Thursday, December 30, 2010

2010 lessons....



closing up 2010...........what have i learned?.....

  • i still have TONS of patience to learn, even though i THOUGHT i was getting way better at this
  • there is always more growing up to do.........WAY more.
  • sometimes....just sometimes....it's best to let go of some "dreams" or ideas of what you think you should have by now........just move on from them, let them go, and maybe they will come around at a later date.....you can't force something
  • i am WAY happier with less stuff.  
  • life is so so so unbelievably short.......it's almost frightening how short life is.
  • i NEED desperately sunshine and warmth to be my best self, and to be really hopeful and happy.
  • oh, i discovered just how much i love cooking.......slow cooking especially.  major passion here.

sooooo many more things...this just touches on some of the major aspects of 2010.

i am looking forward to 2011....somewhat scary with some of the plans i have going on, but still hopeful of great change.    i sense freedom in a variety of ways for this coming year.

what have you learned this year?

Friday, December 24, 2010

season of giving....


it's been a busy month.  i've been taking some time to not only work (holiday season gets BUSY!)...but also just enjoy the season.  I hope you are as well.  
A lot is in the works for 2011......preparing for an amazing year ahead! yay!  Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

quote of the day...

Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it is a tree which stands alone. Hold on to what you must do, even if it is a long way from here. ~Pablo Neruda

Saturday, December 4, 2010

beauty secrets...


country girl earrings, originally uploaded by My Soul Can Dance.

want to make yourself more attractive? here are the secrets:

hug more.

smile more.

laugh more.

make silly faces at yourself in the mirror.

tada, there you have it!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

unlock joy....

practice gratitude.........for even the simplest of things. it's where you will find peace, joy, the secret to life....

ode to the things that give me joy....


340/365: Coffee Chaos, originally uploaded by [ embr ].

coffee coffee coffee...................yes. that first sip.....ahhhh....bliss. new fun project is discovering more about the things that give me joy. i can't wait for summer because this list will become endless! :)

fun facts:

Drinking a single cup of coffee that has been brewing for 20 minutes provides the body with 300 phytochemicals which act as antioxidants and stay in the body for up to a month.

A coffee tree lives for between 60 and 70 years.

Caffeine, which is found in coffee, increases the effect of some painkillers, especially aspirin and paracetamol.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

veggies galore!


Stone Vegetable Soup, originally uploaded by bBeachy.

i am obsessed with making soups and stews lately...can't get enough....slow cooking, massive amounts, every color i can get in there....

more veggies, less or no meat.

it seems the more i slice and dice vegetables the happier i am. simple joy.

what are your simple joys?

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Netflix: Change Your Food, Change Your Life

go watch this instantly on Netflix: Change Your Food, Change Your Life



exactly....

 
"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature." ~Joseph Campbell

change your food, change your life....


I like to listen or watch inspiring things while I work throughout the day.  Today I am watching Change Your Food, Change Your Life .   It's about eating vegan, and how our bodies have a hard time processing all the meat and dairy products we eat....quite informative.

I have tried many times to eliminate meat from my diet.  The way I go about it I think is what is preventing me from following through with the whole plan.   This whole idea brings me to my next life changing choice.......change the way I say things and approach them.  Instead of I need to eliminate meat from my diet..............I will say I WANT to eat more fruits and vegetables to see how that affects my energy levels, my health, my weight, my overall well being.  Instead of "I NEED to go to bed earlier"...it will be "i WANT to be well rested to I can accomplish more throughout the day and have more energy".......

It becomes my CHOICE.......it becomes a positive idea rather than a negative one.

these are just the thoughts in my head these days.

Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.  ~Albert Einstein

Monday, November 29, 2010

yummy in my tummy...


comfort food.....there is nothing like it.  
especially on a cold, gloomy, and rainy day.........is it spring yet?

Sunday, November 28, 2010

yearly themes....


simplify and letting go have been my themes this year.......every year it's something new.  it's got me thinking about what has been going on in my life....and the change that is in the air.  I haven't figured out what my theme will be this upcoming year....i guess it's still working itself out.  

you ever have those phases in your life when you just know something is brewing?   it can be unsettling; it's where my life is at.

what will be your theme for 2011?...your mantra....your phrase....your word?

