Skip to main content

ONE WORD: Simple

Sometimes, just sometimes, I have time that no amount of filing, cleaning and web-surfing can fill. Or rather, I grow weary of doing the one and or the other and I need a new task. Today is one of those times.

CUE: Cousin in Johannesburg with a recommendation - check out http://oneword365.com/blog/

Once I had read up a little on the topic, I started thinking about what my ONE WORD would be. And there it was: Simple.

This word could describe my goals and aims for the past 7 months pretty well. It is also my new underlying theme as far as my advice to others goes.

It seems as though I've been trying to organise myself since...primary school! Turns out, I'm either not very good at it, or it's an ongoing process! But this year, I've had a renewed appreciation for keeping things simple in my own life. For instance, our Main Bedroom never looked better than when we had just a bed and an orchid in it. Suddenly, the pressure to decorate, revamp, extend and expend was no longer a priority.

Since the start of my married life I've wanted to know how to prepare hearty pots of saucy food like the generations of ladies that came before me. But when the clock strikes six and I haven't been soaking sugar beans all day long, I go back to quadrant dinners - serving a quarter plate veg, a quarter plate starch and a half a plate protein!

Even this blog design - together with my email account, pc desktop and phone wallpaper - have all gone through colourful tweaks to match the trends and keep me inspired, and yet when I really want to feel grounded, I resort to the template named Simple.

All of these instances lead me to one question: So was it really necessary in the first place?

And if I'm honest, the answer is probably not.

So maybe I'm not equipped to lecture on the top 10 ways to simplify and how to identify the areas to do so in your own life, but know this: I am going to try and keep it Simple for me. And I know that it won't be easy, but I'm sure going to try and be a little less distracted by the need for trimmings and totals so that I can enjoy the here and now a little more.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The week that has been...

"Life as we see it", right? My time so far at the cycle tour office is reminding me of just how demanding life in this age can be - a time seeking instant solution and gratification: We want it now! We won't wait! This is what makes a relaxing, easy going activity seem so rewarding! We've always been fortunate enough to cook with pleasure - obviously more for mine! And since returning from BA, we've also found great enjoyment from leisurely strolls in the neighbourhood or at Sea Point promenade. Take time for this! Here's what we've been a part of this past week: We were encouraged to see a group of students from Bishops come out (even in the rain) and join with the FBC team in painting a mural on the school's new diningroom and kitchen wall. For news and updates visit: http://www.fbcschool.org.za/ We joined over 15 000 walkers in a quest to feed the hungry children in the Western Cape, by participaing in the Blisters for Bread walk on Sunday. We tackl...

That's so amazing about Grace

Scrolling through some photos this afternoon, I came across one of our friend Tarrin-Rae and her new baby girl, Isla, born last Thursday 31 October 2013. Isla Grace Graham I struggled to contain my own emotions as I observed this special moment in Tarrin's life (and new Isla's too) and thought back to my own experiences. I immediately asked Tarrin if I may use this to share a bit more of what I some times feel as a Mom... At first glance, I see relief . She's finally here! We can see her face in real life and we can say out loud "I am a Mommy!" Like my own kids, Isla was in no hurry to be born and labour was induced. What's worse than having to wait 40 weeks to meet your newest family member?? Having to wait longer still! I must confess, that this feeling was mixed with a fair dose of disbelief  on my part too - when I sat quietly resting between visitors and feeds, I had to pinch my literal self and realise - the baby was here. Then I see comfort ....

A home-made birthday

Due to the fact that we celebrated Jorja's birthday with the Weber and Wilcox families in the UK last year - over a few days and in various styles - we were a bit out of practice. In fact, if Jorja had not brought it to my attention with just two weeks to spare, I must confess that I would not have expected it to arrive for another few more weeks! But Moms could never let that seem to be the case, so we got cracking on 5th birthday celebration arrangements... On the night before, I set out every baking ingredient, apparatus and accessory that I could find and hoped that we would make it work! Aunty Robyn and Aunty Ilana arrived just in time to help us bake off the first round of vanilla cake pops and cookies with sprinkles. At this point, there was no turning back, our kitchen was already in a state of bake! The biscuit batch baked beautifully (and bountifully) and Jorja was well pleased with her assisted effort. As she head to bed on the eve of her birthday, I popped the...