This Sunday morning, I've at last been catching up on reading and commenting on other blogs. It's nice to hear other peoples' voices for a change! Interestingly, there seems to be a common theme running through the blogs I read this morning: a desire for simplicity.
This definitely resonates with me. All of the changesthat my husband (that cuddly faux-curmudgeon known as RVPainter) and I have been making have come about because of the desire for a simpler life. The road to getting here has at times felt complicated: Putting our house on the market at the worst time in history; finding temporary digs here in Santa Fe for the winter; getting our RV built; and all that while I'm in the middle of publishing, and now promoting, a book.
But through it all, we have kept these two mantras in mind: Make it easy. Keep it simple. We now test every single decision we make against these two barometers. Is it simple? Does it make it easy? If not, we re-think. We both recognize that we BOTH have the tendency to make things complicated, so now we stop and ask ourselves these questions. Nice to know we've learned something in 30+ years together!
We have another motto: Get Stuff Free. It seems as though ever since we put this one out there, we are getting more stuff for free. Last night, we went - for free - to a gala fundraising event for Cornerstones, a Santa Fe non-profit that raises money to rehab old, historic New Mexico buildings. Dick, aka RVPainter, donated six paintings for the silent auction. A chorus of talented young people entertained us (for free), we munched on free hors d'oeuvres and drank free wine, and dined on a delicious dinner. Free. I love free.
Hope your Sunday is easy and simple, and that you get some free stuff too.
XOXO
The dessert was fantastic as well!!!
ReplyDeleteFor some reason a FREE meal tastes so much better!!! I too love FREE! FREE also makes things easy and keeps things simple!! :>)
I like that! Free is the new black - I'm gonna use it!Your blog was one of my inspirations today, BiP...xo
ReplyDeleteMy desire to make more things from scratch has led to MORE work for me. I think I have this concept backwards! But I enjoy making things and experimenting. Simple is good, but I love it! Now, if I can just get my medication right then I can think clearly. *fingers crossed*
ReplyDeleteI'm rooting for you, AB. You are one of the clearest thinkers I've met in bloggi land! Even with med dosage issues!
ReplyDeleteJust added your book to my wish list on Amazon. :-) Congratulations again! I so agree with your post. Life is so crazy and I try hard to keep it simple these days....and keep the noise out. Cheers to a fun, free night!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tracy Jo - lovely news, much appreciated. Hope you have a lovely evening and a great week.
ReplyDeleteWise words. I find as I get older I don't have the tolerance for a lot of unnecessary hoopla.
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for easy and simple too. I like the 'free is the new black' comment lol.
ReplyDeleteLeslie - same here!
ReplyDeleteCatherine - That comment cracked me up too. We should all start saying it.
Life at times can appear so complicated, and navigating the complexities of each day can at times be overwhelming. Thank you Melissa for your thoughts in relation to these real and perceived challenges. I'm looking forward to an easy and simple day.
ReplyDeleteGreat motto! Free stuff is always nice, plus keeping it simple should be everyone's mantra!
ReplyDeleteFree can definitely be a nice thing. :D
ReplyDeleteAccidental, it sure does feel that way! Hope you had a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteE.R. - the mottos really help keep us on track!
Nisa - FREE is practically my FAVORITE thing :-)