Writing on the advantages of being intentional and the joy of living your best life.
My writing reflects my deep conviction that each of us can create an environment and joyously authentic life, right where we are at.
Developing the Skills to Build the Slowsteading Lifestyle You Desire: Transforming Vision into Reality
Debrief, declutter, design, and develop: The four-step process to creating your slow zone for a slowsteading lifestyle. Essential skills for simple living need to be learned and require skill-building strategies.
Designing Your Envisaged Slow Living Lifestyle: Creating a Life You Love through Purposeful Planning
Are you prepared to seize control of your destiny and begin crafting a way of life that resonates with your core beliefs and dreams? Whether you yearn for moments to cherish with loved ones, seek an equilibrium between work and personal life, or aim to establish an environment that mirrors the tranquility and authenticity of your inner being, shaping the lifestyle you desire entails thoughtful preparation and deliberate living.
Declutter Enough to Create a Slow Zone
Decluttering tends to be my bugbear. I often write that I would much rather be creative, cook, garden, or write. Decluttering seems like work, and I prefer fun. This is usually the reason for the clutter that eventually hampers my lifestyle and creativity. I had to reframe decluttering in my mind. I must perceive this activity as a creative process; this is my magic trick for eliminating the things and thoughts that hold me back.
Embarking on the Journey of Creating your Slow Zone
I have been writing about creating a personal slow zone for a while now. I encourage you to explore this mindfulness journey of finding peace and joy in the moment for yourself. Creating a slow zone is so much more than just a slow living lifestyle that can be superimposed on your circumstances to provide a superficial solution.
Creating your own Slow Zone as the Nucleus of your Slowsteading Lifestyle
Being honest about our present reality can be challenging, and reading about some glib slow living tips does not help the situation. Life is busy, and minimalist lifestyle ideas marketed by influencers seem to add even more pressure on all of us to keep up, be better, be in control, and cope well. All these expectations, sustainable living hacks, and intentional living guides create unbelievable noise and exhaustion.
Discover the Secret to a Fulfilling Life in the Tranquil Blue Zones
It can be challenging to stay focused on what counts in the fast-paced flow of contemporary life, with all the tech buzz and endless tasks piling up on our plate. Feeling the need to stay on top of current trends can be pretty daunting for anyone trying to stay rooted in reality amidst all this chaos. The tranquillity found in the Blue Zones around the globe offers an approach that harmonizes with the Slow Steading philosophy—a lifestyle centered around simplicity, purpose, and meaningful connections.
Quieting the Chaos with Mindfulness: Ways to Organize Your Physical and Mental Space
The idea for this blog post stemmed from a chaotic moment at home. My son, who has a disability, was making a lot of noise while I was trying to get some writing done before my other children returned from school. I could feel my frustration building as I attempted to block out the sounds. Eventually, I decided to take a break, brew some lemon tea, and sit outside on the porch.
Embarking on a Journey as a Wayfinder in Slow Steading
I would like to add to slow steading the broad concept of becoming a way finder, to the principles of slow steading. The definition of a way finder as someone ready to respond to the deep yearning to follow their inner compass, works well for me.
Avoiding Homesteading Burnout: Embracing the Slow Steading Approach
The wonderful world of homesteading offers a vision of self-sufficiency, sustainability, and a return to simpler living. However, the reality of this lifestyle can sometimes lead to burnout, particularly when approached with rigid expectations and a prescriptive mindset. The slow homesteading approach, slow steading, it emphasizes a more personalized, flexible, and patient approach to this rewarding but challenging way of life. Here's how adopting the principles of slow steading can help avoid burnout while ensuring that your journey remains joyful and fulfilling.
Celebrating Life: Creating Personalized Traditions Through the Slow Steading Lifestyle
In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to let significant moments slip by with only a passing nod. But what if we slowed down and embraced traditions through slow-steading? Embracing family celebrations like birthdays, milestones, and personally significant events can form the backbone of personalized traditions, enriching our lives and supporting the ethos of slow-steading.
Slow Steading and Seasonal Living: A Roadmap to Mental and Emotional Wellness
When was the last time you truly felt at peace? Not the fleeting contentment from a good movie or a nice meal, but a deep, lasting sense of comfort. For many, that kind of peace seems elusive. We're constantly bombarded by demands and distractions, often leading us to feel unmoored and anxious.
Therapeutic Journaling: A Path to Personal Growth and Healing
Therapeutic journaling, or narrative therapy through writing is an incredibly powerful tool for personal growth and healing. It’s a practice that’s as unique as you are, customizable to fit your specific needs and preferences.
The Joy of Seasonal Living: A Path to Finding Your Authentic Rhythm
Seasonal Living means staying in harmony with the seasonal shifts of the year. Embracing the rhythm of nature not only enriches our lives with fresher, tastier food but also supports our local communities, saves money, and nurtures the environment.
