Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Less Stuff + More Experience = a happy life

Less stuff+ more experiences= a happy life.

One night my roommate and I found ourselves bored and in desperate need of something to do.  Since we live in a small town we are rather limited on choices (I mean really you can only go to so many barn raisings).  We decided to make a 45 minute trek to a nearby town to do a little shopping (gotta love that Wal-Mart).  On the way home I started feeling…well…dumpy is really the only way to put it so please excuse my lack of vocabulary just this once.  I tried to pin down the source of said dumpiness (better?).  Now at this point I could tell you a really long story about how I cried about how meaningless my life had become but well…I’m not going to waste your time with such drudgery.  Rather I shall skip to the important part.  I realized that I wanted less stuff in my life.  More eloquently put I wanted to work to become a less material person (insert Madonna singing here).  I mean they can’t pack all those purses in the grave with me!  I went straight home that night and began going through my closet.  I got rid of probably a third of my clothes.  Lots of purses, shoes, jewelry, and a plethora of odd’s and end’s made their way to the trunk of my car where I promptly delivered them to a local thrift store.  I decided from that point on that I would no longer buy something just because I wanted it.  I had to need it!  Of course I must tell you that it is easier said than done.  I mean, I’m not saying that I was like jonesing for a T.J. Maxx or something…no, I was just…well ok I was jonesing for T.J. Maxx.  It kind of works like dieting for me.  If you tell me I can’t have it, like absolutely cannot have it…well then it becomes the one thing I really need to get my hands on.  So before long I found myself with far more stuff than I needed.  Once again I had let my shopping habit (NOT addictionJ) get the better of me.  So I started over.  And this time I did better.  I was a little (lot) easier on myself.  Truthfully it has been a lot easier since I stopped putting so much pressure on myself.  I mean really, I’m no Mother Theresa.  Lord knows I wish I were.  I have done a little reading about other people with similar goals and have found that I still have a long way to go.  I actually read an article about a couple that has limited themselves to a hundred things or less. (I tried to find the link to the article, however apparently there is now a book, etc.  Check it out.) Which is great, but really, who would I be kidding if I committed to that?? I would probably end up committed to an institution somewhere.   The point is (I’m aware that you are wondering) that when you rely on stuff to make you happy, well it just won’t.  I mean, maybe for a minute.  Or even an hour or two, but it ain’t gonna last…so think about it.  Get rid of a bag of stuff.  See how good it makes you feel J

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

And this is why....

Food blog you say? Health blog or perhaps even a diet blog? Nope, this is rather a life blog!  My words (lacking in wisdom) to the world (internet) that I find significant (sometimes) in the matters of life…you know breathing, eating, working, walking your dog, staying healthy, and having the occasional beer while watching reality television.  Um, ok so I probably shouldn’t admit to that last part about the reality television so just pretend that I said while reading Shakespeare.  Ever the intellectual…or T.V. junkie… I do strive to be. 
About this title…I just like the Keep Calm (you know don’t sweat the small stuff) part and as for the “Eat Your Broccoli”…well that is straight from the horses (my Mother) mouth.  Always known for her classic way of ending a phone conversation with “I love you and don’t forget to eat your broccoli!” my Mother (or Marmie as she was known to me) was chock full of wise words.  I mean really…Buddha must be jealous.  So as a sort of tribute to Marmie dearest, this blog shall have a few of her favorite pieces of advice woven throughout (i.e. “ladies only wear white cotton panties”).
I’m new to the “blog scene” but somewhat of a veteran to the irreverent humor category.  Sarcasm never ceases to delight me and I am absolutely charmed by the occasional satirical diatribe.
I'm sure you are wondering what the point of this is...well so am I so don't ask me (I will ask at this point that you excuse the dry humor).   Blogging is an undertaking that I have thought about often and have been know to put it on my to-do list (more about that later) on numerous occasions. Since I am planning a semi-big move (South Arkansas to Memphis) in the next two months I decided it was a splendid time to start. So here goes nothing :)