Thursday, November 25, 2010

grateful abcs....



i am grateful for the sky,  the sun, moon, and stars......

also.....cameras, cats, colorful cups.....

bubbles, bbq chips, bacon....

astronomy, alliteration, aqua....

so many many many other things.....

what about you?

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

daily quote....


A sense of humor...is needed armor.  Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person deep down has a pretty good grasp of life.  ~Hugh Sidey

changes...

 Change is good.  If things didn't change we wouldn't grow.  I've decided to disengage from facebook world for awhile....even changing small things can create big change.  I'll be posting more on here, and hopefully have a lot more face to face social interaction rather than facebook world chit chat. 

There is so much life to be lived....places to go....people to see......I want to enjoy the simple things without the distraction of a computer screen....get back to the basics.  I want to focus more on creativity, nature, trying new things.  

What small change can you create today that might change your whole world for the better?

Monday, November 22, 2010

liberating myself...


i like my friends as goofy as possible.

on another note....less facebook.  more blogging.  more life.  

i am also insanely clearancing everything i have in the etsy shop...........letting it all go.  

what are you letting go of?

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

more of life....


new project......less internet, more of life....learning, reading, playing outside, things of that nature.

just watched a documentary Radically Simple  

it's available to watch instantly on Netflix right now.   simple, to the point, soothing.

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if you have any more environmental / nature type of documentaries to suggest, suggest away! :)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

creative pursuits project....


FOOD.  food food food.  it seduces me.

I have been on a mission....a creative pursuit.  I picked three things that i feel are passions of mine or something i can explore creatively.....food is the main one right now.  I make something new everyday.....whether it's italian, polynesian, chinese, indian, mexican,  any of it i will try.
Today it is Coconut Curried Chicken Wings......though i am slow cooking them all day on the woodstove, so i changed up the recipe a bit and added coconut milk, more flavorings, etc. 

The reason behind this project is to expand my horizons.....experiment with life.....excite my senses.....make new connections with things i haven't tried before.    I am trying to make these 3 things something that i normally do anyway....eating and cooking being one of them of course.   The idea also is to add more skills/talents to my life as well.....play with creativity in every area of my life.

What are your 3 things?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

i like...


 i like to take photos.  i like nature.  i like hula hooping, playing dominoes, jumping off docks, eating coconut popsicles.  i like to laugh...deliriously and without reason.  i like the smell of coconut oil and bacon cooking.  i like the windows open.  i like rolley poleys.  i like corny jokes.  i like listing things i like.

what do you like?

Thursday, November 11, 2010

hula hoops and what not....


my errand-grocery list as hand written:

HULA HOOPS
christmas lights - color and white
percolator
maple bacon

don't forget ice cream - 2 cartons!


yes, it's good i have all my priorities in order.  

just do it...


what is it that you so desperately want to do? 
find a way to make it happen.  even if it takes the rest of your life.  

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

gratitude and abundance....



anybody that knows me, knows that i LOVE food....hearty comfort southern cooking more than ANYTHING....with the only exception being fried food...not big on that. 

most of what consumes me is anything comforting.........sunshine, warmth, food, comfy clothing that enables me to feel comfortable doing anything, flip flops, no restrictions.......i love the feeling of water on my skin while i jump in a pool or lake..............i love the feel of wind in my hair........i love the sand between my toes.....

so much of joy can be found in every day simple things.  in fact, that is where *it's* all at.......

it's november.....season of thanks....of gratitude.....i have SO many things to be thankful for....
november and december for me are always a time of celebration......probably a big reason being the food involved........but also because i realize i am fortunate and am able to share abundance with the people i love.....so my thoughts always linger to those who dread these months....the ones that don't have enough to provide for their families.....who struggle for food....for gifts to give their children at christmas......the older i get, the more my thoughts linger on this...this year even more so.

so be grateful for what you have.......appreciate it......love your family and friends.....be present ....enjoy your glass of tea, each bite of food....enjoy your clean water.....your fresh air......the clothes you are wearing that protect you from the cold......there are entirely too many things to be grateful for that i can't hardly keep up.

 

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

life is short...







if i could i would just repeat what i said in the last post....it still stands true...even more now.   go right this second and hug the person you love......value the time you have with them......life is short.

the world lost an amazing, spunky, vivacious woman yesterday.....honor her by giving as much love as you can to your family and friends.....and go enjoy a glass of wine. :)  love you Susan!!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

love.


you can never give enough hugs, enough kisses, enough love.  tell the people you love that you love them...do it now...and do it often.  if they don't know, let them know.  light up the world with your love.  radiate it......put it into everything you do...every meal you make....every conversation you have....every smile you give....every goodbye you say....every hello you speak.....let your cup runneth over as much as it possibly can.  we are here for a short while...make your mission Love. 

