KEEP IT SIMPLE
I’m not much for new year resolutions, but I do like the idea of finding a word to use as a theme for the next 365 days. My word this year is “Simple.”
We have a big year ahead of us and we need to keep it as simple as possible. We will move from our home soon and will live in our small RV with our two dogs for nearly six months while we build our new home. My husband retires from his career and I will also leave my part time retirement job. We will also be moving several hours away from most of our friends. This sounds like the makings of a complicated and stressful year, but I’m determined to keep it simple.
I’ve already started to pack up our belongings as we prepare to put our current house on the market. We have lived in this house for twenty years, that is a lot of stuff to sort though. Our next home will be smaller and have less storage space so I am getting rid of a lot of things. Things that are just “stuff”, they are just clutter and don’t spark any joy in my life. I know there are people that might say, “How can you get rid of that, so-and-so gave it to you?” Well, I’ve come to the realization that just because I’ve owned a trinket for twenty years, doesn’t mean I need to have it on display or even own it my entire life. We are allowed to change our styles and live with less or different things.
Keeping it simple doesn’t only apply to personal possessions. It applies to my time. I will chose to spend more time reading books and listening to less noise. We gave up cable TV years ago and never looked back. We still enjoy some Netflix but we spend less time watching reality TV type programs. I still plan to have a huge TV in my next house, but that is mostly so I don’t have to wear my glasses when I watch it.
I will keep the way I eat simpler too. I may eat more of the same things that I enjoy and keep a less stocked pantry. There will be less things to tempt me into unhealthy food choices if I don’t buy them and bring them home. I started doing this towards the end of last year and I’ve already see some weight loss.
I won’t focus on other people and how they live their lives. I won’t get caught up in other people’s drama. I’ll also not spend a lot of time trying to make friendships work that seem to be one sided. Some of you may know what I mean, those friendships where the other person constantly says, “We should get together for dinner.” Yet, it is always you that calls to set things up, as if the other person never would put any effort into making the plans.
Last year I decided I really wasn’t going to do things that I don’t want to do anymore. I’ll go to the weddings and funerals and pay my respects when I should, but you likely won’t see me at your Tupperware party. It’s ok to say no.
I also gave up listening to the news. If there is something important going on in the world, I’ll hear about it at some point. But I don’t want that extra stress in my everyday life.
I know that I can’t change the past, but I will let it go. I will move on and learn from things that went wrong.
This year I will not let my running stress me out. I will run what I can, when I can. And I’ll do the best I can.
This year I’m going to focus on things that help me grow. I will enjoy learning and gaining experiences. I’ll travel when I can, keep on running and spend a lot of time with my husband and dogs. I will surround myself with people that contribute to my life, not take away from it. I won’t outsource my own happiness. 
