I've been watching full time RV-ers on YouTube for 2 or 3 years... Their biggest agreement? How freeing it is to downsize EVERYTHING in your life and focus on family.
At church we are learning that more is not better. Less is better. Less IS more. Having less stuff makes it easier to focus on God, focus on family.
A smaller house means less rooms to clean. Less stuff sitting around means less clutter.
But... how?
I mean, it seems simple. Get off Facebook, get off the internet and work on stuff. Spend time with your family instead of time behind a screen (says the person writing a blog...on the internet.. the irony is not missed). Sell or get rid of all of the things you aren't using. Organize the things you do use that don't have a place in your home. It seems simple, it sounds simple.
It's not so simple. Especially when you use the internet to make money. You use the internet to keep in touch with family... Because, let's face it, if I were to have to sit down and write letters.. I'm not sure how often family would hear from me.
For the past 8 years Facebook has been my lifeline. All of my friends and family were/are on Facebook. Home school help, cooking help, you name it, I found a group on Facebook. We even had our church group on Facebook. I have made some awesome friends through that source. However, I failed to see how it was affecting my communications skills, no matter how many times my husband told me it was.
So what has changed? We found a church FAMILY.
Getting to know people face to face at church.... Being among an awesome, God fearing group of people who are mostly not on social media has made me realize I need a huge detox.
It's also made me realize that my communication skills are zilch. Nada. I have none. Seriously. What I can talk about? Kids, birth, home school.. What's acceptable to talk about?... Definitely not birth. 😆😆
Knowing that my blog is very much just our failed attempts at saving money grocery shopping, also being asked the question in a group I'm in a Facebook... I decided I needed to start this series...
So what does living simply mean to me?
In all honesty, I would absolutely LOVE to buy a van and a travel trailer and move in.. Get rid of this house and have a space that's OURS. Let me explain this from my point of view... My husband's ex wife picked out this house. Now, I am very thankful to have a roof over our heads and be protected from the elements... It is very intimidating and very frustrating to move into and claim a house that somebody else picked out, somebody else organized long before you were in the picture. I have to be honest, there are cupboards and corners in this house I haven't ventured... and I've lived here for 9 years.
Why? You may ask. Because I have rearranged the kitchen a few times, finding the place for things that works best for me. One reason-this kitchen wasn't made for a cook, let alone a short cook. (I mean really... who puts a furnace vent RIGHT BESIDE THE STOVE?! Not to mention the stove right beside the bathroom... And I have I mentioned THERE'S NO PANTRY!?! Because there's not a pantry....) Sorry, bunny trail.... I have rearranged the kitchen... and when somebody else puts dishes away.... the dishes that have been kept in a certain cupboard for 6 years now...suddenly find themselves in the previous place... I'm missing dishes.. I kid you not, I have had some dishes disappear every time a child is born because that's about the only time I admit I need help. Do you have any idea how intimidating it is? It feels like I'm a guest in someone else's house... and this is my HOME.
So... What's living simply for me?
My first step is getting of the internet as much. Stepping away from the devices-the cell phone, the computer, the Kindle... and get off my toosh and DO THINGS. This may sound like a silly step to some... But I'm realizing just HOW MUCH time I spend doing things on my computer. And not just the odd jobs that need done, but randomly playing on Facebook, Pinterest or playing Farmville. Am I going to completely give these things up? I doubt it. In the long run, we'll see.
As I'm getting off the electronics, I'm going to be working on the chores that have been getting ignored.. Mainly, getting MY kitchen organized how I want it.
I'm not setting myself a time limit here... because... well... life. But that's my first goal. The kitchen.
I'll keep y'all updated..
Have a great week!
~Tabitha
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