Authentic Stewardship of Life is Where You Start
In a society that often equates more with better, decluttering offers a pathway to a different kind of wealth—one that values quality over quantity and mindful living over mere accumulaion.
How To Create An Authentic Life That Makes You Happy
Acting authentically to influence your lifestyle means engaging in behaviours and making decisions aligned with your true self—your core values, beliefs, passions, and personal identity.
The Power of Authenticity: Embracing Your Role as the Decision Maker in Life
In an era dominated by the allure of consumerism and the omnipresence of social media influencers, it is increasingly vital to remember the profound benefits of pursuing an authentic life. Authenticity—being true to oneself and making decisions based on personal values rather than societal pressures—is not just a moral virtue but a practical pathway to deep, lasting satisfaction. From personal experience I can testify that the small changes towards authentic living is essential and argues against the superficial gratification offered by a consumer-driven, influence-oriented culture.
Discover My Why for Slow Steading | Homesteading and Slow Living Secrets Revealed!
When you want to make changes in your life, understanding your deepest motivation for such a change is paramount. Good ideas, often derived from social media feeds or the enticing convictions of other people, are not enough of a reason to make changes and alter your own reality.
Wrapping Others in Care Makes the World a Warmer, Happier Place
In the tapestry of human connection, caring for others can be likened to the warmth of a blanket on a chilly evening. This analogy, evocative and rich in simplicity, is a powerful reminder of the importance of nurturing and protecting the personal connections we share with those in our social environment.
What Is The Difference Between Slow Steading, Homesteading, And Slow Living?
The concepts of "slow steading",traditional homesteading, and "slow living" reflect lifestyles that emphasize sustainability, self-sufficiency, and a mindful approach to life. Yet, they have distinct characteristics and focuses. It's important to delve into each concept to clarify these differences.
Allow Yourself to Take Breaks
The fast-paced nature of modern life has become a defining characteristic of our existence. The relentless push for productivity, the constant barrage of digital notifications, and the societal expectation to always be "on" have woven a complex tapestry of stress and exhaustion that drapes heavily over our collective well-being.
Decluttering Your Mind with Self-Care and Self-Love: A Path to Mental Peace and Joy
The brain, the centre of our humanity, is an intricate and perplexing organ. Even the most skilled psychoanalysts have never been able to filter through the layers of ancient traumas and wounds that cover the mind, as they are spread over so many levels of consciousness.
Slow Decor: Curating Your Living Space with Bespoke Elegance and Mindful Upcycling
In a world where trends come and go in the blink of an eye, the slow decor movement is a testament to the enduring beauty of intentional living.
Urban Slow Steading Encourages Simplicity and Sustainability in the City
When we think of slow living and homesteading, most of us think of rural pastures and vast open spaces.
Embracing Slow Living Adjustments Instead of New Year's Resolutions
As the calendar turns the page to a new year, the tradition of making resolutions often takes centre stage. This is enough to give me a terrible knot on my stomach.
The Therapeutic Art of Cooking and Baking
I did not grow up in a household where cooking and baking was considered a relaxing activity. My mom cooked healthy, tasty meals, that we all enjoyed , but I perceived food preparation as more of a chore than a passion.
The Healing Power of Slow Living: Making Positive Decisions for Emotional Transformation
A year or two ago, I found myself regularly discontent with my life, day to day stressful situations resembled running on the never-ending treadmill of life. I was caught up in the chaos of daily routines and external pressures. It's easy to lose sight of what truly matters and neglect our emotional well-being.
The Art of Transforming Your Living Space: Organizing vs. Decluttering
Our living spaces are more than just physical locations; they are extensions of ourselves. They reflect our personalities, our habits, and our lifestyles. In many ways, our homes play a significant role in influencing our everyday lives. It's no wonder that keeping our living spaces in order is a constant pursuit.
Understanding Your Emotional and Psychological Footprint
Imagine for a moment a trail of footprints in the sand, each representing a step taken on a unique journey. These steps, however, aren't just physical; they are also emotional and psychological. Our quest for personal well-being and happiness often leaves an invisible but profound mark — our emotional and psychological footprint.
Cultivating Vegetables in Your Garden while Decluttering Your Soul
In our fast-paced modern world, it's all too easy for clutter to accumulate in our lives, both physically and mentally. However, by cultivating a vegetable garden and embracing the art of decluttering, we can enjoy the bounties of nature and achieve a sense of tranquillity and balance in our souls. Let us explore the profound connection between cultivating vegetables, decluttering your life, and the principles of slow living, allowing you to create a harmonious and peaceful environment for yourself and your loved ones.
