The holidays are a great time to have a very important discussion with your kids. Are all of those toys worth the hassle months later? Is it possible your kids are ready to learn that less really is more in life.
The Season of Stuff
It seems as though this time of year we are always looking for ways to improve ourselves. We try setting goals and resolutions but often times fall short.
One of the biggest reasons we fail, in my opinion, is that we don’t prepare ourselves for these tasks. In order to grow a garden you will first need seed right?!?!
This year, as I posted earlier, I have set several goals for myself but we also have a few long standing family goals. Being debt free, paying for our future home in cash, and decluttering our lives are just a few that we often struggle with.
A Helpful Resource
Recently I started following the blog www.livingwellspendingless.com and read the book Living Well Spending Less 12 Secrets of the Good Life and was blessed to find a few of the answers I had been looking for.
In this book the author, Ruth, gives great insight into how downsizing and simplifying changed her families life. To some this may seem an odd fact to find but for myself and our family this is huge!
We recently worked on decluttering our home and we were able to get rid of a LOT of things that surrounded us daily and stressed us out. We didn’t even realize the stress it put on us. Until the first night when we went to bed and this amazing relaxing peace came over us.
We have vowed never to go back, and I’m happy to report we are two weeks in to this transition. Our next goal is some bigger rooms and storage.
Finding others who believe that less really is more gives me such hope!
Not only does Ruth cover how to declutter our lives but also how to save money, dream and set goals. For some, those things haven’t been done since high school! It’s time to start dreaming again people.
Big Dreams of Less Stuff
Dreaming about my “grown-up” house as the author coined it has been wonderful and terrible! We are saving and doing well so for my birthday we went to look at kitchen and bathroom things to start dreaming. A bit of planning ahead if you will.
Our trip ended with us wondering how much we would need to save to get that house. Surprisingly, two days after this trip my husband and I both said we would prefer a smaller house and more land.
We have made the decision that less to us was more peaceful!
Peace. The shortest definition in the dictionary I can find for peace is contentment.
That is what I want for my life and for my children. Peace and contentment. The ability to be happy and fully satisfied with the little things in life not always longing for more. Peace and contentment, that should make for lots of joy in life.
A Long Way to Go
I know that it will be challenging but after reading this book, which my husband did as well without any prodding, I am more determined than ever to have that contentment. Not only for myself but for my kids as well.
Challenges are a part of our life and setting up a foundation for success is the best way to succeed.
Make the time and do yourself a favor by reading Living Well Spending Less 12 Secrets to the Good Life so that you too can find that foundation to help you succeed.
Happy reading and enjoy!