2014: Getting Back to Basics.
After looking over my New Year's resolutions for the past couple of years, I realized that I need to stop that craziness because it's Just. Not. Working. Having completely failed at 3 of my 4 resolutions from last year, I've decided that resolutions are too limiting for a person with dreams as big as mine. ;) Therefore, I'm going with an overall goal or motto for my year. So for 2014, my motto will be Back to Basics.
Yes, I'm going back to the basics in a few different areas. In a world made to distract, entertain, and clutter our lives, I'm going to attempt to cut out the clutter and distraction and reach deep to find the things of most importance. What areas will I focus on this year? Things. Food. Home. School. Spirituality for lack of a better word.
Things and home. These two sort of go together. I've ranted enough about stuff. We're moving in 2 weeks. I've already been purging. I purged some before we moved 3 months ago. I will continue to purge until we move, and I'll probably purge a little more as I unpack. The physical clutter gives me mental clutter, and I am so over it. Throughout the year, I will ask myself if the thing I'm about to purchase is going to bless us or ultimately just become more clutter. Is it necessary? Really? Because just because I can have something doesn't mean I really need to have that something. For example, I threw away my electric can opener about a month ago because it wasn't working well. It was more trouble than a help. I started using my dinky hand held can opener that's better suited for camping, not every day use. I opted to buy a better hand help can opener with some Christmas money because it takes up less space, and I've already been exploring this whole back to basics mentality. So far, I'm pretty happy with my choice. =) Along with things, I want to have a simple home, and to invite people to our home. No overly complex schedules and multi-colored charts detailing chores. No extravagant dinners and crazy last minute clean ups to have people over. People will come over and see what they see. Hopefully, they will see an uncluttered, comfortable home. =)
Food. Ahhhh. Restaurants. I puffy heart LOVE them. After all this time, I haven't been able to give them up. Part of that is because the key to my eating at home success is routine and schedules (boring). Our lifestyle was not conducive to routines, so whenever things changed up, we'd inevitably eat out. Once we move to Raleigh, our lives will finally be able to have a certain rhythm that will allow me to succeed. Eventually, even the life hiccups that will occur won't send me running to Papa Johns, Jersey Mikes, Arby's, Chick fil a, McAlister's Deli... Plus, I already don't buy the overly processed convenience foods at the store so we'll be going completely back to whole foods, cleaner eating. It will be good. A difficult transition, but good.
Homeschooling is its own industry. Books, curriculum, manipulatives, etc. We are a marketing demographic with guilt pushing our buying. I must buy this fabulous art program or else my child might miss out on art history and technique! If I don't teach it, who will? Or this math program will better fit Kid #1's learning style; however, that math curriculum is better suited for Kid#2. Let's buy them both! Yeah, that's what happens. It's pure craziness. I've fallen into that trap a few times although I think I've done pretty well navigating these shark infested waters. As I finish up this school year, I will look over all those beautiful books with a more critical eye and get back to the basics of what I want my children's education to be. I have some great studies that just don't work for me. So they're going.
Finally, spirituality. Blech, I kind of hate that word because of what it's become. Obviously, I'm coming from a Jesus perspective. All the trappings of the American church have bothered me for quite awhile. I really want to peel away the colorful layers to get the meat of who I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing as a Christ follower. So for now, loud, blaring productions to induce a better worship experience are simply NOT for me. At corporate worship, I don't want the production, the branding, the songs I can hear on any radio station. This means NO Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Tom Petty, whatever. I don't want to hear it at church. I think we can do better. The Psalms are IN YOUR FACE about God. I want music at corporate worship to be IN MY FACE about God. Basically, I'm looking to get back to simple Bible study, eating together with my church family, singing songs about God in corporate worship, and serving in our city wherever the needs are. The rest can melt away. I don't need 5 different book studies that are polished, published, and marketed directly to me. I have the Bible. I can look for help and insight from the resources I already have and the people in my life that I trust.
So that's it. That's my plan for 2014. Getting back to basics in the most basic parts of my life. We'll see how this goes!
Yes, I'm going back to the basics in a few different areas. In a world made to distract, entertain, and clutter our lives, I'm going to attempt to cut out the clutter and distraction and reach deep to find the things of most importance. What areas will I focus on this year? Things. Food. Home. School. Spirituality for lack of a better word.
Things and home. These two sort of go together. I've ranted enough about stuff. We're moving in 2 weeks. I've already been purging. I purged some before we moved 3 months ago. I will continue to purge until we move, and I'll probably purge a little more as I unpack. The physical clutter gives me mental clutter, and I am so over it. Throughout the year, I will ask myself if the thing I'm about to purchase is going to bless us or ultimately just become more clutter. Is it necessary? Really? Because just because I can have something doesn't mean I really need to have that something. For example, I threw away my electric can opener about a month ago because it wasn't working well. It was more trouble than a help. I started using my dinky hand held can opener that's better suited for camping, not every day use. I opted to buy a better hand help can opener with some Christmas money because it takes up less space, and I've already been exploring this whole back to basics mentality. So far, I'm pretty happy with my choice. =) Along with things, I want to have a simple home, and to invite people to our home. No overly complex schedules and multi-colored charts detailing chores. No extravagant dinners and crazy last minute clean ups to have people over. People will come over and see what they see. Hopefully, they will see an uncluttered, comfortable home. =)
Food. Ahhhh. Restaurants. I puffy heart LOVE them. After all this time, I haven't been able to give them up. Part of that is because the key to my eating at home success is routine and schedules (boring). Our lifestyle was not conducive to routines, so whenever things changed up, we'd inevitably eat out. Once we move to Raleigh, our lives will finally be able to have a certain rhythm that will allow me to succeed. Eventually, even the life hiccups that will occur won't send me running to Papa Johns, Jersey Mikes, Arby's, Chick fil a, McAlister's Deli... Plus, I already don't buy the overly processed convenience foods at the store so we'll be going completely back to whole foods, cleaner eating. It will be good. A difficult transition, but good.
Homeschooling is its own industry. Books, curriculum, manipulatives, etc. We are a marketing demographic with guilt pushing our buying. I must buy this fabulous art program or else my child might miss out on art history and technique! If I don't teach it, who will? Or this math program will better fit Kid #1's learning style; however, that math curriculum is better suited for Kid#2. Let's buy them both! Yeah, that's what happens. It's pure craziness. I've fallen into that trap a few times although I think I've done pretty well navigating these shark infested waters. As I finish up this school year, I will look over all those beautiful books with a more critical eye and get back to the basics of what I want my children's education to be. I have some great studies that just don't work for me. So they're going.
Finally, spirituality. Blech, I kind of hate that word because of what it's become. Obviously, I'm coming from a Jesus perspective. All the trappings of the American church have bothered me for quite awhile. I really want to peel away the colorful layers to get the meat of who I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing as a Christ follower. So for now, loud, blaring productions to induce a better worship experience are simply NOT for me. At corporate worship, I don't want the production, the branding, the songs I can hear on any radio station. This means NO Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Tom Petty, whatever. I don't want to hear it at church. I think we can do better. The Psalms are IN YOUR FACE about God. I want music at corporate worship to be IN MY FACE about God. Basically, I'm looking to get back to simple Bible study, eating together with my church family, singing songs about God in corporate worship, and serving in our city wherever the needs are. The rest can melt away. I don't need 5 different book studies that are polished, published, and marketed directly to me. I have the Bible. I can look for help and insight from the resources I already have and the people in my life that I trust.
So that's it. That's my plan for 2014. Getting back to basics in the most basic parts of my life. We'll see how this goes!
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