Well, after that last sorta DEPRESSING post, I thought I'd write something uplifting and happy instead. I read this awesome post on Frugally Sustainable (really, all her posts are awesome) titled "10 Ways To Live in Contentment and Have Enough". I found it really inspiring and took a step back to evaluate just how much I am lucky to have and how little I really need. I am a big fan of the term "simplify" and found myself really thinking about how often people (including me) buy things they WANT but really don't NEED just to get a momentary rush of happiness. I have found that by " redefining my understanding of 'enough' " I have so much to be happy for that I don't need to buy anything, thus helping me save money.
The idea of unplugging for a day a week makes me so happy. While living with my parents my mother often keeps the TV on for "background noise" and the incessant chatter drives me NUTS!!! My husband is often on the computer in his free time playing games and such and that drives me crazy too! I like to just sit and read or crochet while looking out the window and relaxing. I think we all need a little bit of time in our lives to separate from technology. If only we could all look around outside at all the wonder and miracles that nature gives us everyday instead of locking our eyes to a screen! This ties in directly with finding our own entertainment. Some of the best times I've had with friends and family has happened when we pulled out a board game or card game and played together. I love walking outside, especially with my dog and husband. Plus, those are both free! (Well, unless you don't own a board game or a deck of cards and in that case, you should get on that STAT!)
The best of all (something that I find myself with battling quite often) is STOP TRYING TO KEEP UP. Who cares what kind of car you drive, house you live in, or clothes you wear? It doesn't make a person who they are. You will never measure up to every single person in your life so why stress out trying. As Frugally Sustainable put it, "You are a unique, amazingly talented individual all in your own right." Another thing that causes a lot of stress to people is trying to make time for everyone and everything. If you spend time on someone in your life and all they give you are negative feelings about yourself or your choices you need to get that toxicity out of your life. It's just wasted energy on that person. We only have so long on this Earth and we should spend the time and energy with have culturing the relationships with the people that make our souls sing.
The hardest of all of these (in my opinion) is being happy with yourself. Everyday I find this to be an uphill, bloody battle (for reasons I will not disclose in this blog). It's something I will work on my whole life but I often find myself not making time to do so. Even if we all just take five minutes a day to look in the mirror and think of two great things about ourselves our worlds will be happier and we will stand straighter. After all if you can't love and respect yourself, how can you expect anyone else to do the same?
One of my biggest passions in life is eating wonderful homemade food and encouraging others to do so. Believe me, it makes a huge difference on how you feel! I no longer eat meat that wasn't locally grown, and I do my best to help my local economy by buying local produce and other items while I can. The best thing of all of course is to GROW YOUR OWN FOOD! No matter how small your space you can have a couple pots of herbs or even a tomato plant. It is an amazing feeling to eat something you grew from a little seed in the ground to a fruit bearing adult plant.
Of course, with Thanksgiving coming up it is on all of our minds right now, "Show Gratitude". So many of us dwell on what we don't have or what's wrong instead of what blessings we have in life. I am so thankful for my family, my husband, my cuddly dog, and everything I have. We get lost in life sometimes and forget all the beautiful things and people in it. Take a moment to close your eyes and think of all you can give thanks for and I'm sure it'll start you down the road of being more content.
Until next time,
xoxo Stacie
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