Enjoy Simplicity and Simple Pleasures

Entire books have been written on how to slow down, enjoy simple pleasures, and lead a simple lifestyle. These books exist because people often long for simplicity, but don't know how to get out of the rat race long enough to learn it. The good news is, you can start small by implementing some simple tips and suggestions. Here are some ideas.

Ten Minutes

Ten minutes is a doable time increment for even the busiest person, so it's a good place to start. Pick when your ten minutes will be - right before bed, maybe, or at noon. The point is to be quiet and focused during those ten minutes, and to enjoy a simple pleasure for that time. Draw a picture, read a book, meditate, write a few lines in a journal. Make it a quiet ten minutes - no phone, no television, no computer.

If you do this every day, you will carve out an hour and ten minutes each week. Think of it as a small investment in your simpler future.

What's Necessary?

Many of us feel driven by what we think we must do; we live in a world of "have to's" and "need to's." But do we really? Sit down and evaluate things for a moment, and consider what you really need versus what you want.

Are you running around with no time to breathe because you have too many commitments? Ask yourself tough questions - do these things/events/people really need you there? If you said no, could they still carry on? Chances are, yes, they could. The same goes for your kids' activities. Where can you say no? When does an opportunity become a burden? No one can do everything. Sometimes, you really have to pick and choose.

Entertainment

This is an area where people often feel conflict. Many of us admire people who can do without television and movies and computer games, and who get their pleasures from simple things like a walk in the forest. But although we may admire them, we don't feel like we can do the same. Chances are, though, that those simple-pleasure people you admire were once in the rat race, too - talk to them about it (more on that below).

In the meantime, think about your entertainment choices. Entertainment is a pleasure, and if you're moving toward enjoying simple pleasures, maybe you need to think about where you get that pleasure.

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One idea is to start with one simple replacement. Instead of watching a television program, take a walk. Notice the landscape, the colors, the shapes and lines. Little by little, replace electronic, complicated pleasure with simple ones.

Talk to Each Other

Prioritizing relationships is key to living simply. In fact, as you connect with others who live simply, you can ask them about how they came to that place. Putting people ahead of tasks and "to do's" is a way to connect with your community and enjoy the simple pleasure of companionship.


Maryjane Angelo

Old Books and Magazines Maryjane's Blog

Creative Ways for Using Old Books and Magazines

If your home is like most, you probably have a stack of magazines you have read but do not know what to do with. You may also have many books that have been read and enjoyed some time ago. Rather than tossing these things, try one or more of the following creative ways for using old books and magazines.

Create a Unique Desk

This is a great way to repurpose books. You will need to have a large quantity of books and in varying sizes to make stacks the same height. A set of old encyclopedias and other hardcover books would work best, but you may be able to add in some paperbacks, too.

Decide how large you want your desk to be and mark that area on your floor with tape at the corners. Place the books, largest on the bottom, on the floor with the books in each taped corner. Continue adding books to your stacks until you get to the right height. Then place a piece of plywood, an old door, or thick Plexiglas for the top.

Make Recycled Paper

You can take some of the old books, phone books and newspapers you have laying around and create recycled paper. You will need a blender, paper, a screen with a frame and water. Look online or check out a book from the library to learn more.

Wrap Presents

There is no reason why you should pay a premium for wrapping paper for gift giving. Tape pages from a magazine together to create one large sheet; then you can use that to wrap your gifts. You can also use the magazine pages to make a bow by cutting the page into strips and taping them together.

Origami paper can be expensive and hard to find. If you would like to try your hand at origami, you can cut the pages of a magazine to the right size and then begin folding. When you feel you have somewhat mastered the craft, you may want to purchase the right kind of paper and feel assured you will not be wasting your money.

Teach Children

This is one of the best ways to help a young child learn the sounds letters make. If they can recognize things, name them and can use safety scissors and glue, they can make a letter book. They can cut pictures out of a magazine that start with a specific letter and glue them on a sheet of paper. A is for apple, angels and anteaters. B is for boy, baby and boots. You get the idea. When your child has gone through the alphabet, punch the pages and create a cover for it.

These are just a few creative ways for using old books and magazines. Perhaps these ideas are enough to get your creative juices flowing and help you come up with ideas of your own. Think about other crafts that use paper and chances are you will be able to incorporate the pages of books or magazines.

Maryjane Angelo