Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

Dolly Parton, the wealthiest woman in the history of country music, died this past week at the age of 80.  The accolades have been many, and from everywhere – from Democrats and Republicans, from Black and White, from religious conservatives and LGBTQ allies, and from people who are steeped in country music and people who never listen to it.  Because you don't have to be a country music fan to like and respect Dolly. She was born in a tiny cabin in the mountains of Tennessee, and grew up wearing clothes fashioned from whatever bits of fabric her mother could find.  It's a little like the way my mom, born more than a decade earlier, grew up – actually living in a barn for the first two years of her life, starting first grade in a one-room schoolhouse down the road, wearing dresses made from flour sacks.  Both ladies made a lot more of their lives than where they started from. More than meets the eye A lot of people underestimated Dolly Parton.  She had that accen...

Think back 20 years (or 40 or more if you can!), and I'm sure you'll agree that life is more crowded and difficult now than it used to be. And it's not just adults who feel it.  Our kids and grandkids are part of the most-stressed generation ever.  There are plenty of reasons – social media, super-busy schedules, lack of down time and play time, and the pressure to excel are some of them. Another is the pressing need to decide what you want to be when you grow up.  Now, oldsters have always asked this question of the young, but today it seems you have to decide much sooner.  Many of my husband's 6th grade students (aged 11-12) were in a constant tizzy about grades and test scores because they wanted to be sure to qualify for AP courses in high school – the lack of which could hamper their ability to get into a "good" college.  (I won't even talk about the serious stress attendant on the cost of such a college today.) Increasing choices I think people of ...

It's a busy time of year.  You want a clean house, but you don't have time for a full deep-clean right now.  You want your house to look tidy and spacious, but you don't have time for a full declutter now, either. Never fear, you can get a cleaner, more pleasant home in minutes, even if you can't find time to clean the baseboards or reorganize your pantry today. Simply focus on the high-traffic, high-impact areas that make the most difference.  Clearing areas that are in constant view will give you the biggest reward.  Not only will you transform your home from chaotic to calm in a matter of minutes, but you'll also get a rush of endorphins as you finish the task. Ready to start? 6 areas to tackle for quickest results 1.  Floors Floors are the biggest surface in your home, so their impact is huge.  Do a quick sweep through the main living areas (don't forget the entry!) to pick up toys, shoes, clothing, sports equipment, etc. Don't just transfer the pile so...

This is the "normal" world we live in:  Wall-to-wall traffic, appointments, work duties, too many possessions.   We fill everything to the brim, because we believe that happiness is found in having it all. And then we burn out, or simply tire, and long for more peace and space, or even just a short break.  We try to pare things back so we can have a little respite. But stuff has a way of creeping back.  Like weeds, like the Greek Hydra, you remove one thing and two more raise their heads.  It's a losing battle unless you can get to the root. How to widen the margins How can we widen the margins of our days, leaving ourselves more time and energy for the things we love?  Simply pick one or two of these ideas and try them today. *  This is just a reminder that your purchases may provide a commission that helps support this blog.  Thank you. 1.  Leave one day on the weekly calendar that's mostly white space. 2.  Get up just 15 minutes earli...

We live in the 21st century.  I know that.  We can't completely ignore technology, and most of us can't (or don't want to) move to a commune in the woods.  Anyway, a lot of our modern machines are helpful.  So we need a hybrid approach.  We need to participate, but we also need to contemplate.  We need to acknowledge our interdependence, but we also need to think independently. We need to train ourselves to regain the attention we've lost to computers, smart phones, and 24/7 media of all kinds. We need distance and time to be functional enough to do or think anything meaningful at all. Jenny Odell Disconnect to connect How many of you reach for your phone first thing in the morning?  Studies show that a whopping 84% of us do .  Just 20 years ago, that would have been unthinkable. Our eight-hour workday was originally created with this idea in mind:  "Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what you will."  Yet economi...

What is a weed?  Something that grows where we don't want it.  In a garden of roses, for example, a sunflower is a weed. My childhood lawn at was dotted with dandelions, much to my mother's chagrin.  (I don't think Daddy cared for them either.)  But I loved them.  There's something amiable about their sunshine-colored, many-rayed faces.  And who hasn't wished on the tufted head of a mature dandelion, believing the wish would be granted if all the seeds could be sent sailing with one puff of breath? And let's not forget their hidden virtues: The dandelion is self-propagating, not relying on pollinators to spread.  Before the invention of lawns, gardeners loved how easy it was to cultivate this useful plant. Every part of the plant is edible.  The leaves are even more nutritious than spinach and kale, rich in iron and vitamins A, C, and K.  The flowers are slightly sweet, and can be distilled into wine or jelly, and make delicious fritters ....