I can hardly believe there are only 10 days left in this year. Not that it matters much. It sometimes seems odd that so much attention is paid to the calendar, when really we only have today. In its defense, a calendar is a good way to pace the events in one's life and a must-have for busy people like us. Without having something to look forward to, life would seem to drag on and on. My life has been like a runaway train for 12 years now ... no chance of it ever dragging except for maybe those days at work, right before a holiday when you can hear a mouse stir.
I recently was reminded that the theme word I chose for 2013 was minimize. It was going to be the year I finally cleaned up the mess in my office/crap room. Near the end of October I was reading a blog post by The Minimalists where they posted a game, ironically called The Minimalist Game. I decided that if I was serious about reducing my stuff in 2013, I'd better get busy. I started on November 1st and each day the object is to recycle, rehome or send to the garbage an item. You increase the number of items by the number of the day and at the end of the month, if you stay true to the game, you will have reduced 465 items from your abode. I did so well, I decided to carry on into December (496 this month). I've had no trouble finding things to minimize. Yeah me!
While paring down my belongings, I've had the chance to chew on 2014's theme word which has been ringing in my head for a couple of weeks. Develop.
Breaking that down .... I wish to develop, in no certain order:
- more meaningful friendships
- better eating habits
- a solid reading schedule
- my writing skills
- a bigger list of places to go photo walking
- a plan to keep my home decluttered
- .... to be determined
Did you have a theme for 2013? Do you think you'll have a theme for 2014? If so, I'd love to hear about it!
love, susan
I love the Theme idea, rather than a resolution. i better get to thinking about that. i am back in the blogging neighborhood and it feels good. Merry Christmas Susan.
ReplyDeleteYou are an answer to one of my daily prayers. I am going to give myself a lovely Christmas gift this year. It will be a gift that keeps on giving. I plan to follow your lead and subtract from my "stuff" every day. As for developing, well, I will concentrate and work to "develop" this wonderful new habit. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI never thought to give my year a theme. It's a great idea but the time goes by so fast in retirement that I need to give my months a theme! I have so many things that I need to get better
ReplyDeleteGreat Minds. I haven't been following a program but had been putting as much stuff as would fit in the garbage in the garbage. That was the finest point I could put on it. I am swimming in, stepping over, tripping over years of accumulated crap and now have started to want the space for the beauty of a bare horizontal space of nothing else. Presently, my table might as well be the north cascades for all the mess that's on it. In my case it's all about living inside my head until the mounds of junk can no longer be ignored. I think your list of stuff to get done is as good as any. Thanks for the inspiration.
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