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

finding out...


i have spent my week decluttering everything....finding out what's important and what is not important.  i realize i don't need that much after all.

Friday, October 1, 2010

whatever your little heart desires...

 

You could be a coward, you could be a king
You could be the kind of kid who teaches us to sing
You could be whatever your little heart desires
You could be a walkin', talkin', breathin' ball of fire.

...Sometimes a mountain, sometimes a stone
Sometimes a river windin' round to find a home
You could crawl away, you could fly higher
You could be a walkin' talkin' breathin' ball of fire.

~Cantus Fraggle, jim henson

Sunday, September 26, 2010

the spirit within.....


you know those days that you feel like you just "have it"? .....like it doesn't even matter if you do or don't have "it" figured out, you are alive and even with the life struggle you are just happy to be here, creating, loving, having the opportunity to try try again. 

......and THEN there are the days that you wake up questioning everything, doubting what it is you are here for, feeling like you aren't making enough impact or difference in this life...."what are you even doing, does it even matter, who cares, i'm not doing enough, i'm tired of this" feeling.....

push and pull.   rise and fall.  up and down.  left to right.  zigzag, here and there.  

the thing is.....it doesn't matter if we get it "right"...........we will never figure "it" out..........once you learn to accept those bad days, the questioning and doubting ones, and push through them anyway....THEN you have "it" within your grasp.  

there is no perfect formula.  we have to figure out how to live in our own way.   for some getting out of a funk might be surrounding yourself with loud, fun, sociable people.....for others it is sitting in solitude, reflecting, getting centered.  

my point is ....QUIT COMPARING YOURSELF TO ANYONE ELSE.    you are you.....and thank god for that.   no one is going to do it like you......just for the reason that no one else IS you.  give yourself a break.....learn to love yourself........love your creations....you paintings.....your children (because let's face it...that is the greatest creation of all)......love your home.....your style.....the way you part your hair......your skin color......your freckles......your big feet and gangly legs.......love your loud laugh.....your accent.....love the way you can't stay mad even if you want to.....love all your quirks and what some, even yourself, might call your weaknesses....a lot of times our "weaknesses" are often strengths, we just haven't begun seeing them that way yet.

 with my latest ventures, i have gotten criticism.....encouragement.....a lot of yays, but also a lot of 'why are you doing that'............................it doesn't matter.   i do what i want......i have to do what feels right to me.......i haven't talked a lot about what i am about to say, just because it's private...and it involves me and life force, spirit, God...whatever you want to call that "it" energy that IS life and all of creation......  
so much of what i base my decisions on...the big ones, are directly related to the life force i feel inside of me....where i feel guided.....i trust this feeling immensely......mainly because it's never a selfish guidance.....it is from the same place that as a kid, i used to say i wanted to buy all the land in the world so the homeless people and animals could have a home.....it's from the same place where that immense amount of love pours out and sometimes i just feel like hugging someone i am talking to......it's from the same place that makes me feel like jumping out of my skin and dancing when an african drum beat plays........i will NEVER doubt this force.   it is everything good and pure within me......it is a higher power.  it took me a long time to recognize and make this force the main part of my life....it took me a long time to tune into the station and frequency that this force comes from.....and it took me even longer to trust it without doubt.  

so i say to all the naysayers out there.....listen to your own station, and leave mine alone.

Monday, September 20, 2010

my soul does indeed dance...


country ride views, originally uploaded by My Soul Can Dance.

what makes your soul dance?

what moves you to tears?

what makes your soul feel like it could just burst out from your body in excitement and joy?

if you don't know these things about yourself, discover them...learn....find out. it's valid to living a full rich life.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

get your silly on!!


water faucet fun, originally uploaded by My Soul Can Dance.

NEVER be afraid to get messy or wet or break the rules within reason......do all you can to have fun.
embrace life.
play with abandon.
get silly.
splash each other with water faucets.
splash yourself with water faucets.
have fun by yourself.
have fun with others.
don't fear looking silly or childish.
wear glitter. wear rainbows. wear whatever you want.
smell flowers.
lay on your back and look at the sky.
dance to the 80s. dance to motown. dance to whatever makes you happy.
roast marshmallows.
eat cotton candy.
be happy.

