Posts Tagged ‘Simplicity’

What Would You Take?

August 23rd, 2010 | 17 Comments »

“I smell smoke. Let’s go. NOW!”

I yelled these words to my fiancé, Ben, on Friday after the fire alarm went off in our apartment (yet again). We are accustomed to alarms going off due to some computer glitch or other error. On Friday, the usual announcement that this was a false alarm never came, but we waited in our apartment nonetheless. Annoyed by the repetitive beeping noise, I opened our apartment door to see if our neighbors were leaving their apartments. When I looked into the hall, I saw nobody, and I smelled smoke. Out the door we went to the stairwell. Of course, I thought to myself in a slight panic, everyone else had left the building, and we are the only ones left in the burning structure. I immediately started becoming anxious, and as we made our way down the 14 floors, the smell of smoke grew stronger and we saw more people heading down toward the exit. At that point, my only concern was getting outside with our dog, Lila, who was trembling in my arms. As soon as we got outside, my heart was pounding so loudly that all I thought to do was run, and I called my mom despite the late-night hour so she could share in my panic (which she did, of course). Minutes later, our building was surrounded by fire trucks and passersby, watching in awe at what was happening. Hours went by before we gained any knowledge of what had happened; we went to a nearby hotel and waited. The next morning, we found out there had been an electrical fire and we would have to wait for the fire marshals to deem our building safe to re-enter.

We took nothing but our bodies, our phones, and our dog. We had no IDs or cash, but we felt relieved nonetheless. We had been so unprepared for an emergency, yet, when the moment came, we took nothing of material value – nothing that I would have listed if asked hypothetically what I would grab from a burning building. My response to such a question would not have been “nothing,” yet nothing was exactly what I took.

Now, three days later, I am back in my apartment, seeing it with new eyes. There is so much stuff in here, things I’ve held on to “just in case,” things to help me feel a sense of security. Yet, it is all just worthless stuff. I let it go without even thinking on Friday, so why when there is no emergency do I cling to this clutter? What makes these things so important when my heart isn’t racing? Nothing. We focus so much of our time and energy on deciding what objects to get, cleaning our stuff and keeping a careful inventory of what we have. Why? Although I’m not sure the answer to this question, I had been yearning to return to my space, surrounded by my stuff. I love and need some of it, but certainly not all of it. Now, I feel ready to part with a great majority of the objects that surround me. I would rather focus my time on quality rather than quantity, which seems to be an obvious choice, but it isn’t the norm. I’m ready to part with the concept of “more is better” and begin to edit my life and the stuff that occupies it.

I am ready to cleanse my life of excess and begin a new and more spacious page, bright with possibility! But, how does one start this process?

(image: lizzy janssen found via decor8)

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Tuesday Treasures: Simple Beauty

March 2nd, 2010 | 1 Comment »

“Tuesday Treasures” is a weekly series. It is such a fun uplifting title that I can’t resist using it! I have a few snippets of information and inspiration to share with you today. This week’s focus: SIMPLE BEAUTY.


Fresh

  • Brand new episode of Spring is live! This is the final episode focused on the topic of support. Be sure to check out the short video for your chance to win one of the amazing giveaways :). Next topic up for discussion: Money!!
  • As you may have noticed, A Beautiful Ripple Effect is undergoing a little makeover :). I was hoping to have it finished by March 1st (my birthday – big 25!), but got a stomach bug (really bad so I’ve been in bed since Wed night) — so hopefully by March 8th! I hope you enjoy the changes being made to enhance your experience on the blog. I will reveal all the wonderful people working on the changes next week – an amazing team of very talented individuals!

Treasures

  • Online Inspiration
    • Papernstitch – A curated collection of simple, handmade goods
      • A Few Personal Favorites
        • drika. b – original, colorful, hip and practical handbags and pouches
        • Joo Joo – original illustrations bursting with color and natural life
        • The Sunday Times Market – Finds for the Vintage Minded. Serendipitous vintage, mid century and Danish modern housewares and furniture.
        • Children Inspire Design – Features eco friendly art, stationary and children’s gifts all created from using designs from original collage art made with salvaged paper. Some featured products include art prints, limited edition reproductions on canvas, wall cards and stationary.
    • A Field Journal – A blog that is a “beautiful compilation of all things old fashioned, timeless, simple and lovely.”
    • Trend Spotting :: 5 Minimalist Banners (Tara Gentile’s blog: write well, create often.)
      • I found this amazing post from one of my favorite blogs, Up Up by Julie Green – Julie’s banner was included (Congratulations, Julie!!)
    • Leo Babauta – The individual synonymous with embracing the simplicity in life and helping others (just a few… million) to do the same
  • Inspiration for Turning Knowledge into Action

Inspiring Words

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

- Leonardo da Vinci

What simplicities are you treasuring this week?

{image: The Sunday Times Market}

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Tuesday Treasures: Serene Simplicity

February 9th, 2010 | 8 Comments »

“Tuesday Treasures” is a weekly series. It is such a fun uplifting title that I can’t resist using it! I have a few snippets of information and inspiration to share with you today. I hope you enjoy these treasures. And please don’t be shy – I treasure each of your comments!