JOMO: THE JOY OF MISSING OUT - Discovering Freedom Beyond Expectations
We have been on the decluttering journey for a while. Can we agree that some parts of the trip were more enjoyable? Making intentional choices to change are a big commitment. What seemed like a good idea at the time can prove to be tricky in the long run. We all have practical examples of being faced with bad discissions from the past and having to find new and better ways to do things.
Develop mindful relationships by decluttering your mind
Mindful happiness in relationships involves cultivating awareness and intentionality in our interactions with others, in order to foster a deeper sense of contentment and satisfaction in ourrelationships. Here are a few tips for practicing mindful happiness in your relationships:
The connection between decluttering your mind and reading fiction
Cluttered spaces can lead to cluttered minds, and the same goes for mental clutter. Our minds can become filled with unnecessary thoughts, worries, and distractions, which can affect our ability to focus and be productive. One effective way to clear mental clutter is through reading fiction.
Declutter Me
Writing this to you is based on a bad (although it turned out to be great) review of my book What If I Don’t Have Enough? The person was exasperated that this was just another decluttering book and blah de blah. This made me think that my readers need context, and they need to understand where I am coming from. Otherwise, this is just another bookabout clutter.
Who Am I?
People often say that my story makes them feel better about their circumstances. So, hear me out and see if this makes you feel better. I have many biological kids and a few children whom we have the privilege to love, raise, and parent. I have many exotic pets, e.g., sugargliders, chinchillas, and hedgehogs. My menagerie includes a few adorable dogs, Bengalcats, chickens, and rabbits.
Stop `Hoarding, Be Happy
They say “clutter is an inside job,” so, how many of us focus primarily on the tangible items that annoy our senses in the immediate environment? If visible clutter affects our emotions so severely, why do we ignore their origin? In other words, why do we clutter and then hate the clutter so much?
Declutter Your Time
Time is the one great equalizer here on earth.Nobody gets more than another. Rich or poor, big or small, Father Time is a fare guy. Intentional living influences all aspects of our lives, and it acknowledges that mindlessness wastes energy, time, resources, and opportunities. Focusing on deliberate thought patterns and habits creates an opportunity to invest in other meaningful endeavors such as intentional time management and more meaningful relationships.
Declutter Your Thought Patterns
Recently, much attention has been given to decluttering our houses and living spaces. It is easy to forget that we first inhabit our minds and then the physical spaces we live in. This mind space can get seriously cluttered, and that makes living difficult. Even if we can attain a neat and organised exterior, a cluttered mind can cause much mental unhappiness. An assessment of the situation might be necessary to decide whether we need to declutter mentally.
Re-thinking Negative Thought Patterns
Negative thinking patterns and cognitive distortions can manifest as incorrect assumptions, unrealistic self-criticisms, and even the denial of reality. Yet, the effects of this thinking can be all too real for someone struggling with their mental health.
Intentional Gratitude
Gratitude is a popular buzzword that is often used out of context. In the present-day self-help culture, concepts like gratitude, intention, wellness, wholeness, and actualization describe a need to be present in the moment. It focuses on awareness and finding the energy in yourself to be the steering power in your existence.
Intentional Decisions Lead To a Purposeful Life
In a world of quick fixes and commercialized solutions, we often forget that we are responsible for being mindful of our decisions. Our lives are shaped and directed by the myriad of small daily decisions. Our choices directly impact our social, physical, financial, spiritual, and relational well-being.
She Passed Away In The Night
My friend passed away in the early hours of the morning. She was 44 years old. Six weeks ago, the doctor thought she had IBS; the truth was that she had aggressive colon cancer. She made the rest of us seem dull as she boogie-boarded with her children and embraced life enthusiastically. A person of strong faith and intense interest in other people, which included a huge heart for those who struggled and needed support.
The Joy Of Living An Intentionally Authentic Life
It is time to take the decluttering journey further. A meaningful outcome for decluttering your life and mind is creating a lifestyle that brings you joy and peace. We all have different circumstances and live in diverse settings, but as humans, our need to find a place of balance and calm is universal. Join me on a journey to create an authentic and mindful lifestyle that aligns with your integrity and values. Picture this: a friendly conversation exploring the essence of living in the tradition of Hygge, Ikigai, the Slow living movement, and the Blue Zones.
The Intentional Benefits of a Vacation
We are on our way to our beach house. Many hours away from our life in the cityand a world apart from the day-to-day challenges we all face. We will sleep longhours lulled by the white noise of the sea. Our circadian cycles will slowly normalizeduring days spent in the sun, enjoying slow stress-free hours doing things we love.We will cook wholesome meals and enjoy the fruit of our labor around our well-worntable. Food and good wine will be enjoyed during hearty conversations. Happy banter and enthusiastic discussions will make way for restful evenings staring into the fire. Early nights will be followed by long beach walks in the crisp sea spray with the warm morning sun on our backs.
The Principles of Intentional Living
“Nobody finishes well by accident” – John C. Maxwell.