Last night I rocked my baby girl to sleep. She’s not really a cuddler + has always just wanted to be left alone to fall asleep.
I didn’t want to put her down.
I didn’t want to tackle anything on my to-do.
I just wanted to sit. + rock. + sing to my baby girl.
I set her down in her crib + stood there. Just watching her sleep.
Praying for time to simply pause to take one. long. breath. Give me more time with her each day.
This post has been in draft for months.
It’s been full of rambling thoughts + plans. It’s been set to publish + set back to draft.
I want to simplify.
I want to cut back.
I want it for my family.
When Harlow was born [almost a year ago, wow] I loved that life. slowed. down.
I took time to enjoy the small things + I promised myself I wouldn’t let that change.
I’ve allowed myself to book up. Full days. No rest. Burning the wick from both ends: going to bed too late + waking up too early. Saying yes to too much. Not taking time to have my priorities in line.
I’ve delayed posting these thoughts because I don’t have answers. I don’t know where to start the scissors. I do know where to start, but distractions know my weaknesses.
I look back fondly at the times in my life when my priorities were right. I had Him at the center: everything else fell into place. Look back fondly? That’s not how it should be.
I want my husband, my children, my friends to see my actions line up with what I say.
So.
This act of removing clutter from my life + my family’s lives is a process. I’m not sure what it will look like, but I know it will allow us to live more. Live louder. Live more simply.
I want to cut back the clutter to add more to my life.
I was inspired to finally publish these thoughts [I’m so nervous I won’t be able to do it. To cut back. To change.] when I read how Simple Design was born. I know I’m not alone. I know that my journey to simplicity won’t hold a candle to Ari + her incredible team! But I know this is a marathon that I have been ignoring for quite some time.
How about you? Is life cluttered + too busy? Any ideas for slowing down? Cutting back?
In it with you + no idea what it’ll look like,
Thought I’d share a few photos of some newborn Luca boots sent out recently. They are so teensy, tiny + perfect …. they make my uterus twitch a bit. No joke.
Love the booties. I too had to make this decision recently, to scale back+slow down even if it was doing something I love. I love Helen MORE and want to savor the present. There will be time for the things that I'm having to push to the back burner, later. Because babies are only babies, for so long :)
Exactly – it’s SO possible to be doing too much of a good thing! I think that is one of Satan’s greatest ploys…
We're totally on the journey to simplify too. One idea we are implementing here is a family vision statement placed in a prominent place in the home so that we can see it daily. The goal is to ask "does this task, thing, commitment, idea, etc., fit the overall vision of our family?" If not, NO DICE!
Love that, Jessica!
Nice!
LOVE that idea, Jess!
Jess–talk to me about your family vision statement. I'd love to hear it…and if you have an recommended reading? Sean and I are meeting TONIGHT to get our home and lives back. Part of it involves staging a coup from the 3-foot dictator running our home, but part will be that vision statement. I love it so much!
Sorry I'm late with this Jen, I had bible study last night. There isn't something to read specifically, just a combination of ideas I've gathered from many places. I just think it is a great thing to have a clear vision for my family and the accountability to pursue it together as a husband and wife. Jason and actually have our appointment for our 6 month retreat/ long date coming up to plan our vision statement and our goals for this half of the year coming up. We are gathering some thoughts on each side of what we want to prioritize and we will bring them together at our retreat. I will absolutely share our statement with you when we have it refined. I would love to hear what you and Sean come up with too. Anyway, I hope that helps.
In 2006, I spent 8 weeks at home, recovering from surgery. I noticed that the world kept going without me, and that I really liked being home. I bought a pillow which states "Live Simply". I got a new dog. I began daily journaling. I bought a boat and took up fishing. I changed jobs. I dumped TV shows. I began to attend every possible family event, and made monthly dates with good friends. I never, ever miss church and often miss other things as a result. The list goes on, and of course it looks different for everyone. It is absolutely worth it.
You are someone I really look up to, Aunt Jane!
Amen. LOVE this post. I can't say enough good things about it. I am lookign fwd to my baby forcing me to slow down and notice the small things again. Working on a new post for my blog – blog.simplemattersboston.com. You're such a great source of inspiration even if you don't realize it! I always try to book weekends with nothing to do and just see what happens, because the only way to not be busy is to plan not being busy, but its hard and rare. <3
Xoxo headed over to your blog as soon as Harlow goes down for her nap :o]
How come you always seem to be able to say so well what I’m thinking but I can’t seem to even begin to articulate? Right there with you, Friend.
P.S. Baby Girl NEEDS those booties this winter! Along with everything else your talented self makes. (Okay, maybe Mommy is the one who REALLY needs them.) :)
:O) Because I think we share a brain connection :)
also? I *cough* might need to know her name *cough* *cough* before I can make anything for her…that’s my rule. ;o) JK! xoxo
There’s perhaps no one I’d rather share a brain with. :)
And I may have just sent you a text about that second part… ;)
We've been on a similar journey, but unfortunately, it usually rolls all up into me. I want to do so much, but so much of it is a distraction. For years I've had as my mantra "just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you SHOULD. Oh, if only I could learn that. I'm with you, love.
Also, I should say that I've done this over and over and over. I simplify, and then overcommit again just as soon as I start to feel rested. I don't want life to be boring. I just don't want chaos either.
Sigh.
Yes. Too much.
Today Charlie fell asleep on my chest and I didn’t move. I decided that everything I was going to do could wait. And I just sniffed his head and closed my eyes. And thanked God for trusting such a little man to me.
There is something to be said for pulling back, dropping some stuff, and just being.
This post was such a gift. Thank you for publishing it. Actions lining up with what you say, decisions following your heart rather than your habit. I recognize this, I believe this, and I too want to live it.
From this moment, choosing to move back to center.