Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

We make thousands of decisions every day.  Should I wear this or that, or this other thing... or should I buy something new?  Should I eat this or that?  Should I answer my phone or let it go to voice mail?  Should I do this task first, or that one?  Should I take the short cut or the scenic route?  Should I cook or go out, or order in, or just eat a bowl of Cheerios?  Should I read this book, or check social media, or go to bed early? On and on it goes, day after day.  Decision fatigue is a real thing. Someone has done the math.  A study conducted by Barclays Plan & Invest in the UK found that we spend about 2.5 hours every day making these small but necessary decisions.  This huge effort steals time and attention we could be spending on more important things, like relationships, big projects, and long-term plans.  That's why the simplest decisions can make so much difference to your happiness. What do I mean by simple decisio...

Are you ready to begin decluttering?  Maybe you're new to the idea of living with less.  Or maybe you've tried before and got busy or bogged down. You've probably heard the old joke, "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!"  Here are some "little bites" to help you get started on this immense task.  Any one of these ideas will not solve every clutter problem.  But tackle them all, one at a time, and you'll see a lot of progress. Just remember that your home didn't become cluttered in a day.  It's okay (and perfectly normal) if it doesn't become uncluttered with a day's-worth of effort. Thinking about spring cleaning? Subscribe to receive my free printable   A Cleaning Schedule to Simplify Home Care How to ease into decluttering 1.  Start with five minutes. Will you get an entire room cleared out in five minutes?  No.  But take five minutes here and there, over and over, and you'll be surprised what you can accomplish. Th...

Walking is the epitome of minimalism.  With reasonably comfortable shoes, all you need to do is step outside.  Begin any time, and go anywhere. We all know that walking supports physical health, improving heart function, strengthening joints and muscles, even boosting immune response.  According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control, walking is "the closest thing we have to a wonder drug." But walking can do even more. If the day is fine, any walk will do. Annie Dillard A history This simple activity that you've been doing since you were about a year old is something you might take for granted.  My grandsons walk with boundless energy.  They're never tired.  They accept that I may sit to rest on a convenient bench along the way, but they never need to. I remember walking with my father when I was quite small.  Our regular destinations were the public library and park about a half-mile from our home, so Daddy carried ...

If you've read this blog for a while (or if you've looked at my photo), you know I struggle with obesity.  Now, I'm not a person who just sits around all day eating chips and ice cream.  But there are certain foods that are really hard for me to say no to, and if I have them around at all, I'm going to eat them until they're gone.  That's why my husband and I always order a small pizza if we have one, or why it's better for me to buy the occasional single bakery item than to keep baking supplies in my kitchen. But like any program of self-control or self-denial, it can be difficult to implement forever.  That makes my sweet tooth not something "cute," but an addiction like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes.  Maybe you can relate.  It might not be oatmeal cookies that call your name.  Maybe it's pretty shoes or handbags, the latest in electronics, or whatever's featured at Sephora.  Maybe it's video games, TV, or even doomscrolling. Are you ...

Dear readers, there is a power in each one of us that we must not abandon or fail to use.  It's our conscience, our sense of decency, morality, and kindness that most people in the world share. The president of my country has taken us to war – without our consent, and with rude disregard for both the spirit and the letter of our constitution. But it's worse than that.  It's worse than the damage to infrastructure and shipping that will lead to an oil crisis, not just here in the U.S. or in Europe, but in China, India, South Korea, Japan, and other eastern nations.  It's worse than the possibility of global recession. Absolutely not a game The words and actions of the leaders of my country have alienated our long-time allies and made us hated around the world.  It's horrifying to realize that we may deserve this. While Iranian families were burying their children, the White House posted a spliced video of American football players tackling each other alongside foota...

Maybe you've tried to build savings in the past and a surprise bill messed you up.  Today, with prices continuing to climb at the grocery store and everywhere else, you might have given up. I've been there too.  For years, my husband and I would save a little only to draw the account down a few months later.  Inflation or life events would derail our plans. When costs are unpredictable, saving can start to feel impossible.  But building savings doesn't have to rely on willpower, perfect timing, or a lucky lottery win.  Instead, you can focus on small, repeatable systems that work with real life, no matter what happens.  These are systems that keep moving forward even when prices climb or plans change. Steps to make saving a reality 1.  Start small with a "savings drip."  Psychologically, tiny deposits keep momentum going in the right direction without triggering scarcity, especially when the cost of groceries, utilities, and insurance premiums may...