Friday, September 17, 2010

back roads


back roads, originally uploaded by celisa.

No matter which road I travel, I want my life to be a life of service....giving back....making it count....doing what I need to do in order to feel alive and connected with the world around me.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

set in motion.....


103_8069, originally uploaded by celisa.

suppose all the dreams you have, big or small, could come true........

where would you start?

what would you do?

who would you be?

what would set in motion to become reality?

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Evening Express


Evening Express, originally uploaded by tallpomlin.
where i hope to be within the month....

my thoughts are consumed by 3 checked bags, 2 carry ons.....

Monday, September 13, 2010

taking the time...


seriously, some days taking the time to really enjoy the beauty around you is accomplishment enough. 

Thursday, September 9, 2010

a bride to amazement...


When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;


when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse
to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;

when death comes
like the measles-pox; 


when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades, 


I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness? 


And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,


and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility, 


and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular, 


and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence, 


and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth. 


When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.


I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it is over, I don't want to wonder

if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,


or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world. 

~Mary Oliver, When Death Comes

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Start small....


Small gradual changes....that's what it's about.....things don't happen overnight....

I know for me, the idea of changing my life...my habits...."saving the world"....used to be overwhelming. I had this idea in my head that I wanted something big to happen or change NOW...that instant....it never works that way.

This could be a long winded post...but I will try to keep it simple.  SO many thoughts have been running through my head that I want to express....so much I am learning that I just want to put out there for everyone to read and let it change their lives possibly....but this is the part of being overwhelmed I was talking about a minute ago.....


I believe we can do our best "teaching" by example...by living our own lives in accordance with what we believe to be true.....change is collective individuals each trying to make a difference in their own lives.....it doesn't happen overnight.....one person tells one persons tells one person....and so on and so on.  

The more we expose ourselves to new ideas...good positive ideas...the more they become ingrained in our every day lives...learn learn learn and then keep learning more.  Question what is put before you....challenge ideas that don't sit well with how you believe life should be....ask what is in your food...where it came from...who grew it.....become as involved as possible in your children's education....ask what they are learning about....practice compassion with every living thing....respect the world around you.....


I, for one, have always had issues with eating meat....I go back and forth for different reasons....
I think it's important to become aware of how each food you consume makes you feel.....study what you eat.....become aware......just as alcohol can make you feel drunk, how is your food affecting your body? .....


anyway, these are just some ideas flowing through my life.....more and more I realize I need to become WAY more aware of what I'm actually surrounding myself with daily...what we all are allowing in our world....

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

positivity 9/7/2010


awaken your soul.

strive to attain more patience, compassion, kindness, generosity rather than material possessions.

have as much fun as possible without hurting anyone or anything.

"may your actions be beautiful prayers".........let your life be of service for the greater good.....find joy doing it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

environmentally friendly movie - Go Further (watch it on Netflix instant play)

inspiring music by Indie Arie - I Choose

thought- provoking website Soul Pancake by Rainn Wilson  

asking the hard questions....


Why are we here?  Are you living your life the way you want?  What do you think happens after our body leaves *this* life?

Are you putting out more good energy than bad?  Do you smile as much as you should?  Do you shy away from the hard stuff?  

If you found out you would die at the end of the day, would you be satisfied with how you have treated people?...how much you loved or didn't love?....did you embrace life as much as you should have?

Ask yourself the hard questions regularly.....

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

these moments....


September is here....I can feel the change in the air....in so many different ways.

Last night was the first night since Casper died that I have dreamed of him......for anyone who knows me well, knows that I dream several dreams a night and I remember them all....I dream of ones that have passed on ALL THE TIME.  So, I was surprised that Casper who is usually in my dreams every night, stopped being in them once he died...........it actually made me sad.   Last night was difficult, as usual, falling to sleep........I really sat with how I felt last night....accepted that I was aching...missing....hurting....tight heart ache....so then what happens last night/this morning?.....yep, I dream about Casper.....and I woke up with the ache less.....a loosening of the tenseness in my heart.....

Today is also the first day I am really listening to music.....I am also able to love on the cats around here without feeling sad or like I'm betraying Casper somehow.....

