I received this quote in my inbox today….

I love the “Real Simple” site and their magazines.  I admit that I admire those who seem to keep things so organized and simple.  Each day I try and purge “stuff” from my house.  When I am out at a store and want to buy something, I try and ask myself “will this add to my life in a beneficial way”.

We all, as humans, tend to collect way too much “junk”.  We let it fill our lives and our houses.  We think we need it only to turn around and find out we rarely use it.  It is truly sad to think of the waste.

MY GOAL?  To attempt to simplify my life.   Each week I try and collect things in the house that serve no purpose ( old magazines, old clothes the kids have outgrown, toys etc.) and put them in the garage to be taken to donate.  My goal is to keep only those things we need and use, and in turn to teach my kids the value of things they do have and to enjoy them.  That more “stuff” doesn’t make us happy!  Yes… a huge lesson for a child, and for adults.  We will teach our kids what to value in life by how we ourselves act.  By what we focus on in life.  If it is the “stuff” we put importance on then so will our kids.

Not unlike every other mother in the world, my “to do list” is always long and difficult to get through when other things pop up and take precedence.  I try and pick away at things and not get overwhelmed with LIFE.  Having said that, it is very difficult not to.  Not to let schedule and activities drive my life and my time.  When it is really busy and I forget to do things or I take short cuts I feel like I have failed.  Too many things to do and not enough hours to do them.  In the end we need to remember to stop and just breath.  To enjoy our life and not look at it as one large, gigantic chore!  I know my kids value the time we spend with them doing things then the stuff.  How do I know?  Because that is what they talk about when we have family discussions.

So today I am going to work at one or two things and see if I can just get those things done without worrying about the rest of my list!  Then I will run my kids to their activities, and take time to hug them, watch them, appreciate them and to remember what truly is of value in my life.  Without them I would have no purpose.

Oh and as for the stuff?  Well I still love to picture my perfect, simple life.  This picture makes me happy and inspires me.  Maybe sometime soon I can manage to get to the store and select some fabrics so I can do this with my diningroom chairs.

Well… maybe sometime soon.  It won’t change my life if I don’t get it done tomorrow right!

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