Simple Living

I've been working at creating order in our house, by building habits of simplicity and orderliness, because creating a peaceful and efficient sanctuary creates a feeling of stability which is a basic practice of resilience.

And besides that, habits of simplicity and order aid me in reducing my consumption, and using only my share of the earth’s resources, which is the honorable and sustainable thing to do, and is one way that I show reverence for the Earth and for God. 

Agenda:

1. Read "One Year to an Organized Life":

2. Clean and clear the bedrooms
3. Simple steps for health

4. Review essential intentions

1. Read "One Year to an Organized Life":

I'm enjoying this book by Regina Leeds (2008) ; the subtitle promises I will get "Completely Organized for Good"! While I don't consider myself to be hopelessly disorganized, I have identified several areas that need improvement.

I'm reading a section called How to Prepare for an Organizing Project. She provides a check list for all organizing projects:

• First, eat a good meal and drink lots of water.
• Choose the time of day when I am at my physical peak. 
• Set up a table nearby, and stock some large bags or boxes.
• Turn off distractions.
• Turn on some music.
• Work in a systematic fashion- take out everything in one area at a time and eliminate the things you no longer need.
• Put things back in an orderly way: All like things together.

2. Clean and clear the bedrooms:

In February my cleaning focus is woodwork and doors, and Black Holes: the mysterious deep dark spaces of storage that I haven't looked in for years. This week I'll:

• Clean the bedroom doors.
• Clear out the biggest black hole- My closet: Collect everything that needs a new home in a big box and at the end of the week, find a new spot or donate.

3. Simple steps for health:

I'm having more and more face issues - mostly rashes and bumps, some of them pre-cancerous. I think more regular moisturizing might help, but in any case, I will feel happier if I give my skin some attention.

Morning: 

• Rinse face with water in the morning; 
• use toner;
• and apply a nickel-sized dollop of broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher face sunscreen with moisturizer.

Evening: 

• Clean before bed, to clear away impurities and excess oil that can clog pores and dull skin. Be gentle: Use a non-soap, unscented, hypoallergenic beauty bar; 
• follow with a tonic;
• and smooth on moisturizer + Eucerine cream on itchy patches.

4. Review Essential Intentions:

This week I'm reviewing and recommitting to my core values, and writing new intentions. I ask-

How do I define each of my values?

Why do I value them? Why is it so important to me?

What right action or good deeds do I intend each day?

How do I intend to live, to support and demonstrate my values?

When I turn my values into intentions, they become a pledge for action in the moment - they remind me of my deepest, most essential, most passionate reasons for leading a valuable life. It's vital for me to define my values and principles in a way that touches me at my core, and hone each one down to a phrase that will be useful, day in and day out.

I'm working at this a little each day:

I intend to live with simplicity, buying less, preserving time for my priorities, and maintaining order in my surroundings, because a simple lifestyle ensures that I use only my share of the earth’s resources, and each person and being in the world, and the earth itself, deserves to live with basic needs met; and because outer order does support inner calm and resilience, and opens the time I need for being Godly .