Pathways

"You only are where you are and you can't be anywhere else." -Ryan Murphy

Appreciate who you are, and where you are, as you journey to your best path.  Breath deeply, often.   

Impact

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.  A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship , and he who plants kindness gathers love."  -Saint Basil

Some days I find myself wondering why.  Why do I put so much thought and effort into living minimally?  Is it worth it?  I do believe that no act, no matter how small, is worthless.  I will most likely never know if I am making a positive impact on the world and the people in it.  Still, I will continue to live minimally and try and inspire others to do the same.  

"New" Toys

My children LIVE for getting new toys.  About once a month, we gather up all the toys in our house that we have outgrown and take them to our local Goodwill store.  They can then pick 1 "new" toy to bring home.  Yesterday my son hit the jackpot, a gently used, fully functioning, Fisher Price castle.  He has been playing with it non-stop.  I am hoping that the kids are learning to indulge in their wants of "things" in an environmentally responsible way.  It feels good supporting our local Goodwill, too.

If Tree's Could Talk

If Trees Could Talk by Carol Doemel

Book Description:The industries, politics, and policies of an emerging nation shape the Karlson family in both the 1800 and 1900s and set into motion a chain of events that will rewrite their history for decades to come. A novel of mystery, suspense, and revelation. Wisconsin, early 1900s. The yearning to know an absent mother sets Sunny Karlson on a path of discovery that leads to disturbing revelations. As she seeks to unravel her parents’ past, a startling tale of intersecting lives, ever circling and overlapping, leads to all the missing pieces. Past and present weave together to create a compelling story of friendship, betrayal, and love—and of sojourns to scary places. Set in the beauty of Wisconsin landscapes, the story spans generations, telling the big story that only trees can tell—heartrending, humorous, and wholly satisfying.

I fell in love with this book from the first page.  Full of beautiful and inspiring quotes, characters and settings.  

Clothes

Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or do Without.

This will be my motto regarding clothing for the next 3 months.  My goal is to not buy a single piece of clothing for the entire summer.  This blog pretty much sums up my reasons for it.  Another great blog about not buying clothing, as well as living minimally, can be found here.   

Useful, Beautiful.

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." 

- William Morris

Here is another quote that I absolutely love.  As a recovering compulsive shopper and former pack rat, I had accumulated way to much stuff over the years.  This quote has very simply helped me to decide weather an item in my home stays, or goes.  Keeping my old stuff out of landfills is a must, so if it couldn't be sold on Craigs List, or it wasn't something that could go to Goodwill, then it went up on Freecycle.  Check It Out.  People will come to your house and pick up almost anything!  Half used toiletries and unwanted (but still edible) food are quick to go!  If you're not comfortable with them coming to your house, have them meet you at a busy parking lot out in public.  You don't even have to come face to face with the person you are giving your stuff to.  Just email them to come pick it up on your curb at a designated time.  Here is a great "How To" page about Freecycling.

Simply Live

"Live simply so others may simply live." -Mother Theresa

This is quite possibly my favorite quote.  A gentle reminder that the world is much bigger than my immediate surroundings.  That the things I do in my world have an impact on the whole.  A challenge and reminder to slow down and let only the essential into my life.  Some more information about living simply can be found at We Live Simply.