The simpler the better

Hey Everybody, I’m back!  My beautiful daughter is nearly 2 months old and I’m excited to be back in touch with you all.Before I go on, a special thanks to all my guest bloggers. You all really helped me out and provided great content for our awakeparent
community!

OK, so you know the principle of Occam’s razor?  It’s the one that states that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.  Well, so far, it’s been showing up in my world as a new parent.  Here are some examples:  1) Which is simpler, that my husband purposely hid my fork from me or that I inadvertently tossed it into the sink and forgot about it? 2) Which is simpler, using a host of stain fighting concoctions to get the poop stains out of my cloth diapers or just putting them out in the sun for an hour? 3) Which is simpler, applying lots of special creams to my baby’s butt to get rid of diaper rash or just letting her little toosh get some air a few times a day?

I’m finding it absolutely amazing how time and again, the simpler solution is the better one!  It reminds me of a book I read years ago called “The Simple Living Guide” that offered lots of simple, easy solutions to all aspects of our ever more complicated lives.  If I recall correctly the author even wrote about things like getting rid of stuff so that you’d have less to organize and keep track of.

I love the principle of simplifying on many levels.  Physically, it makes life easier to own only 6 or 8 plates instead of 20.  I have less to store, less to get dirty, and less to clean.  Psychologically I feel more at ease and more comfortable when my home is clean, organized, and more sparsely furnished.  Financially, I save money when I choose not to buy the newest latest and greatest gadget or toy.  Environmentally, I’m helping to save the planet by reducing my ecological footprint every time I stay home, work from home, cook at home, or don’t order something from another continent.

And when I think back to my experience working in a preschool classroom, I remember that when we teachers took the time to organize just a few thoughtful activities, the children were more relaxed, engaged and comfortable than they were if we tried to introduce a whole bunch of new exciting stuff all at once.

So, this week, take some time to consider how you can simplify your home and your life.  Try removing toys, rather than adding new ones and see how your child  responds differently to the toys he can now see and experience (instead of having to dig through a huge bin full of stuff).  Organize things into bins and stash them in the garage, then pull them out in a month and rotate your child’s toys.  Consider donating some items to a thrift store or having a yard sale.  You may even try clearing off the tables, countertops, and other horizontal surfaces of your home and notice how much more calm you feel as a result.

I hope you enjoy simplifying your life as much as I do!   And I’d love to hear how it goes, so please let me know.