Simplicity…what I learned

Before I move forward in the new year I like to clarify the year I’m leaving behind.  If you’re at all interested in simplifying your life or if you enjoy a bit of God’s sense of humor, hang with me for 2 minutes…

My one-word for 2012 takes the cake for irony.

When I choose the word Simplicity,  I envisioned life in the clutter-free zone. Clutter-free in my home, in my mind, my schedule, everything. But some of you know that last January we started a major remodeling project on Willow Creek., our old house. The little house was turned upside down and inside out for six weeks.

Just as the dust settled, The Husband looking for one or two rental houses for us to buy, came up with another idea…buy a new house for us and rent our Willow Creek house.

We found one after lots and lots of searching. But it needed a load of remodeling! So in April we started another big remodeling project on Stone House Lane!

We slowed down on the projects at the end of October so we could enjoy the holidays but really, it was 9 months of  major upheaval!

Simplicity

Perhaps I misheard. Perhaps my one-word for 2012 should have been: CHANGE.

Or maybe it should have been: METAMORPHOSIS.

Some days I was certain my 0ne-word should have been: SERIOUSLY?

But as I look back over my prayer journal, I can see God’s hand moving me…moving us to a simpler life. And all the while teaching us a little something about the cost of simplicity.

Everything, as you know, has a cost.

Here are a few of my journal entries over 2012…

***

*Simplicity transposed over an issue does as much to redefine the issue as to solve it…

…furthermore, redefining the issue and solving the issue bring the same result… peace.

***

*Creativity needs room to grow & simplicity is the key for making room…

***

*Chaos proceeds simplicity-every time I simplify…there is a phase of purging that is full-on messy.

***

Creating margins grows simplicity-margins in my time, margins with our money, margins in our physical space…most importantly perhaps, margins in my spirit.

(By margins I mean space. For example : allow space in my schedule to be early for appointments and commitments so I avoid unnecessary stress, allow space in our bank account…don’t spend everything, allow space in my spirit-I need down time. If I’m always busy my creativity dries up)

***

Letting Go makes room for simplicity-

…letting go of unnecessary things, unnecessary habits (mindless tv), letting go of  harmful attitudes like: unforgiveness- cynicism letting go of toxic relationships-letting go of my right to be right-

***

Planning enables simplicity-

***

To have simplicity in my time, I must know my priorities…to have simplicity in my surroundings I must know if I need something, use something, love something…only then can I purge the unnecessary.

***Don’t forget to ask myself: what is the legacy I want to leave…how can I live that legacy today? Will this commitment or that commitment line up with the legacy I want to leave?***

***

And lastly…

Taking small steps gets me to my goal of simplicity 

***

And that’s what I learned so far about that delicious word: Simplicity!

If you had one, have you thought about what your one-word taught you in 2012?