Without the Thing You Thought You Needed
So, let’s talk about simple lifestyles. I know. You’re getting visions in your head. Living in a tiny house. Ridding yourself of all your earthly possessions. Fitting a year’s worth of garbage into a mason jar.
And, hey, if that’s how you want to live, I have the utmost respect for you.
But that’s not the simple lifestyle we’re talking about here.
Yes, I’m talking about paring things down. But I’m also talking about creating abundance. While they seem like opposite actions, it’s quite the contrary. Shedding actually gives way to abundance.
You will be amazed when you discover that you didn’t need the things you thought you needed. And equally amazed when you discover new things that you never imagined you needed but now cannot live without.
In regard to creating a simple lifestyle, it doesn’t just mean cleaning out your closets and making a trip or two to the Goodwill dropoff.
I’m talking about intentionally pruning the vines of your life to get rid of the dead weight—the things holding you back from knowing your true self and allowing for new growth to unfurl and take shape. Giving you space to nurture relationships and experiences that are deeply rooted and lush, AKA abundance.
And let me tell you, in the process of doing this myself (and I’m still in the process), it is not always easy. Sometimes it’s downright painful and confusing and frustrating, and it is definitely not linear. Nope. This is not a one-and-done. It comprises continuous sporadic stages of varying dishevelment (say that three times, fast). Many times bringing you to your knees. And it is worth every penny of the price of admission.
And, as I said, what you uncover—what makes you feel free—will likely surprise you.
In subsequent newsletters, I’ll discuss my “pruning” and what I’ve discovered thus far. Stay tuned….
xx, Jen
Hey Jen,
I’m in a fashion rut.
Dear Reader,
Same. Same.
One way I get inspired is by taking an evening out and poring over Pinterest. I look through my old boards and my home feed and then I start to sense a theme. There are definite styles that attract me…and that I know will look and feel good on me. My next step is to go to my closet…and low and behold…I have most of the pieces. I just need to refresh my thinking.
This is an excellent exercise to re- or jump-start your ‘fit planning…in just three easy steps.
Step One: Go to your Pinterest account (or set one up if you don’t have one.
Step Two: Search things like “casual outfits for women” or “office wear for women” and you’ll get more ideas than you bargained for. Pin them to a board, and you’ll start seeing a trend in what you like. Make a list and description of the items that continue to attract you.
Step Three: Go to your closet and “shop” for those pieces. It’s more than likely you have what you need already; you just need a new way of looking at them.
…of the Week
Song…remaster version of The Beatles’ “Long and Winding Road.” Read the lyrics and imagine that it’s an ode to yourself and your simple life journey.
Dish…the favorite dish I made this week was Lemony Shrimp and Bean Stew from, yes, New York Times Cooking. My go-to recipe platform that never fails me. This was so simple…and so delicious…like restaurant quality delish.
Listen…Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime.” You must LISTEN to it. Listen to Noah narrate his story. As a person (me) who loves storytelling and painfully strives to tell them…Wow…on so many levels…his storytelling sets the bar high.
Term…Let’s continue with the past newsletter theme: Sober Curious. As mentioned, it’s a movement that started back in 2018, and it’s those of us who want to cut back on our alcohol intake. I promised you I’d try drinks and alternative ways to chill…so here’s my start. I tried, and would highly recommend, AblisCBD. I had the lemon ginger. It was refreshing, bright and oh, so calming. And I was chill for quite some time. Peace out.