Simple Woman

Simplicity.

I crave it.  I need it. I want it.

Am I even normal to want those things? I mean after all, constantly striving to gain more is the world's definition of success, right? Don't stop until you have conquered it all! A sense of accomplishment comes into our lives from the accumulation of more material things, so naturally it causes our beliefs to be something like: the more I have, the better off I am.

I've always been labeled an old soul by my family and the more I get to experience life and the more mistakes I make, the more I figure out exactly what it is I want my life to be like. Lessons learned are always hard while you're going through them, but when you come out on the other side, you're always stronger no doubt. How to simplify has been a lesson I've been working on for a long time now. I've struggled with it, making excuses as to why I needed this or why I needed that.  But through it all I've come to a simple truth, things are just things. Period.

I could gain the whole world but if I lose my soul, what am I truly worth? So here I am on a mission to simplify as much as possible. To keep myself in check on a daily basis making sure I'm not pursuing things just to be gaining more. Cutting out things that aren't really necessary to make me the better person I need to be. I'm still a work in progress, but I have gotten better and I want to share three of the lessons I've focused on to help me get rid of the junk in my life.

• Lesson #1: The old saying is completely true, less is more. The less you have, the more appreciative you are of the things that you call yours. You know each and every detail about your possessions and it makes it that much more special to you.

• Lesson #2: Take this advice from a Disney princess, Elsa says LET IT GO!  No need to hang onto the past.  Whether is something you've been keeping for a rainy day that's never come, or some grudge your holding onto as tightly as you can in your heart, let go of it. That rainy day will probably never come and if it does, you'll be able to figure it out and that grudge will only settle in your heart to stay causing bitterness for the rest of your life. So turn away and slam that door!

• Lesson #3: It's about the quality, not the quantity. Spend time with people you love, not money.  My children won't remember what I bought them for the sixth birthday, but they will remember a Mommy who read them stories at night, who went outside to play with them, who made them their favorite snacks just the way they like them.

Simplicity.

I crave it. I want it. I'm living it.

With love,
Tori