Image: stay2gether FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Minimalist living and simple living are usually talking about things we don’t need.

… but we still need things.

In fact, some really awesome things make it possible to have less things.

Some things really make life better.  Their value far outweighs their need to be taken care of and picked up.

Since cutting our belongings down to what would fit in 4 carry-ons, 2 suitcases, and a few backpacks we have really narrowed down on what our most important things are.

… so these are a few of my favorite things.  (raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... I love kittens)

If I was stranded on a deserted island, these are the 10 things I would want with me … you get the idea…

Top 10 possessions I love!

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Image:ponsulak, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What are you good at?  What did you love in school?  What have you always wanted to do? Are you doing it now?

Maybe it isn’t content you are missing

Have you had a nagging though in your head? Something you have wanted to try? Maybe something you are trying to get started now? What is keeping you from doing it?

Maybe it isn’t quality you are missing

What do you want to try that is yours?  Is there a part of you that you want to share with others?

Maybe you are living the way you want to live, but maybe not.  Maybe there is something that has been bugging you, something you have wanted to start, or something you are wanting to put more time into.  … but you are not sure if the content or quality is good enough.

It isn’t content or quality you are missing. Read the rest of this entry →

Is life about finding happiness?

It sounds a bit selfish doesn’t it?

I used to think it sounded selfish. But what if it wasn’t selfish?

What if we are meant to find happiness in life?  What if it is true that happiness is the difference between being alive and truly living?

I think society is full of many things that are selfish, but it may be more in our definition of happiness than in actually finding it.

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When packing to move to China I started realizing something.

In China I have been struggling and thinking more.

This 1 thing is a material trap for both pack-rats and minimalists, people with money and people without.

This 1 idea is what keeps us thinking, planning, and comparing.   Often wasting both our time and our money.

Realizing this 1 idea can help me and you have more of these resources to put toward our living.

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Image: debspoons of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For some reason I really don’t like the ‘boundaries’ word.  I think it is sometimes used inappropriately and can lead to breakdowns in close relationships.  I think our culture suffers because it doesn’t know how to develop close relationships and boundaries often give us the excuse.

However, over the last few weeks in China, I have been thinking and talking about boundaries more.

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Image: by Bryon Lippincott (my hubby)

I might get a bit teary-eyed in this post… ever since I had kids I get teary at a lot of things…

The truth is, now that I look back, our change to a minimalist living has made such a huge impact in our life.

Not as huge as my faith that tells me I am saved and have value, or my amazing husband who loves and believes in me,

…but right up there after that. 

We were living a fairly normal life, just struggling to stay ahead (or at least not fall behind), trying to stay out of debt, and trying to survive till bedtime with our two kids.  It seemed that this was just what life was about.

But when we really started to question if we needed everything in our life things started to change…

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Image: by stockimages FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For the most part I am a pretty nice person.. usually politically correct, and when there is ‘nothing nice to say’ I try to not say anything at all. … but you might need extreme measures…

Really, I am terrified of offending people. But sometimes a more direct approach works better.

Lots of the great people in history had a strong opinion and were okay with sharing it.

So here it goes…

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