I write for a living. Just to make some extra money every month, I do freelance writing for a few different clients. Some are ebooks, some articles, and I never know what the topic will be. Most of all, I love writing about places I’ve never been; the Hawaiian Islands, rentals in Argentina or Canada and just lately small towns in Wyoming. I would LOVE to live in Wyoming.
But there’s a catch . . .
I live in New Jersey and have no plans on moving anyplace soon. That could all change if I won the lottery (I don’t even play) or if my DIL won the jackpot in AC when she goes down there with her friends now and then, but for now, it’s business as usual.
That means I can walk to food stores and Lowe’s or drive a few miles to all of the others I like to shop at. I live 13 miles from the ocean and it’s a straight drive down Hwy. 37E to the Barnegat Bay bridge and the boardwalks in Seaside and the Heights. Or Lavallette. I love that place!
Most days, though, you can find me right here at home, sitting at my laptop, spinning out words. Doing what I do best. Well one of the things I do best, because the older I’ve gotten, I realize there are many things I do well. Guess it comes from living so long. Thank the Lord!
Why Does This Matter?
It matters because of the kind of life I live. The kind of life I want to live. The kind of life I dream about. How about you?
Is your life frought with stress? Anxiety? Worry? Unhappiness? Are you fearful that your job will go away tomorrow? Your teens are driving you crazy and you don’t have the answer? Family members seem to want to rule your world? Everywhere you look it’s strife and bad feelings.
I’ve been there. I’m still there. Where once our family was filled with brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, now we are down to brothers and sisters, most of whom don’t speak to one another. My mother-in-law is still living, in her 90s, in a nursing facility. Other relatives, for one reason or another, (let’s see, jealousy, greed, wanting to be #1 when they don’t qualify for last place) have drifted away.
For me, that’s a good thing.
Sounds awful, doesn’t it? But that’s life! Life changes, circumstances become different. YOU or I may never change, but others will make situations impossible. So, you just walk away. It’s the only sane thing to do.
The best part? . . .
You can now concentrate on YOU. Yes, that sounds all me-generation, 80s silliness and all that, but there is something to be said for letting your life surround you and your loved ones. I know some of you don’t have these problems; yet I’m willing to bet that most people have some kind of family situation that has been awful for years.
So, concentrate on you. Do Homekeeping 1.0.
What is that, you say?
Homekeeping is how you keep YOUR home. No matter how you decorate, — modern, traditional, Primitive, colonial, — homekeeping is how the inside of your home looks. What paint schemes you use, how you position furniture, what accent pieces there are or not, rugs, floors, doors, every little touch; that is Homekeeping 1.0. It’s all about a more natural approach to keeping your home looking its best.
For me, it’s all about keeping things simple. It’s comfortable spaces, cozy places, lots of candles all round. Wholesome foods, easy to prepare but oh so good for you! If you haven’t thought much about how you keep your home, I have a few ways for you to get started.
Two books I recommend for you!
As with everything in life, you will always find lots of advice on whatever you’re looking for. There are TWO books I own and would highly recommend for simplifying your life. You will love these!
Melissa K. Norris at melissaknorris.com does a nice job bringing you simple ways to create a natural home. You’ll find great ideas at her website as well.
You will find natural ways to cook, clean, harvest, prepare, preserve, grow and more. You know when you do all these things, or even just one of these things, you’ll start saving money, save time, and learn how to be more self-sufficient.
Be sure to pop over to my post here, too, How Do YOU Clean Your House? Just useful simple, household products you’ll find that can be just as effective with ALL of your cleaning. Because who doesn’t love a clean home which not only looks clean, but smells clean, too?!
Be sure to click through those pictures and links above and find out why I love making my life simpler every day! These are all sure-fire ways to make it happen.
Don’t have enough time in your day, you say?
Buy the book, then each day, set aside 15 minutes,
FIFTEEN MINUTES
to start reading! That’s all it takes. Somewhere, you have 15 minutes a day. 🙂
Just another way to give you more
“Homekeeping Inspirations For Knitting Your Best Life!”
Even when you’re not knitting! 😉
