Author: sandcastle

There’s a thing in blogland right now where one blogger asks others to answer a set of questions. These questions were not sent to me but I read them and found myself having the urge to answer. So, here we go.

• Why did you begin blogging, and what keeps you going?
• What is your favorite topic to write about?
• What is your favorite inspirational film?
• How would you describe your perfect day?
• What is the greatest challenge facing humanity today?
• If you could travel anywhere on the globe, where would you go?

I started blogging in 2008 when we sold nearly everything we owned and moved into an RV to go explore this country. I wanted a record of those travels. We no longer travel so I rarely add to my blog now but every now and then something happens I feel an urge to share with those few readers still with me.

My favorite topic to write about is whatever makes me laugh today. Or whatever makes me think about things I might not think otherwise.

My favorite film? You want me to pick ONE?!! Not happening.

My perfect day starts with me sleeping until I’m done, checking into my computerized relationships and hoping I am able to help someone there, sharing with Dave whatever he has picked for us to enjoy watching today, and reading a good book. I get to do most of those things every day so life is very good indeed.

The greatest challenge facing humanity today is practicing loving one another. If we could all do what is best for everyone instead of just ourselves and those in our little niche what a wonderful world this would be.

Where would I travel? Hmmm. I’ve been most of the places I wanted to go. Except Cuba. I was born in the U.S. Navy hospital at Guantanamo Bay so I’ve always kind of wanted to go there but I’m sure it is so different there now that I’m not sure I still want to go. I’ve become much more content to be a homebody again that I ever thought I would.

TTYL,

Linda

 

I’ve often been told dreams help us solve real world problems. I’m not sure last night’s dream had anything to do with my world except for helping me understand others. See, lately a lot of the blogs I read have been talking about home schooling and unschooling.

Home schooling I understand to be similar to regular schooling except the parents pick the curriculum. The students then sit at desks and read their textbooks and do assignments much as I did when I was in school.

But, unschooling had me puzzled. In that method of learning the child decides what interests him or her then studies that. How does that work, I wondered?

In last night’s dream I was a newly transferred student to a very different high school. In this school you picked a career track and your classes were based on that interest. My track had been picked for me–fashion design. Math classes would be about taking measurements, calculating sizes and making alterations. Science classes would be about handling characteristics of various fabrics. I pointed to my t-shirt and yoga pants and asked if they really thought I was interested in fashion design?

So we explored various fields to see what they offered.

In the cooking series math would be about measurements and science would be about the combining of ingredients.

In auto mechanics math would be about horsepower and torque and science would be about the efficacy of various fuels.

In woodworking math would be about determining the best cuts for a piece of wood and science would be about the suitability of various woods for various projects.

In medicine the math would be about calculating dosages and science would be about anatomy and about combining ingredients into compounds.

In journalism math would be about calculating column inches and science would be about characteristics of various types of ink and paper.

No one reading this blog will be surprised to learn I chose journalism.

But, I think I now understand how unschooling could work.

TTYL,

Linda

Sometimes I start waking up while still dreaming. I lie in bed finishing the dream while half awake. I found this morning’s dream amazing enough to decide to share it with you.

A boy was given a homeschooling assignment to use three inactive verbs–was, is, are–in sentences. Here’s what he wrote:

The cupcakes

Mother was in the kitchen.

Steve is in the kitchen.

The cupcakes are not on the counter.

I want to write more about the dream but the dream itself seems to be saying that’s enough.

TTYL,

Linda

What does independence mean?

Dave’s mother taught all her kids to cook, clean, sew, do laundry, etc. so they could be independent in their daily needs.

My Dad taught us kids to be frugal so we could live independently without needing a lot of money.

My Mom taught us all people are equal so we neither looked up to nor down on people who were not like us so we had the freedom to befriend anyone.

I was raised in the Methodist religion because they don’t have a creed. You are allowed to believe what makes sense to you.

We taught our daughter it was OK to be different. She did not have to go along with the crowd. She was free to be her own self.

Dave did work he enjoyed and did it so well he got paid good money which allows us the freedom to make many choices about how we live now.

I never voted in a primary election because I refused to align myself with one particular party. I prefer the freedom of being able to vote for the person I think would best do the job.

What does independence mean to you?

TTYL,

Linda

Many people misunderstand what minimalism is all about.

It’s not about getting rid of what you enjoy.

If looking through those old photo albums brings you joy, keep them.

If those trophies you won way back when still bring you joy, keep them.

If the misshapen objects your children made when young bring you joy, keep them.

Minimalism is about getting rid of the things that don’t bring you joy so you are better able to appreciate the ones that do.

Quit displaying things you don’t like so you can bring the ones you do like out into the open.

Quit digging through clothes you don’t like so you can more easily find the ones you do.

Quit collecting recipes you will never make and focus on the ones you already know you like.

Quit collecting apps just because someone else liked them.

Quit spending time taking care of things you don’t like so you have more time to enjoy your life.

Minimalism is about deciding how you’d really like to spend your time and energy then getting rid of the obstacles to doing that.

That’s all.

There is no magic number of things you should own. Nor is there a magic list of things you should own. Nor a list of activities in which you should participate. Only you can decide what makes you happy.

What obstacles are keeping you from getting there and what can you do about them?

TTYL,

Linda