The Sandcastle

According to Joshua Becker, “Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.”

There not much on my desk to distract me from doing what I enjoy.

There is my laptop computer, my iPad plugged into the laptop being charged, my beverage, a box of tissues, and a bin of papers in progress. Everything else is hidden in the drawer or behind the door to the right.

Obviously spending time on my computer is a big part of my day.

First thing in my day I check into our community website to see if there’s anything I wish to know including what’s on the menus today that I might want to eat.

Second, I check my email and respond to those that I wish to answer. I also get a daily email from bookbub.com with a selection of free and cheap books in genres I read from which to select those I wish to add to my Kindle app.

Third, I go to my local newspaper’s website and read today’s comics. I don’t read the news because I don’t find value in it. But I do get The Skimm in my email which keeps me up on some of the issues of the day.

Then I go to my blog feed and read about what my friends are doing. Sometimes I comment but sometimes I don’t. Lately Google doesn’t always let me comment when I want to do so.

Then I go to the Escapee RV Forum to see if anyone asked any questions I can answer. I try to make it clear that my answers come from MY experiences and opinions so they should pick out only what works for them.

Then I go read other blogs that didn’t make it to my feed yet.

Now, I don’t do all this nonstop. Somewhere in there I make time to eat a meal or two. And I read books and play games on my iPad. And Dave and I talk. Sometimes I do something with my Lego sets using that otherwise empty right side of the desk..

Lately my Lego stuff has been mostly on my computer, too, as I list my sets for sale on Craig’s List then answer questions about them and make appointments to meet buyers.

Some days it is hard to remember what I used to do before I owned a computer. But, I value the things I do on my computer and that is what minimalism is all about–making time and space for doing what you value.

TTYL,

Linda

Lately I’ve been reading a lot of people writing, “I’m not a minimalist but…” Then they go one to say they have removed a bunch of their kids toys. Or they have simplified their schedules. Or they have figured out how to make a variety of meals with just a few ingredients. Or…

That took me back to the days when I often heard, “I’m not a feminist but…” Then they go on to say they believe in equal pay for equal work. Or women have the right to decide whether to work or stay home with their kids. Or whether or not to even have kids. Or…

All of those things basically say the same thing.

There is not one right way to be either a minimalist of a feminist.

YOUR way is the right way for YOU.

TTYL,

Linda

To trap a monkey you dig a hole. You put something of value to the monkey, like a coconut, in there. You firmly bury sticks around the top of the hole leaving just the center open. When the monkey sticks his hand in and grabs the coconut, he can’t pull it out past the sticks.

The monkey won’t let go of the coconut. All he has to do is let go of the coconut and he’s free.

He’s sitting there looking at the guy coming to club him in the head and he still won’t let go of the coconut.

He trapped himself.

What coconut are you holding on to?

TTYL,

Linda

I’m not usually fond of slapstick comedy but this made me laugh until I cried: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9FunBolqvA

TTYL,

Linda

“the value of an object comes out when we actually use it—not simply because we own it.” Cait Flanders

We’ve been downsizing since we decided to move into a motorhome back in 2008. That’s ten years ago!

Since then I’ve learned that downsizing never ends. Now that I no longer have the van we don’t need to own two colanders. We no longer use the Tupperware mixing bowls. (Except the big one we use for popcorn.) Etc.

I wonder how many other things we could downsize once again? I know there are things in the “entertainment” drawer we no longer use. Things that no longer have “value” to us. Things someone else might be happy to have.

It must be time to start filling another box for Goodwill. We need a new one because we took the previous one to them a couple weeks ago. See, downsizing never ends.

Because our lives change and what we used to value no longer works for us. Are there things in your life you no longer value?

TTYL,

Linda