“If life was easy, where would all the adventures be?” – Anonymous
Thank you for that, Spidey.
We are about to embark upon another adventure fuelled by life not being easy!
The in-laws are off to India, which means childcare fun… and juggling lots more stuff than usual, as they aren’t here to be the support network they usually are.
It used to be much simpler. The kids were both at school where I worked. I could arrange for them to go to after school club, then leave at a decent time, so things were okay.
Then Lil Man went to Secondary. That year, his friend lived a few moments away, so I’d drop him there every day and pick him up from there too. It was like he had surrogate grandparents.
Last year it changed as his friend moved to a different place.
And so the juggling started. He could walk to my in-laws a few times a week, as my brother-in-law works from home some days, but the others, he had to come to school to me, which means no work gets done, as I am refereeing between the kids instead of doing what I really need to get done.
This year will be much the same, but Lil Princess wants to walk to her grandparents’ house on the days her uncle is home too.
Fine.
As long as they don’t try and commit murder whilst under his care…
Still, I’m sure we’ll manage.
So… tell me, what adventures are you planning soon?
“Do not regret getting older. It is a privilege denied to many.” Unknown
Spidey is being philosophical today, as February in our family is a total Birthday Bomb!
Starting with my brother-in-law, then going on to my mother-in-law and Hubby Dearest on the same day, followed by father-in-law and Lil Princess, again on the same day…
Yup, it’s a busy month, too much cake on tap, presents to think of and special treats to organise, but a fun month nevertheless.
And each year is an opportunity to be thankful for the chance at another year. Another chance to learn all that life has to offer.
Right, now I am off to work off a whole load of cake!
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. “
Colin Powell
Thanks for that Spidey.
I’ve been doing a lot of dreaming over the last few years.
There are the dreams of a bigger, more organised house, the dreams of being able to jet off to wherever we fancy for holidays, the dreams of being able to see my nephews without the need for a flight, the dreams of becoming a writer…
Some dreams can come true just by time passing, some need a little effort, some need some initiative.
So, the holiday one… well, one day we’ll be able to have saved up enough that we can just swan off whenever…
The house one, Marie Kondo is helping me organise, and we are in the throes of deciding… extension or move?
Seeing my nephews… well, they are in a different country. It’s never going to be easy, but at least I can feel happy at the fact that we will see them in May, and I can finally cuddle my newest baby nephew, who will be two months off being a year old by then!
But the writer dream… well, that’s the one that is mine, and one that only I can push for.
So I have tried my hardest. That first book is written, it has been read by two, and is being read by a couple of others too. And I have entered it into a literary competition, and sent off my first agent submission… eek!
I’m not totally oblivious to the fact that there is a high chance that I shan’t get signed after just one submission, so I shall submit to more… but in case there is still nothing, I have been gathering quotes for professional edits and critiques… so if it happens, I am ready for the Indie adventure.
It’s not easy though. Going Indie can cost you a lot, so my next aim is to slowly fill my writer’s pot with any spare money I have, and I have even requested to Hubby Dearest that instead of presents for me, a donation to the pot would be the best gift!
And to improve my craft, I have started a writers course, to develop my art…
See. I am working on my dreams!
So… tell me, what is your biggest dream, right now, and what are you doing to try and make it come true?
In its essence, her method is to surround yourself with the things that spark joy in your life. In her words, “If you hold it and you feel ‘Ting!’ that is the joy.”
If what you are holding on to has memories attached, but the item could be excess, she encourages you to remember the memories. They will be with you in your heart and mind, thank the object, then let it go.
Sounds easy?
No!
First of all, I think I’d need a month off work to go through things.
Secondly, I think I’d find it really tough to be so brutal with my ‘things’ A lot make me feel ‘Ting!’!
But, I do get where she is coming from.
I look around a lot of our house and the clutter is all stuff I think we should keep or have, but it hasn’t been moved for months, or years even.
Really, I think if it went, I would feel so much less cluttered in my brain too.
I made a start on shoes and coats. I did my undies and socks. I’ve gone through jeans and leggings.
I have about three bags full of things I have said thank you and goodbye too.
There is so much more.
The rest of the wardrobe. Hubby Dearest’s wardrobe. The Kids wardrobes…
The attic is stuffed with suitcases full of my older Indian outfits and the kids baby clothes.
Do I really need to keep them?
I’m never going to wear them again. The only thing I really want is a couple of the kids early outfits, first shoes etc, and our wedding outfits.
That’s it.
I have boxes of paperwork, from my own old school work to uni work, to miscellaneous stuff that is just there.
Needs to go.
The kitchen. Oh, the kitchen.
Packed with gadgets and spices I have never used, dishes that just sit in a cupboard and need washing if I ever want to use them, enough saucepans to cater for an army – thanks mum, but I don’t think I’ll ever cook that much!
And the special crockery for visitors… never used!
The bathroom. Well, that just needs a gutting out!
And the linen closet. It needs a sort out, a tidy up and a rejig.
But the one thing I really can’t agree on is her premise that less than 30 books are ideal.
She’s not got a clue, has she? Or she didn’t finish her sentence. It should have been “Ideally keep it to less than 30 books-helves!”
But then again, my books spark joy. I feel that ‘Ting!’ when I hold so many of the books I have. Three bookshelves so far, and I could easily fill a fourth with the books piled around my room…
So yeah, I’d love to jump on the #KonMarie bandwagon… if someone wants to give me the time, and a huge skip to throw my accumulated junk into!
So tell me, are you a hoarder like me or a minimalist? Will you be giving the KonMarie method a try?
But I Smile Anyway... 