Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Take 2...(or 3 or 4, but who is really counting!)

So again life has gotten in the way I have gotten off track. What looked good on paper fell the practicality of life. While Cameron loved a strict schedule, Reagan is much more the free spirit, keeping me very busy learning how to be flexible and realizing what my priorities are.
But even in the midst of the chaos of raising two kids, adjusting to my husbands ever changing work schedule I crave simplicity. I long for my life to be more "Ina Garten in the Hampton's" and less like a three ring circus. Again, it comes down to balancing and finding a happy medium.
Two things have happened recently to renew my efforts in finding that medium. The first is that I finally picked up the book that my sister suggested I read quite awhile a go. It is "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. She comes to a point in her life where she realizes that she should be happier than she is with her life. She takes a year to change that. She breaks it down into monthly projects. I am still reading it, but it has really inspired me. I tend to try to do a HUGE overhaul, all at once, trying to change both my physical, spiritual, and mental habits. I tend to get discouraged when I fail, and throw up my hands and forget the whole thing. Her way is alot more manageable, and honestly sounds fun.
The other things that has renewed my efforts is the sudden passing of my grandmother. She passed away very suddenly and the family is left to sort through all sorts of "stuff". Going through her house has made me look around at my own house and realize that I could use some purging and organizing. While I don't have alot of clutter, there are things that I am holding onto just because I am used to seeing them. Things that don't have a sentimental value, and are just taking up space.
However, before I decide to go tearing thru my house on a gigantic cleaning spree, I am going to take a step back. With the new year coming quickly it is a perfect time to make some changes, one step at a time. Before I start on this overhaul of both my physical surroundings and mental habits I need to come up with my set of "commandments".
This might take awhile, but I think the results will be permanent and worth it. So stay tuned.......