Monday, March 25, 2013

SIMPLE


"Life is not complex.  We are complex.
Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing."

- Oscar Wilde


Good morning.

I have been thinking a lot lately...

I've been thinking about my tastes and preferences in life and whether or not those tastes and preferences are reflected in my home, my appearance, the way I spend my time, and with whom I spend my time.

For example, if I'm being completely honest, my favorite color is probably white.  I love things to be clean and simple.  I get feelings of anxiety if there.is.too.much.stuff.crowding.me.

For some reason, though, when I create my life, or my schedule, I set myself up for chaos.

Take Saturday.  A day I stated earlier this month that I would claim for myself.

Saturday I woke up at 6:15 to get ready.  I headed to the exercise studio at approximately 6:40 to teach the 7:15 class.  Since I was there already, I took the 8:30 class.

After class I drove with my new friend to a trailhead at Mt. Diablo.  We went on a hike.  We chatted about life and got a killer workout (still sore).  I truly enjoyed the conversation and the sunshine.

3,849 feet at the summit


I was supposed to then visit my sister and niece, but they were exhausted and it was later in the day than anticipated.  Major fail on my part.  I still feel bad about it.

I then went home, did some chores, made some dinner, and got ready to head out again.

By the time I got home, I crashed pretty hard... and then had to drag myself out of bed early on Sunday for another busy (good busy) day.

All of these things are good things.  I value all of these things.  I truly don't want to give up any of these things.  They are all of equal importance and feed different parts of my spirit...

but...

My apartment is chaos right now.  I started a project last weekend that still isn't done and couldn't (didn't?) finish this weekend.  It looks like IKEA exploded in my living room... 

I definitely could use a nice relaxing bubble bath.  And a nap.  And, even if I were home, so is the 20-year-old intern from my work that I agreed to host/house.  And she is very sweet... but I don't feel relaxed or at home when my home isn't just mine.

I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining.  I'm really not intending to, anyway.

I'm trying to sort everything out and, according to my expertise, the best way to start organizing things... is to lay it all out there.  It gets worse before it gets better, right?

So here I am, laying out all the clutter that is my life right now.  Clutter that I cherish and that I have built up around myself.  I have spent years accumulating it all.

And it's time to figure out a reasonable way to pare down.  Spring cleaning for the soul.

As I said, all of this clutter feeds a different part of my spirit.  We are complex.  I am complex.  I need all of my clutter.  I just need to figure out a way to feed my spirit that isn't so exhausting.

Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing.

What does that mean?  I am, obviously, struggling to find the answer.

Any insights?  I'd love to hear from you.

2 comments:

  1. You are always welcome to take a bubble bath at my house. Can you say "claw foot tub"?

    My only other insight...and this is WAY easier said than done...is to not be so hard on yourself. Not seeing your family doesn't make you a bad sister, having a messy apartment doesn't make you a dirty person, canceling plans because you need a bubble bath doesn't make you a bad friend. Again, 100,000 times easier said than done, but the people who love you will ALWAYS understand when you need to choose yourself over them.

    LOVE YOU!!

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    Replies
    1. You are the best. I am definitely working on it. Luckily, I have amazing friends (read: you!) to help me through it :)

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