safe, with the love for my privacy, safety and sanity, than anyone living in a mansion. My room had little, because I didn't have much money, but the few things I did have, all welcomed me and made feel blessed when I entered it.
Notice how the title for today is "Nest of Comforts"....it's plural...did you notice that? Your home has so many things to offer you, so many ways that it is there supporting you that you may not even have noticed - I think that is what's called 'taking something for granted'. I think it must be noticed how much our homes offer to us in comfort, protection, warmth, dryness, safety - no end to this list.
The important thing is to:
1. love your home and accept its shelter as a blessing
2. express your gratitude that you are there within its walls, rather than homeless
3. nurture and care for it as an act of love to yourself and anyone who shares it
4. look for ways to express yourself in the space around you
5. be willing to invest some money in your home
An aquaintance of mine was always furious everytime she came to my house and saw I had any new little trinket. I would explain, 'but it only cost $5 on sale'. And she would angrily reply "I don't have $5!" Well....maybe if she wasn't smoking 2 packs a day, she would...but it was easier for her to play the victim while poo-pooing my efforts. This is not a putdown if you are addicted to cigarrettes, only a wake-up call to realize that you may really have extra cash, but are perpetually spending it in other areas.
Our minister once told the story of the grade school teacher who instructed her students to draw a picture of something that represented peace to them. One drew a blue sky with flowers and butterflies, another happy smiley faces, but when the teacher came to one little boy's drawing she was not pleased - he apparently had not been paying attention when she gave the instructions. The picture was a scene of dark clouds and rain pouring down, lightening crashing. When the teacher asked what the meaning of this was, the little boy pointed to the bottom of the picture. While outside the rain and wind howled, tucked away from it all, deep in an old log was a little rabbit, snuggled into the nest it had created for itself. Real peace is to feel peace IN THE STORM, not just when times are good. Create your home as your oasis, and when the world beats you up, you will find a haven to retreat into and the love you created it with will surround you there. The time and money you invest in your home, will offer you a kind shoulder to rest against when you retreat from the harshness of the world and a warm delight to all who enter as your friend. The small details you add will bring a smile to your weary spirit.
We often think "if only I could create a better world"....well, you can! It is your world you live in inside your own home!
MAY 22 ~ The Home of Your Dreams
"If I were asked to name the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters daydreaming." (Gaston Bachelard)
We all have a need and desire to have a home that embraces, nurtures, sustains and inspires us. It doesn't matter if 10 people or one live under a roof - it is a 'home', and the occupant/s of it look to it for the same comfort to their spirit.
Have you ever been away for a long time?....maybe it was a vacation, maybe someone was ill and you were at the hospital for 3 days, or maybe you were on a business trip....as you made your way back to your home, automatically finding all the old paths without even thinking about it, when your home came into view....did you feel it? Did you feel that jump in your spirit at the sight of your home? And when you entered the door and set down your bags, did you breath a grand 'ahhhhh'? When you laid in your own bed, did a little smile cross your face as you crawled in?
Emily Dickinson said, "I dwell in possibility". I think she meant that in her life and home she would continue to have the new thoughts and new chances to express what she felt inside. What may not be possible today....might just be tomorrow. The home of your dreams is the home in which you dream your dreams. Oh my! It just reminded me of one of my favorite songs....I've shared it before, but I think there are new people since I mentioned it before. Here is the link to it: Sue�a / Dream
MAY 23 ~ Nurturing Your Authentic Flair
Any of you ladies doing "The Illustrated Discovery Journal" book? Some of you don't know what that is? It is another book by Sarah. It is large and has a large spiral ring built into the inside of the cover, so the pages will lie flat. There is writing in the book, so it is not just empty pages. She explains what the book is about and gives guidance. The objective of it is that as you are looking thru magazines and brochures, etc, you will leaf thru them, but on occassion stop and find yourself staring at one thing in particular. You are to cut out all the things you find yourself stopping to enjoy and make collages of them in this book. It can be fasion, jewelery, decoration, nature - doesn't matter. It is whatever talks to you and makes you think "mmmmmmm" when you see it. You are not bound by the way things are, like I am short, so I can't wear that, or my kitchen is small, so i could never decorate it like that". Instead, you are to just concentrate on what you really love, and when you get your collages in this special book, every page you turn and every thing your eyes land on, will be nothing but things that gave you pleasure when you saw them.
I have 6 pages completed in mine, and confess that I have cut 99% from the sales brochures I get with the newspaper! Pictures of rugs, fireplaces, candles, perfume, paintings, food, flowers, people doing things - all wonderful to sit and contemplate.
This is a great method to discover things about your likes and dislikes. So many times what we truly like inside is hidden by the knowledge of 'this is the way it is, so no need to look at that', and we begin to lose track of our authentic likes and dislikes. Start cutting things out that you see and enjoy, learn from the things you see that you didn't realize how much you even liked, but caught yourself staring at and daydreaming about.
If you don't have the money to buy this book, or are anxious about glue sticking something in it, cut out a few things from the adds and glue them to a piece of white paper, so you can get used to how it works. You can cover the whole page till no paper shows, or just put things around as you arrange them - it's up to you!
We often don't have the money to rush right out and start redoing things, so view this time of waiting as the opportunity to discover yourself as you cut out the things that expresses what beauty is to you!
Read May days 24-31
*In order to understand the full context of these reflections, you will enjoy your own copy of the Sarah Ban Breathnach book:
"Simple Abundance ~ A Daybook of Comfort and joy"
Sarah's Website ~ ENJOY!: www.simpleabundance.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-COPYRIGHT 2001
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page
