Wrapping up my Year of Simplify

If you've been following along, you might remember that my Word for the year is Simplify. As the word says, I've devoted my year to letting go and releasing what no longer serves me well.

If the discoveries I had this year only involved the things packed away in boxes, this chosen word would have been so much more, well, Simple. But alas, Simplifying one's life also involves digging into your beliefs, your relationships, your goals.

And so it is with anything new that we choose to take on, we will be "forced" to discover things that we were not anticipating.

Wrapping up my Year of Simplify

Adopting Courtney Carver's Project 333 helped me clear out my closet of clothing items that weren't really my favourites. Perhaps, a little more difficult when you live in the northern hemisphere where there are definitely four seasons. And for you fellow Calgarians reading this, sometimes four seasons in one day!

Cleaning out my closet, re-defining what I truly need, and giving thought to why I bought that particular item (yes, sometimes I was sad, bored or admittedly looking for the high of finding a prize.) Now, I have less morning choices of what to wear and more mental (time and) ability for more important decisions.

I spent time this year listening to more podcasts including those from the always informative and certainly entertaining the Minimalists, they helped me re'assess the use of my time. Funny how fifteen minutes listening in the staffroom, can have the ability to set the tone for the day.

Once again as we've often heard, surround yourself with like-minded people. You will learn and grow together, there will always be folks who disagree with you. It. Doesn't. Matter. Love these guys!

Treasure and appreciate those you love. I have aimed to keep in better contact with my most favourite people. They are my heroes.

Almost all of them have been through some profound change this year. They have continued to live with integrity, with gusto, with appreciation and with humour. They have chosen to not let life get them down. How fortunate am I to have been reminded of that this year. This lovely, worthwhile article on relationships is a gentle reminder to all of us. We are the summation of the five people we spend our time with. We need to choose wisely.

As I stop to think about how quickly this past year seems to have gone by, I realize how much more I have learned. I hope that some of this personal growth has in some way been passed on to you through my words. Thank you for giving me the privilege of being a part of your life.

Now, my next goal is to identify what my next Word of the Year will be. Yes I am leaning to one in particular and you will see it announced here in time for the new year.

What choices did you make this year that set the tone for your year? (Tweet This)

If you had to identify one Word for your 2017, what would it be? (Tweet This)

Holiday Reading - my 6 most-read posts of 2016

In this busy time of celebrating, I hope you will stay and relax for a few minutes. Thank you to all my readers for sharing this year with me. Your comments, your wisdom and your dialogue are such a gift to me. Thank you for allowing me to be a writer.

My 6 most-read posts are here for you while you take a restful stop and sip on your beverage. Each post brought to you to reflect, laugh, smile or cry. Each one from my heart.

Please share if you know someone who would find these words valuable. You can also find me on Twitter  and on Facebook .      

Rejection and Re-direction
  

As the new school year begins, perhaps we should all keep in mind these wise words. Being rejected might not seem like it at the time but we are heading to "something better". Read more..

Give and Take –  how to do it – a Rant(?)

What I’ve learned is that sometimes people give only because it gives them something, said my friend. It is a self-serving pat-on-the-back, not because they want the recipient to be truly honoured. But because they feel needed, she continued. Read more..

Relationship is not a Secret

The beauty of the couple. Rare, dignified, classy. Bringing that air of well-being to all they encounter. I think that they must enjoy the experience of strolling through a park or attending a book reading at the local library. Read more.. 

Asking Questions Made Me Enjoy Social Events

 

Let's face it, marathoners are not typically a subdued bunch. As the host opened the front door to the after-race party, the laughter and conversation overwhelmed me. What was I doing here? Sure, I'd just completed my first half marathon, but these people were "real athletes", each wearing their newest Finisher medal. I was just a nerd in running shoes. Read more..

When Is Enough enough? 6 Simple Ideas to set you Free

Too much? Stuff.

What are you going to do about it today?

When is Enough enough? Or the bigger question, what is your enough? What are you giving up now for the day that you can enjoy what you have? Read more..

Ode to a Girl Named River

 

Such a little girl. Her hand reaching up is totally enveloped in her Dad’s. 

They are walking as they usually do, almost every evening, just catching up on their respective days. It’s a habit he had started when she was just wee, when he would come home from work, scrub his hands clean and smile and talk to her sweet face. Read more..

Relationship 2 by 2 or on Your Own

How do we learn about relationship? Life throws us curve balls, and many of us have phases of solitary growth, and still we learn about relationship. Picture this.

Happy End

You met at some point recently or long ago and you fit. And during your time together you learn about what you like and what you don’t  like. Your partner teaches you in big and small ways about what makes you sigh with happiness and hopefully in equal part about what you need to do to support them in their journey.

So it was just my story in Relationship is not a Secret, when I assumed that this couple had been together for decades. Perhaps they were on their first date! It is merely how I see the world.

Long But Gone

You have had a long time relationship which ended because of (fill in the blank). Here are a few of the possible reasons, infidelity, boredom on one or both sides, or a poor match from the start. Some of your days were long and painful, or one or both of you buried your head in the sand and grew to

Relationship is not a Secret

The beauty of the couple. Rare, dignified, classy. Bringing that air of well-being to all they encounter. I think that they must enjoy the experience of strolling through a park or attending a book reading at the local library. 

He in his navy jacket and pressed pants. She in her flowing ankle length skirt and ballet flats. Fabric of rich substance, embroidered with swirling flowers. Her shoulder length silver hair blowing in the evening breeze.

Why do they do it? How much easier it would be to pull on your everyday clothes and just show up. But perhaps in their wisdom, they know that each day is an event, a chance to experience and share.

It made me a smile, seeing her hand tucked into the crook of his arm. Perhaps a habit they had picked up four or five decades earlier. Secure in their togetherness. Characters, complementing and shining the light on each other. He patted her hand and winked. Yes, he actually winked! What else did they have ahead in their evening I ask?

They nod towards each other and carry on their quiet conversation as they cross the street together. Slowly. Sharing the secret of what they've learned over the years with everyone who witnessed them.

So to all the folks that ask me about relationships, I say this. Go out in the world and look for these people, the ones who show you how it should be. Gather the details of what you need, BE that person first and the rest will follow. Just don’t give up if Relationship is what you truly want to learn through.

Look for someone who is willing to celebrate the world alongside you. 

And when you fall in love be sure that you like this person and that they are your friend. Because as the years go by you will want to know that you will continue to be cared for. It might be a daily phone call from your loved one as he travels on a motorcycle through winding roads. Or it might be a business trip that ends each night with a long distance goodnight lullaby whistle.

Relationship is visible. And if you are fortunate you will have someone to lean on when you cross a busy street together.

I saw it yesterday and it made me happy.

Relationship is visible. (Click to Tweet)