Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

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 ...

If you've read this blog for a while (or if you've looked at my photo), you know I struggle with obesity.  Now, I'm not a person who just sits around all day eating chips and ice cream.  But there are certain foods that are really hard for me to say no to, and if I have them around at all, I'm going to eat them until they're gone.  That's why my husband and I always order a small pizza if we have one, or why it's better for me to buy the occasional single bakery item than to keep baking supplies in my kitchen. But like any program of self-control or self-denial, it can be difficult to implement forever.  That makes my sweet tooth not something "cute," but an addiction like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes.  Maybe you can relate.  It might not be oatmeal cookies that call your name.  Maybe it's pretty shoes or handbags, the latest in electronics, or whatever's featured at Sephora.  Maybe it's video games, TV, or even doomscrolling. Are you ...

Dear readers, there is a power in each one of us that we must not abandon or fail to use.  It's our conscience, our sense of decency, morality, and kindness that most people in the world share. The president of my country has taken us to war – without our consent, and with rude disregard for both the spirit and the letter of our constitution. But it's worse than that.  It's worse than the damage to infrastructure and shipping that will lead to an oil crisis, not just here in the U.S. or in Europe, but in China, India, South Korea, Japan, and other eastern nations.  It's worse than the possibility of global recession. Absolutely not a game The words and actions of the leaders of my country have alienated our long-time allies and made us hated around the world.  It's horrifying to realize that we may deserve this. While Iranian families were burying their children, the White House posted a spliced video of American football players tackling each other alongside foota...

Maybe you've tried to build savings in the past and a surprise bill messed you up.  Today, with prices continuing to climb at the grocery store and everywhere else, you might have given up. I've been there too.  For years, my husband and I would save a little only to draw the account down a few months later.  Inflation or life events would derail our plans. When costs are unpredictable, saving can start to feel impossible.  But building savings doesn't have to rely on willpower, perfect timing, or a lucky lottery win.  Instead, you can focus on small, repeatable systems that work with real life, no matter what happens.  These are systems that keep moving forward even when prices climb or plans change. Steps to make saving a reality 1.  Start small with a "savings drip."  Psychologically, tiny deposits keep momentum going in the right direction without triggering scarcity, especially when the cost of groceries, utilities, and insurance premiums may...

Have you given up Netflix for Lent?  Or maybe you plan to stay off Facebook or Instagram for now.  Or you might be staying home from restaurants, bars, or the casino.  If you're giving up one of your usual entertainment options, you may suddenly have a lot of free time and not much idea of what to do with it. Trying a new hobby is a great idea, but if you're the type who usually goes all in, that can get complicated and expensive very quickly.  You could buy a guitar and sign up for lessons, only to let it sit and collect dust after watching one YouTube tutorial.  You could purchase a tennis racket and a cute court-approved outfit, but discover that you don't have the speed or hand-eye coordination to play the game. So you don't want an activity that requires an investment in a lot of expensive new supplies.  Minimalist hobbies are the answer since they're low-budget, easy to abandon if they're not the right fit, and don't require lots of shopping to get st...

A clutter-free home is a gift to yourself.  Decluttering removes stress, chaos, and visual weight, and adds peace, space to learn and grow, and time for true rest and relaxation. But the work of decluttering can be such a burden!  It can be exhausting and time-consuming to clear out a cluttered home. Fear not!  Say goodbye to hours (or days) of grueling exertion.  If you hate decluttering, don't have time for it, or started and got burned-out on the process, you'll love my passive methods that let you declutter with little to no effort. 10 easiest decluttering strategies 1.  Hanger trick (use for clothes and accessories) Maybe you've heard of this one.  Simply turn all of your hangers backwards!  When you choose a garment to wear, turn its hanger to face the normal way.  At the end of a month or a season it's easy to see what you wore and what you didn't.  Now you can declutter everything that's still hanging backwards without any worry or d...