Refocusing, reassessing, re-energizing...

So here I am, cruising along, doing what I do, living my life in the moment, day by day. Occasionally getting bogged down with the doom and gloom but mostly feeling the amazement and wonder at the simple pleasures in my life.

But for whatever reason, I get a jolt, a reality check - it'll throw me, it'll stop me in my tracks, it'll immobilise me.

Then I move into the analytical stage - I think, I wonder, I rationalise, I reassess.

Then I begin to take action again - I research, I re-energize and find motivational articles or quotes, I move on and look onwards and upwards. I once again know I am on the right track for our family and fully embrace it.

Being one who has tended to make alternative choices in so many parts of life (in particular since I've become a parent), I'm used to going against the current, sometimes defending my choices and other times putting my head down to avoid the attention.

I recently came across an old post of mine right back from my early days of blogging entitled Voluntary Simplicity. It's an interesting and such a diverse topic that means so many different things to everyone. I also wonder about how I get to make that privileged choice when so many in the world don't.

I wanted to re-post an excerpt from the book called The Lilypad: 7 steps to the simple life I linked to in the post as it summed up what Simple Living means to me. But I've just noticed that it's no longer available. From what I recall though - the author's idea of living simply is not driven from a place of fear, nor all about penny-pinching but from finding enjoyment and satisfaction in being free from consumerism, treading lightly on the earth, enjoying the moment and making your home and environment your sanctuary.

I still also really like and identify with The Worsted Witch's post and the definition she writes about.

So, a post made up of random ponderings, but I find it quite empowering to go through this sort of process periodically and come out the other side stronger.

Voluntary Simplicity

I'm finally facing this topic. It is so broad, and I'm only really just starting to get my head around the different aspects of it, how everyone has different interpretations of it and for me - it is an ever evolving process. I have been interested in many aspects over the years - but had never pondered it or tied it all together as forming what is known as "Voluntary Simplicity" or "Simple Living" or "Intentional Living".

The web is full of information and ideas on it.

I have come across a few websites that really speak to me about what it all is. I have noticed that it's not something that is static, I don't even really have a firm or finite picture of where this is taking me. What I believe is, to fully embrace this type of philosophy is knowing that it *is* a gradual realisation or process. To launch into it because something sounds "like a neat idea" and try to implement everything that a "list" discusses is what perhaps makes something a passing fad if it's not a true match for the person wanting to give it a go.

I particularly liked these sites:

The Lilypad List: 7 Steps to the simple life

I liked the whole chapter, but in particular Page 17 on Getting Started and the author writes of "What is a simple life?". I thought it was put really nicely.

I was also put onto this site for their perspective, and that too I totally relate to.

It is about making just one small change at a time...and see where it takes you.

Content in my cosy home...

So I've always been a declutterer. I think it was driven from having grown up in a very cluttered house with my parents (a large house, just every surface was covered in *stuff*). I recall it driving me nuts back then and it still does now heh!

I wouldn't say I am a minimalist, but I like to only own things that I LOVE. I don't like to own lots of similar type things when one or two of them would be sufficient (kitchen comes to mind here). It has been a long process of getting to where I am now even and I tend to purge things every few months. I find it hard to be a continual declutterer though, so I do like to put things in a drawer for reassessing at some later stage. Usually it's a burst of energy that comes on at 9pm!

I read a thread on a message board last year (with a link to a blog) that got me really inspired to do a massive overhaul of my home. Here is the blog about the home (including a photo tour) that changed my views on why I previously thought my average 3 bedroom home would be too small for our family long term. For some reason I was sucked into the whole idea that families need a lot of space and within 5yrs we'd need to upgrade. We have quite large living rooms and kitchen space which is more than enough space for our family of four. Once I got my head around all of this, I realised that I *am* content where we are. I like the community neighbourhood, I like the feel of our house, I like the large backyard (as yet unused, but now has a plan ;)) - so really why would I want a bigger house?

The contentment that I felt after reading the thread and blog has just made me feel so much more settled - in fact I guess this realisation was really what led to my desire to live a sustainable lifestyle and that our current property is perfect for doing just that!

Here are a few pics of my living areas post-declutter (although they mostly looked like this anyway, I was looking at it with new eyes). I did have one of my lounge, but has been lost somewhere between my two laptops breaking down and some data was lost.

Looking down hallway towards bedrooms from dining room.



Standing near my kitchen entry looking across my dining room to my front door - very open and exposed, no privacy. Ideally I'd like to extend out down the porch and enclose a portion that will create a foyer-type room. Our small dining table is to the right of the photo (this room used to be the original entire living room of the house which used to be a beach bach).



Dining room


My kitchen from standing in the dining room.



Lounge


Bathroom


Laundry


Bedroom


I am also focusing on making really conscious purchases when I go shopping. I find it so easy to just see something and justify a need for it (and that goes for buying 2nd hand stuff as well). I have been stopping myself by asking "did have this need before I saw it?". So far that has worked and I have walked away.

Maybe that will be further discussion for another time. Voluntary Simplicity.