Anyway.....I know I am mentioning this every post....but I am fascinated by how we can choose to embrace our emotions or the opposite ...fight them.....the way we move through what we experience in life is key....the way we cope...the way we grieve....express sadness....joy.....heartache.....love....the way we withhold love or give it.....it's fascinating.   The more aware of how we as individuals express ourselves moment by moment is something we should pay attention to.....notice how you react when someone hugs you...do you give in or tense up?......what about when you receive a compliment?.....do you accept it humbly or make excuses as to why you don't deserve it, or are you embarrassed?........These type of things may seem trivial....but they matter more than all these other "things" we give value to. 

I am determined to give in more.....to love more.....to share more.....to hug more....to show my appreciation more.......I don't do those things enough......

We have this moment....this moment only.....what will you choose to do with it?

Monday, August 30, 2010

Adapting...


It's been a long week....a long and difficult one.  On top of losing Casper, I also came down with some sort of stomach virus....one that has yet to let go of it's reigns on me....

With that though, I've had a lot of time to think....I haven't felt like listening to music much at all (which is WAY out of character)....in a much more of a silent reflective mood....learning to accept what my life is now....and to contemplate what I need to do now in order for my life to move forward.   After over ten years of living with Casper in my day to day life....adapting to certain schedules....things I have to do for him....for us....certain habits I never even knew I had but I am noticing now because they revolved around him and simple "traditions" we both had grown accustomed to....such as morning rituals....meal time arrangements....getting ready for bed.  All these things are unnecessary now...and I found myself very aimless this week.   Some of you who don't have pets might not understand this....but it is HUGE....especially after a decade or more of doing things a certain way, you find yourself at a loss....having to shift your whole way of life to a degree.  It's eerie and unsettling.  


Life goes on...this we all know...we adapt...we try to heal the best we can...it's a part of this journey...


Beyond that....I am still on a quest to simplify as much as possible...maybe even more now.  I am marking down and using up craft supplies....letting go letting go letting go.  I think I now have more boxes packed up of items to get rid of than I do of belongings to keep...but it's still not enough.  If you want to see what I'm marking down check out the shop .


I'm also reading a lot of minimalism articles and books...still.   


Also watched 180 degrees South....excellent movie...i highly recommend it to environmental enthusiasts....anyone who wants to live simply and conserve the earth...etc....love it.   It's on Instant Play Netflix right now if you are interested.  


Still planning the hopefully year long trip, if not more....if there are any recommendations as to what I should see, places to visit, things to do, let me know.......

Monday, August 23, 2010

hard lessons...


do i want to document this day? not really....but i am anyway because i want to celebrate and express my gratitude for the cat that has shared in my life for over ten years.  tomorrow at 11:30am i have to say goodbye...and let go.  i don't want to....i mean i really really really don't want to...i'm not ready....but this isn't about me....it's about him and all the problems and health issues he has...it's about loving him enough to let him go so he doesn't have to go through this anymore.  
i am trying to push aside my feelings of guilt....of regret....of my loss.....i am trying to ignore myself long enough to do what's best for him.  i look at him and know i still have so much love left to give him.....i am trying to send him every loving, joyful, grateful vibe i have in me......i want him to know just how much he has been loved the past decade...and how much he will continue to be loved.  
he has annoyed me by jumping on counters, eating my food, given me comfort by cuddling every night.....he has been through my chaotic 20s with me....he has moved and adjusted to all the places i've been and lived....he has meowed me into submission when i get out the milk container...and tripped me up when i open the can of tuna to make a sandwich......he has given me endless joy.  
i'm not ready for this....but who is ever ready for hard change?.....who is ever ready for loss?.....who decides to embrace pain? or hurt?  life hurts sometimes....some days just plain ole' suck.  today sucks...i guarantee tomorrow will suck even more.  my heart is hurting...despite the heartache i will be there....holding him when he moves on.....

so today he gets whatever he wants.....today is about love.  i can't hardly get anything done, because i don't want to take my eyes off of him....i want to embrace every second i have until i have to say goodbye.

so if you are reading, send all the positive vibes you can to him.....he deserves it :)





Friday, August 20, 2010

how i simplify....


