Think-Back-On-It Thursday #12 - Holiday Edition

By
As you know if you've been reading the blog this year, I've been revising (and I hope improving) older posts from the very beginning of my blogging career (five years ago) up through early 2023.  Some of those older posts were really quite good, and I've been sharing them with you on selected Thursdays since February.


It's worth visiting what we've written, read, or thought before, as both a reminder and for new insights.  And as we begin the sixth season of holiday posts here on Maximum Gratitude Minimal Stuff, I want to share some thoughts from the past that I think will reward you today.


holiday wreath


Live Like Every Day Matters, from November 1, 2019

No fancy gift or special trip changes a cruddy everyday life, because what you do every day matters more than what you do occasionally.  If you really want to live your best life, cherish today!


Be a Holiday Connoisseur: How to Savor Quality Over Quantity, from November 27, 2020

This post was written during the "COVID Christmas," when infections were surging once again.  I made a startling confession, and went on to write about how we could create a wonderful holiday while buying, doing, and traveling less.  COVID set limits, but limits could actually help us enjoy a higher-quality holiday.


6 Signs You Shouldn't Buy Another Christmas Gift, from December 7, 2020

Christmas has the potential to be so much more than "the holiday shopping season."  There are good reasons to shop less in order to provide a better result.


How to Make Your Holiday More About Experiences and Less About Gifts, from November 7, 2022

Want to make lasting holiday memories?  When you ask people what they got last year, most can't remember even one gift.  Change that situation by investing in life experiences.


This Holiday, Make a Yes List that Supports What You Value Most, from November 28, 2022

When we say yes to everything, we risk fatigue and overwhelm.  But yes is positive and sets priorities.  Here are 6 items you should add to a holiday yes list.


How to Declutter Christmas Decorations, from November 25, 2022

Make the most of the holidays by focusing on what matters.  Since décor creates focus and inspires action, let yours communicate what makes the holiday important to you.


The 30-Day Habit Challenge for a Better New Year, from December 30, 2019

Better than the typical resolution, a 30-day challenge lets you focus for a specific length of time on one new behavior that can improve your life.  Try one of these 15 experiments for fun and enlightenment.





A MINIMALIST HOLIDAY book
If you want to start planning for a simpler, more personalized and peaceful holiday, consider my book A Minimalist Holiday: Simplify Your Celebration for More Meaning and Joy, available on Amazon.  You don't have to do more or buy more to make the holidays mean more, and A Minimalist Holiday will show you how.







FAIRHAVEN CHRISTMAS EVE book
Also available:  My holiday story for children, Fairhaven Christmas Eve.  Everyone in Fairhaven is busy with holiday plans, but some have forgotten the reason for the celebration.  Three children are struggling to find the ingredients that will make the day truly special, while another has forgotten how much she has to give.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Beat 3 Blocks that Keep You Cluttered

By
Image
You may not realize it, but you could be harboring some beliefs that make it difficult (or even impossible) to declutter and stay that way.  These are common mindsets that can hold us back.  If you're struggling to declutter, it's time to identify the thoughts that are making it so hard. Decluttering block #1: I hate tossing things out. I think we can agree that throwing things out feels wasteful and bad.  Especially if your parents or grandparents lived through the Depression or the World War II era, this mindset runs deep.  The urge to keep everything (even things that are broken) will be stronger if you or your family have a history of trauma or hoarding.  You might not even be aware of how strong this inner compulsion is until you start trying to declutter. If you find it hard to get rid of broken, frayed, outgrown, neglected, or otherwise unused things, see if one of these reminders can help: 1.  The reprimand might not be coming from you. Your aversio...
Read more

Why You Should Try Wearing the Same Clothes Every Day

By
Image
Wearing the same clothes every day would get boring, wouldn't it? A long time ago, I had a job that required a uniform, and I have to say it did make life easier .  I had three copies of my work outfit, and there was never a question about what to wear.  I never worried whether my clothes were stylish or "right," because everyone else wore the same thing. The same argument has been used in public and private schools in favor of student uniforms.  Rather than constant worries about fashion and comparisons and dress codes, a uniform makes everything simple.  It's one less thing to think about in the complex life of a student. Many people argue that clothes make a statement about who you are.  "I express myself through my clothes" is a comment I've often heard, usually from women.  The idea of a uniform scares them, because how will they make themselves noticeable or unique ? I think we might be imagining some sort of Handmaid's Tale society, where we...
Read more

Why You Should Make "Less is More" Your Mantra for Life

By
Image
Maybe you've heard the saying popularized by architect Mies van der Rohe in 1947:  "Less is more." It's an oxymoron – a phrase that seems to contradict itself.  Others include "old news," "open secret," "unbiased opinion," and "awfully good."  Or the lament, "Parting is such sweet sorrow." What does "less is more" mean?  It's wonderfully open-ended.  Answers to that are as varied as the people who reply.  Consider: Less anxiety, more peace. Less debt, more savings. Less busywork, more substance. Less clutter, more space. Less comparison, more contentment. Less sugar, more vegetables. Voluntary simplicity Back in the 1990s, a fair number of Americans realized that the continual quest for more and better was stressing them out and keeping them from creating lives of purpose.  After the consumerist binge of the yuppie-era 80s, some started wondering if the big house, flashy car, exotic vacation, and Rolex we...
Read more

Share the Joy - Giving the Gift of Hygge

By
Image
The international interest in the Danish lifestyle hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah") has been co-opted by retailers who want to sell to us.  Of course, we do need items to make life more comfortable, such as beds, tables, chairs, clothing, and food.  I happen to think we also need books, flowers, and candles.  No one – not even a minimalist like me – can stop consuming while they're alive. But what we can control is how much we buy that's unnecessary, and how much we waste.  And since hygge is an experience you can create, not a thing you can buy, we don't really need to purchase anything to have a more hyggeligt life.  A sunrise, a crisp and juicy apple, birdsong, the scent of rain, or a long, strong hug can provide that. 13 great hygge gifts So how do you give the gift of hygge?  What can you offer a loved one that will truly add to their stock of  comfort, joy, and life satisfaction ?  Here are some ideas, large and small, that shouldn't add to yo...
Read more

6 Quick and Easy Steps to Declutter Before the Holidays

By
Image
The holidays are just around the corner, and as you shop for and cook your Thanksgiving feast and prepare to put up Christmas or Hanukkah decorations, you'll enjoy it all even more if you do a quick clear-out while you have the chance. Not only can you make room for the Christmas tree, but you can help the whole family feel less overwhelmed by holiday bustle, and give yourself more space to savor what the season has to offer.  You'll feel better prepared for holiday guests, and more ready for a fun and relaxed celebration. I know you're extra-busy, so this is not an intense purge.  It's a quick, refreshing chance to set the stage, with the added benefit of beginning the New Year with less clutter and more freedom. So set aside 15-30 minutes for each step in the process, and let your success in one area carry you to the next with renewed energy! The quick clear-out 1.  Start in the kitchen. Many holiday traditions involve food.  Crowded counters and crammed, hard-to-a...
Read more