Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

Throughout history, families and cultures have taken part in shared celebrations.  Some are religious, some are seasonal, some are all about life passages and transitions. Celebrations join us together.  They create bonds and shared memories.  For families, celebrations create a family "lore."  The things you do together, the way you behave together, your special names for each other, inside jokes, favorite movie quotes, the shorthand you use with each other – all of these are bonding experiences.  They're what make your family your family, not like anyone else's.  The way your family chooses to celebrate birthdays, losing a tooth, good report cards, and all the holidays year-round becomes part of who you are.  That doesn't mean things can never change, but some aspects will become "traditional," expected, and anticipated. How to simplify celebrations while making them memorable Remember, this is all about the traditions, the "family lore."  I...

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...

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...

All of us want home maintenance to be easy and fuss-free.  Even though my husband Jon has always helped with housework, for many years I needed to keep our belongings at a level that I could handle on my own, not at a level that it took the whole family an entire weekend to manage.  Even though I worked part-time, home schooled my kids, volunteered at our church, and auditioned, practiced, and performed as a professional singer, I still wanted a clean, attractive, clutter-free home. Life happens and plans go wrong, projects take longer than you anticipate, and kids need all the reminders and follow-up if you expect them to clean up after themselves.  So if we owned only what I could personally stay on top of, it became super easy to deal with when everyone worked together.  It saved time, reduced arguments, lowered stress, and made home life much more peaceful. Meals, laundry, paperwork... and toys, toys, toys I found that streamlining grocery shopping and meal prep ...

There's a common mindset in our culture that if you're not Number One, you're nothing.  If you aren't First, or Most, or Best, you might as well not bother.  If you don't win that medal, you might as well go home.  This mentality is toxic. It can keep us from trying or doing something unless we believe we can do it to an "ultra" level. It can make us demanding perfectionists who never rest or accept any limitations. It can make the things we do with love, but without virtuosity, seem worthless. In fact, it can make us feel worthless.  It can dishearten our kids, if they're so unfortunate as to encounter a teacher, coach, or mentor who subscribes to this idea. What if we shifted our mindset?  What if we celebrated the attempt, or a result that's "good enough," without continuing to push for the ultimate, ideal performance? Accepting "good enough" I'm a long-time performer of mostly classical music: a singer of opera, oratorio...

I need to start by saying that I'm not unhappy.  I've been blessed with so many advantages and good circumstances, from birth onward. And it's easy, in a life like mine, with its mix of ups and downs, joys and worries – but nothing too mournful or extreme – to coast along, thinking it will always be that way. Last year, one of my aunts and my last three uncles passed away.  None of their ends was unexpected (they were all in their 80's and 90's).  What was unexpected was my 30-year-old nephew's cancer diagnosis earlier this year and my younger sister's major surgery and cancer scare just a couple of months later. I had pneumonia this February, emergency abdominal surgery in early March, and pneumonia again in May.  Our medical insurance has made a fuss about paying the hospital bill, and the IRS decided to audit our tax return. It's been a season of changes and challenges. Stay tuned in. I mention all of this because most of us are so used to being busy ...

Dorothy Parker once said that she hated writing, but loved having written.  Now, I love the process of writing, but I can totally get on board with her point of view when it comes to housework.  I dislike most of it, but love having a neat and clean house. So with all of the good results that come from decluttering , why do we have to make it such a chore?  You don't have to be a naturally-neat person to love decluttering, and with these easy and inexpensive tips, you can make the process itself enjoyable. 10 ways to enjoy decluttering 1.  Use entertainment. Upbeat music is a great accompaniment to decluttering because it adds energy and movement.  You can create a playlist or turn on a favorite radio station.  But if music isn't what you're craving, play a watch-it-again movie or TV show in the background, or listen to a podcast or audiobook.  Be sure to choose something that won't distract you to the point that you don't get anything done. 2.  L...