Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

Benjamin Franklin said it long ago.  The Poor Richard's Almanack of 1746 counseled "Dost thou love life?  Then do not squander Time, for that's the Stuff Life is made of."  That's right – almost 300 years ago, Franklin was pointing out how dangerous it is to use time unwisely. There truly is nothing new under the sun.  Most of us complain that we're too busy.  We want more time with loved ones.  We want more time for exercise, hobbies, even for work.  We want more time to travel, and more time to learn.  And we desperately want more time to sleep!  Yet we rarely make changes that will ease our time crunch.  We complain about our situations as we let the days, weeks, and years slip past. I make no claim to perfection in this area.  But I have worked at it, and tried to prioritize what I think is most important, instead of just trying to keep more balls in the air as my time-juggling becomes more frantic and out of control. Minimalis...

I know not all of you share my Christian faith, and I respect that.  This site isn't about religion, although for me, minimalism and gratitude illuminate and enhance my spiritual beliefs.  Maybe they do the same for you. But the strength of any community includes its diversity.  Different perspectives teach us, challenge us, and help us see things in a clearer, more well-rounded way.  All of us can benefit from a broader outlook that lets us see aspects and ideas we wouldn't come up with by ourselves. So when I write about Easter, I don't expect everyone to receive it in the same way.  Still, I think there are some universal lessons we can draw from this season, regardless of our spiritual backgrounds or beliefs. The promise of Easter Easter, for Christians, should more correctly be called Resurrection Sunday.  It celebrates Jesus' return to life after his crucifixion, which is remembered on Good Friday. It's not about eggs or bunnies.  At its heart, E...

I like happiness.  I like to feel it, and I like to write about it .*  You probably like to read about it, too.  But sadness is a fact of life.  I happens to all of us, sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in heart-breaking, life-changing ways.  And this is a problem not just because of the awful events themselves, but because most of us have almost no idea how to handle our feelings about them. * This blog is supported by readers, not by ads.  If you make a purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission. Reacting to sadness Many of us are so dedicated to the pursuit of happiness that we almost develop a phobia about feeling sad.  One of my friends became a widow last November, and every time I speak to her about her husband (who I sang with for over 20 years) and how she's coping, she can't wait to change the subject.  She's "fine."  She's "adjusting."  She's "trying to be happy." I get it.  I'm prone to look for the si...

We make thousands of decisions every day.  Should I wear this or that, or this other thing... or should I buy something new?  Should I eat this or that?  Should I answer my phone or let it go to voice mail?  Should I do this task first, or that one?  Should I take the short cut or the scenic route?  Should I cook or go out, or order in, or just eat a bowl of Cheerios?  Should I read this book, or check social media, or go to bed early? On and on it goes, day after day.  Decision fatigue is a real thing. Someone has done the math.  A study conducted by Barclays Plan & Invest in the UK found that we spend about 2.5 hours every day making these small but necessary decisions.  This huge effort steals time and attention we could be spending on more important things, like relationships, big projects, and long-term plans.  That's why the simplest decisions can make so much difference to your happiness. What do I mean by simple decisio...

Are you ready to begin decluttering?  Maybe you're new to the idea of living with less.  Or maybe you've tried before and got busy or bogged down. You've probably heard the old joke, "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!"  Here are some "little bites" to help you get started on this immense task.  Any one of these ideas will not solve every clutter problem.  But tackle them all, one at a time, and you'll see a lot of progress. Just remember that your home didn't become cluttered in a day.  It's okay (and perfectly normal) if it doesn't become uncluttered with a day's-worth of effort. Thinking about spring cleaning? Subscribe to receive my free printable   A Cleaning Schedule to Simplify Home Care How to ease into decluttering 1.  Start with five minutes. Will you get an entire room cleared out in five minutes?  No.  But take five minutes here and there, over and over, and you'll be surprised what you can accomplish. Th...

Walking is the epitome of minimalism.  With reasonably comfortable shoes, all you need to do is step outside.  Begin any time, and go anywhere. We all know that walking supports physical health, improving heart function, strengthening joints and muscles, even boosting immune response.  According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control, walking is "the closest thing we have to a wonder drug." But walking can do even more. If the day is fine, any walk will do. Annie Dillard A history This simple activity that you've been doing since you were about a year old is something you might take for granted.  My grandsons walk with boundless energy.  They're never tired.  They accept that I may sit to rest on a convenient bench along the way, but they never need to. I remember walking with my father when I was quite small.  Our regular destinations were the public library and park about a half-mile from our home, so Daddy carried ...