“Cleaning is easier for minimalists.”
—The Minimalists
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Letting Go of Leaves and Things
A day, less cluttered
By Alicia Woodward
On a crisp autumn morning, I shuffled into the kitchen in my robe and slippers and stopped. Something was different. Our home was flooded with bright golden light. Through the glass doors, the rising sun, usually filtered by thick woods, was in full view. Falling leaves cast confetti-like shadows on the floor and walls. They danced and swirled through the air singing, "It's time to let go..."
I was suddenly inspired to let go of a few things myself. The trees showed me the way. I remembered how their budding leaves thrilled us when they appeared in the spring. How they shaded us all summer and graced us with their autumn colors. Soon their leaves would lay on the ground like faded and forgotten toys.
I was reminded most things in life aren't meant to last forever; that's what memories are for.
I spent the day searching our home for things to let go. By afternoon the pile on our kitchen table included a cheap shirt that looked shabby after one wash, a miracle cream that wasn't, two scratchy throw pillows, an avocado slicer that works no better than a paring knife, old towels, a pair of uncomfortable shoes, a couple decorative items, a stack of magazines and a few good books someone else might enjoy.
Are there things in your home you'd like to let go of? Worn-out things. Useless things. Ugly things. Broken things. Meaningless things. Uncomfortable things. Too many things. Do you have perfectly wonderful things that just don't suit your season of life?
Don't over think it. It's kind of like raking leaves. There are lots of ways to tackle the job. Just start somewhere.
It's amazing how letting go of a few things can change our perspective. With the clutter gone, I saw our home in a new light. I appreciated its bones. I noticed a subtle shift in the way the rooms felt, in the way I felt. I think I even found a little clarity under some of that stuff.
That evening I watched the sun sink below the horizon. The clear autumn sky seemed endless, and my view of the lake was unobstructed. Bare trees stood like graceful sculptures, and I thanked them for showing me how to let go.
Be Still, Be You
Reflection is the key to enlightenment
By Richard Long III
It is okay to do nothing.
We get so caught up in the world of hyperconnectivity, social anxiety, and fear of missing out that we lose sight of ourselves. We are social beings so we judge our actions based on the actions of others. We critique our character based on people we haven’t met and probably never will.
Our lives are an accumulation of every moment that got us to this point, and the rest of our lives will be based on the actions we take each moment going forward. We must take time to look back on the successes, failures, relationships, and self-care habits that we have cultivated. We must look at the people around us and use their wisdom and experience to obtain the life that we want and to avoid the life we don’t.
Take time to be silent. Be with yourself. Clear out the noise. It is then that you will realize what is truly meant for you. The breakthrough you are hoping for may not happen right away. Just know that satori (enlightenment) is on the other side of reflection.
Be patient and give yourself space to breathe, think, and grow. If not, you will be caught in a vicious feedback loop of meaningless information that will dictate your life.
Be still. Be you.
A Little More of Less
A few other articles we think you might enjoy…
You Don’t Need Much to Be Happy by Ivaylo Durmonski
How To Free Up Your Free Time by Dee Nowak
How to Be Kind to Yourself & Still Get Stuff Done by Leo Babauta
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