New & Exciting

Treasures

  • The Bright Side NecklaceDonate $40 to CCC Scholarships and receive a gift wrapped Bright Side Necklace. There is a limited quantity of necklaces available so please be sure to act quickly!! More information can be found on this PDF document. Thank you for your support!! [Note: At the time of posting, we have 34 necklaces available.]
  • Treasuring – Treasuring All that We Are – How have I not mentioned Jess Gonacha Swift’s blog before? It’s filled with daily treasures and is such a calm treat to add to your day.
  • Katherine Center’s blog – heartwarming and funny! Love her video :).
  • Naturally Nina – blog about love, inspiration and life’s simple pleasures…
  • Pretty Good – so beyond “pretty good” … exceptionally amazing!

Inspiring Words

“In the crush of a hectic day, it’s easy to lose sight of your most basic needs : whole food, fresh air, sound sleep, love. Easy to get caught up in the complexity of life, in the expectations and obligations crowding you in. The path back to serene simplicity doesn’t require razing your schedule to the ground. Rather, it calls for a certain quality of attention (the closer look, the longer pause) and a willingness to look for and appreciate pure sweetness wherever you find it.”

-Terri Trespicio (from Body + Soul Magazine, Nov 2009) 

What are you treasuring this week?

{image: newbeautiful}

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11 Ways to Find Serenity Amidst Chaos

August 10th, 2009 | 28 Comments »

Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, no noise, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of all these things and still be calm in your heart.”

- Unknown

SerenityIn our fast-paced, multitasking, day-to-day lives, we often find ourselves adrift in chaos. I have a lot on my plate (plates, really), and I know full well that I’m certainly not the only one!

Within this chaos, finding our inner calm is just as important—actually more so—than completing our next task. It allows us to recharge and breathe just a bit easier. It’s incredible what just five minutes of serenity can do for your energy level and mental state.

Begin this week by using a special power—the ability to find serenity amidst chaos—and watch as the beauty of the week unfolds around you. The following is a brief menu of serenity options from which you can choose. By all means, indulge yourself this week!

1. Breathe. Those seven letters can instantly trigger a calming response. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, count to three, and release. Repeat as necessary.

2. Rock Out. Take a quick four-minute break from your work to listen to your favorite song. You’ll probably find that it will calm you down, pump you up, or bring back great memories. Regardless of the genre, give yourself a moment to enjoy the music that will transport you to a place of pure happiness.

3. Uni-task. Yes, you read that right. Instead of believing in the mantra of more is better, allow yourself to focus on each task at hand, one at a time. This will allow you to de-clutter the other tasks that are taunting you from the periphery of your mind.

4. Step away. Let me guess, you’re staring at a screen just now, right? The television screen, the computer screen, and even the smartphone screen have become the interfaces with which we interact most often. When you’re piling on the work and begin to feel overwhelmed, take a step away, or simply turn your chair around for a minute or two. When you do, you’ll instantly regain the clarity you need to continue.

5. Stop! Think about…things. Placing yourself on autopilot does little more than cloud your mind. Instead, take a minute to organize your thoughts and tasks. This way, as you embark on that checklist, you’ll have a clearer vision of your day. After all, improved clarity brings about greater focus—so watch as you execute all of your tasks.

6. Take a Fresh Air Break. When you feel that you’re being pulled in every direction or that you’re stuck in a certain project, take a minute to walk outside and breathe in the fresh air. This will help you reconnect briefly with nature (even if you’re in the middle of a hot city). More importantly, it can help you get back to work with a revitalized attitude.

7. Read. If you’re in the middle of working, prompt your brain to switch gears by reading something new and interesting. This is a great way to continue the learning process with a broader scope. If you’re at home and everyday stresses are getting to you, reading can be a great way to relax. The images and emotions your brain conjures up simply by reading words will certainly be a welcome method of restoring yourself.

8. Reconnect. When life’s chaotic journey begins to get too far under your skin, it’s important to take a step back and reconnect with someone you’ve met along the way. We are greater than the sum of our experiences, and these include the relationships and interactions that have propelled us to where we are today. Simply pick up the phone to learn how someone else is doing and what they are up to in their own lives. A reminder of the memories will be an added bonus.

9. Stretch. Flexing those muscles and moving your body around is a great way to relieve some of the tension being built up in your muscles. Stretching helps you to continue marching on and allows you to reject the manifestation of any stress—literally and figuratively.

10. Laugh. It’s the most important of all medicines, and taking a minute to laugh with others or even at yourself will definitely reinvigorate your mind and soul. Adopting a lighthearted approach to the chaos that surrounds you will help you return to a tranquil place.

11. Create a Serenity Trigger. No matter how you deal with those chaotic moments in your life, create a serenity trigger that will help you find a peaceful place whenever the need arises. My serenity trigger is an image of a beautiful flower blooming within a simple mason jar. When I visualize it, it reminds me to take a few minutes away from what I’m doing to find serenity amidst the chaos.

All of these actions represent different ways of approaching the same problem. We feel stressed because of the palpable chaos around us. When we do, then it’s time for us to find our place of serenity and return to it over and over again.

What is your serenity trigger? How do you find serenity amidst chaos?

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