I keep a box or two in a room i use often......throughout my day or week if i see something i don't use, or isn't striking me as something that is "me" anymore, i toss it in the box....i usually label the box with the date i started it and write "goodwill or yard sale" on it.  keeping this box out enables me to let go of things at my own pace....
i can leave it in the box....and though it sounds cheesy, i can begin the "letting go" phase of the item...not all things are like this....some i can easily throw in the box and be done with them....if i give myself a chance though to release my attachment of it i tend to be more comfortable with the whole idea of simplifying....it becomes easier to detach every time.  

my release of books has been effortless now......i embrace the idea of owning only a few now....i of course hold on to my fabulous dictionary, thesaurus, and some work books that i look at consistently....those kind of inspiring books that have become a part of my life.....everything else i release into the world...knowing they will come back to me to be read if i need them....but honestly...with all the books in this world, i could NEVER read them ALL before i die....so why hang on to ones that have already crossed my path???......

speaking of letting go of....i am off to deliver more boxes to the Goodwill.......have a joyful day!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

ready to fight...


Getting to a place of simplicity isn't easy.   It's been a long path of obstacles, hidden agendas, falling over, mistakes, forgotten paths, distractions, etc.......
All of this usually happens when i lose focus....when i look the other way even for a second.  Living a life of simplicity and minimalism takes practice and diligence..........then after awhile, it becomes all you want...you are less distracted by this or that gadget......you begin to crave open roads, pastures, fields, sunshine, books, silence, adventure, etc....at least i do.  i always have craved these things, but even more now.  with every thing i get rid of, the more my soul's desire comes floating to the top...pushing through....i see what i want more clearly.

With each of us, we carry certain burdens....the things we regret or could have done differently....relationships we wish we had never gotten into...or whatever it is for you.....there ARE setbacks...there will ALWAYS be setbacks......the worst one is the 'what if'....or 'one day'......"one day things will change",  "one day i'll have my dream job",  "what if i had done this instead of that"..............blah blah blah.   I'm so tired of telling myself that....you should be too. 
What one thing can you do today that will jump start the "what if"..or the "could be"...of the "some day" ?   go and do it.  now.  we owe it to ourselves, TO LIFE...to do something about what we crave in our souls......we HAVE to.   screw fear....find a way to make it work, and fight for it....i got my boxing gloves on and i'm ready to push through barbed wire to get what i want.   are you?

Monday, August 16, 2010

freedoms of not owning a car....


i'm thinking of living in a location that makes it easy for me to bike or not need a car so much.....with my car in desperate shape and having so many expenses to getting it fixed, insurance, etc....i'd love another alternative.....i just read about this...Zipcar.....AMAZING.  

i am normally one who loves the freedom of having a car.  lately though, i just haven't had one that runs smoothly....so it made me think of not owning one and what that would be like.  of course, i would need to live somewhere that makes not owning one possible.   this is all still under consideration...but i like the idea of it for many reasons....


~getting healthier from walking and biking 
~no car insurance, gas cost, keeping it fixed
~no oil consumption....healthier for the environment
~less chance of dying in a car accident
~no road rage...yes i have it ....not extreme of course, but yes i fuss a lot
~forces me to rethink how i go about my day ...getting things done
~slows everything down....
~etc etc


i have ALWAYS thought there was more freedom in having a car, and now i suddenly see the freedom in NOT having one.  


so much is changing.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

scaling down...

what i want...

is what i've said many many times before....a simplified life.....maybe a bike instead of a car.....fresh food from my garden and fruit trees instead of grocery store purchases......reading in place of tv.....thrift stores instead of dept. stores....hula hooping instead of the gym....you get the point........

most of this has already been in the works...and some i still need to work on......

a couple of months ago i got rid of PILES of stuff.......and now even more belongings are going into boxes to give away...as well as furniture and crafty supplies i "might" use one day. 

i just can't do it anymore...i can't own all this stuff....

scaling down...i can feel myself getting lighter by the minute.

Friday, August 13, 2010

so here we are....


so here i am......here we are......here you are.....

still simplifying....still making plans....still adjusting to unforeseen obstacles.....
how exactly does one slim down what they own to what they can fit in a vehicle to move??....how do you free yourself from 'owning things'..or the things owning you?......what do you *really* need?....it's what i am faced with this week.......time if flying by this summer and it's getting to a point where things need to start happening in order for change to occur.  

as of right now....a lightning storm is brewing and computer needs to be shut down........gonna go make a drink and throw things into yard sale or goodwill boxes.....

have a fantastic weekend!  laugh lots!