I've been having some really good conversations with people about intentional living lately, and a couple of quotes have really stuck with me. The first was in an e-mail from a friend who had previously taken on a series of month-long challenges to, in her words, "identify what was adding value and what was adding noise".
I love that analogy so, so much because I really think it gets to the heart of the matter. It's so easy (at least for me) to get swept away by the pretty packaging and constant promises of various products that will make my life easier, yadda yadda yadda. But in the end, all of this "stuff" really just complicates things. The more stuff I have, the more stuff I have to keep clean and organized, which adds to my overall stress level and takes time away from other things that I'd rather be doing.
Which leads to the second quote that has given me pause recently (Courtesy of Rebekah)
"There is a line that you cross when the accumulated financial cost of your life adds more stress than reward. "
As Rebekah points out, this concept also applies to stuff.
William Morris once said that a person should "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." I love this quote, and actually have it taped to my computer. One of my long-term goals this year is to simplify. My problem, as I've stated previously, is that I hold on to things because of their sentimental value. I also see the beauty in almost everything. My house is full. I need to work on finding ways to achieve happiness that don't rely upon things.
One of the things I've been thinking about quite a bit during this 30 days of nothing is *how* I want to spend money once I choose to begin spending again. I've decided that I want to become a collector of experiences rather than things. I'm sure that things will be accumulated in the process of gathering my experiences, but they will no longer be the focus.
I happened across this blog today, and have requested the author's book, inspired by her pursuit of happiness, from the library. I'm really looking forward to hearing her perspective on happiness. And I'd love to hear yours as well. What does happiness look like for you?
6 comments:
When I was in (undergrad) college a hundred years ago I was sad and lonely. But I was in an amzing beautiful outdoorsy place and being a spoiled South Cal girl, I wasn't used to thinking about nature so much. Anyhoo, finally I realized that if I could make plants my life's ambition or work, I would always be happy because everywhere you go there they are (well, maybe not the Sahara!). (Yet I think I have kind of lost this a little . . . )
A young guy on a plane once asked me, what motivats you once you're over 30? (Haha, he was fun to talk with!). I said: nature.
That's it lady. :)
Oh! Oh! And mind you I am so not the Quess of Happiness (whoa, this is a pursuit I struggle!) . . . But for indoor times, my biggest thing that keeps me warm and fuzzy is: atmosphere. I am big on warm lamps and strung lights (we have yellow Christmas lights around our living room 365 days a year) and little on blaring overhead lights. Light, good warm light, is always a mood setter. Not to mention low jazz humming in the background.
OK, I admit. Organization and some cleanliness unscatters my neurons big time too making room for happy. :)
Yes, that is happiness for me. Beautiful light and dreamy color.
Quess? No, I am not a Quess nor a Queen! Sorry! I'll shut up now!
Man I do not like this question - why? Because I think I'm in a long transition about happiness. I think I am still working kids into my happiness view - I think because caring for them, particularly as the person who works the job to pay all the bills, makes me actually more serious. Also, though, more serious to get things done toward happiness. It just suddenly seems so much more important to get it right.
Ultimately, I want to live out West. I want to be near National Parks and trails and all that stuff. I want to spend Christmas in Yellowstone. Northern California is the biggest draw. Yet, take a look at the composition of my family - move them to a town where my one (soon two) African child doubles the percentage of African Americans in town?
We'll find a way to make it work for everyone - it's just a more complicated road to happiness.
What made me happy just now? English Toffee from Trader Joe's. Clearly I should have another:)
my kids
work for social justice
intimacy with my husband & friends
sunshine and birds (binoculars)
travel
time to read
deep thinking .... like this
this is NOT my final list - but it's the list from my gut - which makes it real
I know I am in a transition with happiness.
It is a continuing struggle to find balance and to filter out the noise.We have been working on de-cluttering our home and our lives and getting back to the basics- family, friends, community.
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