When one is trying to explore a more simple life, working in a retail store can be very difficult. Temptation abounds in the form of beautiful stationary, alluring bath products, and very yummy chocolate.
I will freely admit that I am failing miserably at adopting the principles of Simple Living. I like my large book collection and my small collection of useless knick-knacks. I am, however, doing well at not starting other collections, as tempting as those cute little things are. 🙂 I think making my bed every morning is nice, even if it does take time. And, conversely, I just don’t have time to cook a meal from scratch everyday, so I occasionally use convenience foods.
My life is not simple, no matter how hard I work to make it that way. (Maybe that’s why it isn’t simple.) Life is complicated–full of emotions and temptations (I swear I hear a pretty box of note cards calling my name!!), and plans being unexpectedly laid to waste. I think it is more important for me to find peace and simplicity in the midst of the daily madness, than to artificially create a peaceful environment that makes it difficult to cope with the real world.
Needleworker, Knitter, Crocheter, Sewist, Paper Crafter, and more!
Oh yes! I like that statement; it makes me feel better about my own merely-partial adoption of living simple. I am working on clearing out the “clutter” where clutter is things I am fairly confident I will never use again, or that are outright trash. Books that I only read once a year or less are still not clutter; books I don’t care if I never see again are clutter (unless Scott cares, in which case they are not).
Trying to simplify my life the way I see described seems like a daunting, very un-simple task! But taking bits and pieces has been good for me. I ask myself now, do I need that? If I don’t need it, do I truly want it, will I use it, will I still want it in a week? It has cut down on what I pick up, even impulse purchases. (I’m more forgiving on food – I do not have to still want it in a week, as long as I enjoy it and don’t break my diet too badly and too often – some things are really not meant to be wanted next week or next month….)
But I never articulated why and always felt a little guilty that I did not, when I thought about it. Now I feel better because your last statement actually explains to me why I kept rejecting wholesale adoption – why the approach I’ve taken is better for me. Because it is artificial and not real, not true to life as I know it now to do that.
I’m sorry, this is terribly long-winded, but – thank you so much. Such a revelation to see your approach and understanding explain my own reactions, that I had only lived and not understood. 🙂
I’m also not living simpler–yet. But I know that with this as a lifelong problem (I was the messy child who drove my neat sister crazy when we shared a bedroom), it’s likely to take a lifetime to accomplish. I’m working on not feeling guilty about my clutter, working on just feeling good about my accomplishments and the days I do better. I do trim down, and Laura’s don’t-buy-it approach is where I begin. I also discourage gift exchanges, because it’s harder to discard a gift than something I buy for myself.
Your mention of a box of notecards struck a chord for me. I love stationery, especially pretty note cards, but with the advent of email, no one mails anything anymore. I save them for older relatives who still enjoy getting a letter and don’t have computers. But they are building up. Time to write a letter. 🙂