Journey

Seems I've been derailed a bit in my blogging over the last few years. I reviewed some of my previous posts and find that the desire is still there. I guess this is a long process. I've been selling things on e-bay that no longer are needed. I've been making runs to Goodwill. But still the "stuff" is overwhelming. I guess the best route is to just continue and persevere.

I think I have a new, simplified action plan...Nothing fancy, no list to keep just SIMPLE...

1. Clear all surfaces of clutter, junk, trash, paper, etc. Find a home or permanent "resting place" (ie...the trash or recycle bin) for said items.

2. Clear the floor of all clutter, junk, backpacks, shoes, pillows, clothes, etc.

3. All items must have a logical, simple home or said item must go. If there are too many items in the designated home, then some items need to find new homes outside of our house or life.

4. Keep cleaning routine simple and pick up items that get dropped on counter or floor.

See...simple.

Handbook for 2009

A good reminderHandbook for 2009
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s—Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time for prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment....
13. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip...
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Give a copy of this to everyone you care about.

Afraid

Afraid

Afraid to move forward,
Afraid to not
Can not control the uncontrollable
Swimming through a sea of darkness
No vision
No light at the end of the tunnel.
Your weaknesses come into the light.
Push those away
Focus on your strengths
Rely on your self
Rely on your insticts
Leap off the cornice
Hon your skills
Emerge from the darkness
Stronger with what matters
Not Possessions
Not stature
But your worth
Jump those hurdles
To not move is failure
Afraid of failure
Must move, must not fail

Movie Monday

I've been wanting to do this for a while...watch all the Academy Award winning movies. With snow and colder days ahead, I'm moving forward with watching my list of movies. First up on my list is the classic, All Quiet on the Western Front.

Way back in college, I read this book for a European history class. I don't really remember much of the details of the book. It has been...hmmmm...20+ years afterall. So needless to say, I watched the movie without remembering what the plot was.

My overall impressions of the movie were...

• The sound was very loud. Explosions going on all around. I can only imagine how loud it actually is on the front lines. There was nothing quiet about the western front, or any other for that matter.
• Even though the movie was made almost 80 years ago, the topic is as relevant to day as it was then. War is hell, especially if you are the one sent to fight the war.
• The most interesting scene was one where Paul and his buddies wind-up in a French house with some women. Since this movie was made in 1929, no "bedroom" scene was actually shown in graphic detail. But what was shown was the silhuette of a bedframe, with Paul explaining to the young French girl that he'll probably never see her again. The implication is clearly that they played "hide the bayontte". What a difference 80 years makes.

The "classic" movies that I see and actually enjoy are "hit and miss". All Quiet on the Western Front" was definately a hit.

Simplicity Challenge

Week #1

Think about what's really important to you and make a list.

I've been touched by Sara's blog http://www.walkslowlylivewildly.com/ and I've been inspired to try to live more simply. I love that it's really about putting the important things in your life front and center. It's not about depravation but enhancement. So for Week #1 of my Simplicity Challenge, it's time for me to decide what my life is now and how I'm going to bring those things into the forefront of my life.



Creating opportunity for my kids to experience the world around them.



Keep an active lifestyle that includes the whole family.



Become a contributing member of my community.



Establish and maintain routines that keep my home an inviting and friendly sanctuary.

I'm going to blog a little about each one this week. Maybe I'll add a few more...maybe I'll decide that one isn't all that important to me right now.

What's important to you?

Smart Habits Saturday Week #1

Well, here I go on yet another challenge to improve my life. Smart Saturday Habits is my attempt at accounting to myself my efforts. There are several areas I want to have in my life and I will add to them as I feel I can.

Health and Wellness
Housekeeping - Scrub one toilet a day
Financial
Spritual
Philanthropic
Intellectual
Creative/Artistic
Family

Why not start out with THE job that I hate the most.

Oh...found a new challenge to help me along down the road...

Smart Habits Saturday...

http://www.laragallagher.com/blog/index.html