I am chuckling ruefully about this listicle, and about our tendencies to first, beat ourselves up because we're not the people we think we "should" be, and second, to want this figuring-out of who we are and how to live mindfully and happily and in reciprocation with Sweet Gaia, our amazing planet, to be easy. To be simple, encapsulated in those post-it note aphorisms that become so much clutter (but which also may carry a grain of truth). I'm in the hone-it-down-to-what-matters-most phase of my life, and that is not at all simple, Marie Kondo or no! Blessings and many thanks for being here, Julie.
Thanks for being here, Susan. Glad you enjoyed it. I remember the first time I heard a wise person say happiness is never the goal; happiness is the outcome. I was like, ohhhhhh. . . . I’ve been doing it all wrong! 😉
Too funny, especially the one about the piano--since I've been agonizing for days over whether I should give my Roland keyboard away because we're "simpler-sizing" and I haven't sat down at it for quite awhile. Because of reading this, I'm keeping it! Thanks for the chuckle while we're languishing here in the (heat) bubble!
Delightful list, Julie! The Caravan Write-Ins are such a great resource.
Back in the Dark Ages, when my younger daughter was still in preschool, I rolled up late to her class all flustered because we'd had a terrible morning, and the child had been terrible, and I'd been a terrible mother in response, and the world was even more terrible, of course, because it's always worse than me at my worst, and the wise, wonderful teacher (still a friend today) said, "Ah, yes, there are just so many ways you can ruin the psyche of a small child." She gave me a little smile, and I understood instantly what she meant: Don't take yourself so seriously. Everything right here, right now, is just fine.
LOL!! Preschool teachers are THE BEST. Angels on earth. My son’s preschool and kindergarten teacher had this way of giving you what I would call “bad news,” but in such positive language that I would get confused. Like, did he screw up or not?? Just tell me! 😂
I’m smiling away here too Julie… we, as a family, meaning all hands to the task, are de cluttering, a job we thought might take a day, maybe two if we ventured further than the barn… now it is day three and we are still in the barn and yes there was a piano, and four guitars… donations have been made and we are all smiling! And the miracle of space is appearing….
I’m soothed by picturing our long-neglected piano being used daily for rehearsals at our favorite Boychoir organization (that our son sang in for years). It’s in a better home than ours, but I still miss it. Good luck w/ your decluttering! It’s no fun, but better to dig in now than leave it to your kids.
I am chuckling ruefully about this listicle, and about our tendencies to first, beat ourselves up because we're not the people we think we "should" be, and second, to want this figuring-out of who we are and how to live mindfully and happily and in reciprocation with Sweet Gaia, our amazing planet, to be easy. To be simple, encapsulated in those post-it note aphorisms that become so much clutter (but which also may carry a grain of truth). I'm in the hone-it-down-to-what-matters-most phase of my life, and that is not at all simple, Marie Kondo or no! Blessings and many thanks for being here, Julie.
Thanks for being here, Susan. Glad you enjoyed it. I remember the first time I heard a wise person say happiness is never the goal; happiness is the outcome. I was like, ohhhhhh. . . . I’ve been doing it all wrong! 😉
Hah! True words. Our culture teaches us to chase happiness, but it's about how we live, not what we achieve. :)
Too funny, especially the one about the piano--since I've been agonizing for days over whether I should give my Roland keyboard away because we're "simpler-sizing" and I haven't sat down at it for quite awhile. Because of reading this, I'm keeping it! Thanks for the chuckle while we're languishing here in the (heat) bubble!
I’m so glad! I may invest in a keyboard but I do miss our baby grand. Stay cool!
Would be just funny,
if it weren’t so sad/true!
Left listless by lists?
Love it! Listless by lists . . . . ha!
So happy to see this piece on here...you had the room in stitches Julie!!
Thanks, Paul. It’s a great prompt. 😊
Delightful list, Julie! The Caravan Write-Ins are such a great resource.
Back in the Dark Ages, when my younger daughter was still in preschool, I rolled up late to her class all flustered because we'd had a terrible morning, and the child had been terrible, and I'd been a terrible mother in response, and the world was even more terrible, of course, because it's always worse than me at my worst, and the wise, wonderful teacher (still a friend today) said, "Ah, yes, there are just so many ways you can ruin the psyche of a small child." She gave me a little smile, and I understood instantly what she meant: Don't take yourself so seriously. Everything right here, right now, is just fine.
LOL!! Preschool teachers are THE BEST. Angels on earth. My son’s preschool and kindergarten teacher had this way of giving you what I would call “bad news,” but in such positive language that I would get confused. Like, did he screw up or not?? Just tell me! 😂
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don’t worry,
Be happy - Bobby McFerrin
One of the greats! 🥰
I’m smiling away here too Julie… we, as a family, meaning all hands to the task, are de cluttering, a job we thought might take a day, maybe two if we ventured further than the barn… now it is day three and we are still in the barn and yes there was a piano, and four guitars… donations have been made and we are all smiling! And the miracle of space is appearing….
Happiness in bucketfuls with the dust !
I’m soothed by picturing our long-neglected piano being used daily for rehearsals at our favorite Boychoir organization (that our son sang in for years). It’s in a better home than ours, but I still miss it. Good luck w/ your decluttering! It’s no fun, but better to dig in now than leave it to your kids.
You know my thoughts without me even saying Julie… it is indeed much better. Tomorrow we continue… 💚x
Oh, we could keep going with that list! Funny and sad.
Believe me, there was more, but when I got to that last line, I was like, okay stop! 😂
This is great. So relatable!
A lovely list, Julie.
Thanks, Emily. Glad you enjoyed it. 🧡
Hilarious!
😂😉