Capturing Life and Chasing Zen

a book

Just finished reading this book. It really made me think about how I want to live my life. No, it made me want to take action to make changes in my life. Very inspiring. I think I might start reading it again next month. I want to let some things that I've learned simmer a bit and then, I think I'm going to dive in again.

The book is a great reminder for all of us that we don't want to live our lives by default. We want to live purposeful lives...not sleepwalk through them.

Check it out. :) 

one step forward to less stuff

"Every bit of clutter in your house is there because you acquired it in one way or another, and now you are more or less attached to it. If your house is burgeoning with stuff, that's a lot of attachments to drag around with you. How incredibly freeing it would be to dump some of it!"

"Streamlining the stuff in your life can help you focus on more important things, such as people, your own personal development, and the work you do - including your list of your top priorities. Why spend your whole life maintaining and worrying about stuff? Stuff doesn't last. Stuff doesn't contribute to you."

Pg. 273

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Zen Living

Gary R. McClain, Ph.D and Eve Adamson

 

I love this book. If you are interested in Zen, get this book. It is really helping me to understand things better and to take action.

Yesterday, I spent  a large chunk of my day cleaning off my bookshelves. I have many more places in my home that need to be decluttered. But the bookshelves...I knew that would be the hardest for me. Getting rid of books is so very difficult for me. Books help me to get through things. Books are so very much a part of ME. Normally, I would have saved the bookshelves for last. I would have put it off as long as I possibly could. I decided to do something different this time. I thought that maybe if I did the bookshelves first, everything else would  flow more easily.

I feel much better now that the bookshelves have been culled. The back of my van is filled with many wonderful books to donate to the library. Books about photography, spirituality, writing, finding your purpose and passion, scrapbooking, keeping a journal, etc. They have served me well. But I am a procrastinator. My logical brain works overtime. And hanging on to those books will enable me to NOT take action and to keep holding on to other people's ideas about things. It's time to experience things for myself. So...I did it. One more step towards having less stuff so that I can be fully present for my life. YES!

Finishing Something

So...what was your weekend like?

On Friday afternoon, I drove up and was feeling so happy about the sun and how the temperatures had  warmed up, I decided to work a bit outside. I swept the driveway and started clearing leaves and dust and felt energized. I started doing laundry and before long, the kids were home. I vowed to get back outside on Saturday.

Saturday came and it was a gorgeous day. My sister-in-law had mentioned on Facebook that morning how she was planning on cleaning while she listened to an audiobook. I am so gtateful she mentioned that. I had forgotten that I can listen to books as well as music on my iphone. I found a wonderful book...The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and listened to it while sweeping outside, clearing the carport, cleaning the front of the outside of the house, doing laundry, etc. Yes, I know that this is not ZEN. It is multi-tasking. But let me be clear...I don't care! :) I got so much done and it was enjoyable because I was listening to something that inspired me. It was great! I even cooked Saturday night. I went to bed that night feeling so buzzed and happy because I had finished a project. I have a history of procrastinating and not finishing things and listening to the book helped me to stay on task.  I finished something!

Yesterday, I stayed in my PJs and told the kids they could do the same. We watched a movie and hung out all day being silly. I did some laundry and played with some pictures in Photoshop. It was a great weekend!

Here's one of the pics from Mardi Gras Day when my friend (Kitty) & I took our kids on a picnic and hung out all day. This was taken when we were having out picnic on the levee.

I love photography.

Happy Monday!!

Gratitude Journal & ZEN

This morning, I sit at my laptop in virtual darkness. The room is dimly lit by the Christmas tree lights and the sunrise coming through the slats of the blinds. I am brimming with contentment. It is a Monday and I am not working. Woohoo! I am thoroughly enjoying these moments of morning quiet.

These last few days have been busy, but I must say that I have done well being in the moment. Watching the kids' expressions, paying attention, looking at the details, soaking up each and every holiday greeting and hug...it has been such a beautiful thing. Not something you can buy.

I have already accomplished some things on my list. I have edited pictures late into the night, had eggnog & chai latte,  played board games with the kids, played Wii , painted in the living room and done some reading.  Not only did I read, but I read while I was in a very hot bubble bath with my new cucumber melon bubble bath Mom gave me for Christmas. Divine. My reading didn't last as long as I had hoped, though. While soaking, the kids decided to play the new Disney Sing It Wii game Cy got for Christmas. So the rest of my soak was spent listening to them sing. :)

What was I reading? Simple Abundance. I really love that book. And it's been awhile since I picked it up. It was calling me. It's a day-book.  But I love to skip around and read. That book serves as yet another reminder that being in the moment is extremely important to genuine happiness. The gratitude journal is so inspiring and such a gift. I had stopped writing in mine (life got busy & I didn't make it a priority), but I would like to start again. I received two journals for Christmas, so I have no excuse. If I am to " live ZEN, " the gratitude journal fits the bill.  

I am editing pictures and enjoying the process. I will update the blog with them, eventually. For now, I am jumping around, editing as I feel inspired. A few of Devin's last field trip, a few of a Christmas Parade, a few of baking Christmas cookies. It will all get done, eventually.

OK, my computer-time must come to an end.  I have a date with the Dentist.

Happy Monday!

Clearing & Order

Reading Simple Abundance again. I love that book.

From January 16th: "There is an immediate emotional and psychological payoff to getting our houses in order."

Yesterday, I felt like I had to create some order. Every weekend, it seems, we have been gone. The business of life has taken hold. It was time to slow down and stay home (for the most part). Yesterday, I spent the day drinking coffee and tending to the house. Mostly, clearing out and paring down. That always makes me feel better. With the holidays coming, I wanted to get some clearing done because I tend to get overwhelmed with all of the doing & I wanted to focus more on being present this year. I think that doing some clearing will help. I cleared out and straightened and it felt really good. And I focused on paying attention to what I was doing and doing it with loving intent. It went so much smoother than doing it with that "should attitude."

I have so many pictures to edit and post. But I really felt like doing some clearing & cleaning was what I needed to do first. While I was doing all of this, I enlisted Devin & Cy's help (sometimes). And I listened to them talking. They are so comical. I love my girls. And I love getting to know them better every day.

Happy Monday!

  

Reading this...

 

 

I'm reading this book right now and I like it. Funny, I didn't go looking for it. My Mom read it, said it wasn't what she thought, but had finished it and she thought I would like it.  I have to say, I am really enjoying it. It is a quick read, but I slowed down so I can savor it a bit longer and think about what the book's about before I'm done reading it.

 

This book really does a great job of reminding you how much your little acts of kindness can affect people and you have no idea of the ripple effect. It also reminds you how important perspective is.  

 

If you get a chance, read this book!  :)