Life: The Journey continues!

I realized this week that I’d stopped updating this blog several months ago.  I’m not fully sure why, but it seems to have something to do with getting back in touch with a number of people from my high school days.  I think I started spending time thinking about and dealing with the past and issues that were still haunting me a bit, and I didn’t take time to reflect on the current things in my life.

Your thoughts and prayers are ever so appreciated as I struggle to find my voice again here on my blog.

Life: The Journey continues!  

A Simple Choice: A practical guide for saving your time, money and sanity

A Simple Choice: A practical guide for saving your time, money and sanity by Deborah Taylor-Hough

This book of mine was written more than 10 years ago but is just as timely now with the current economic situation.

Prior to writing A Simple Choice, I spent nearly a year interviewing real people about what living simply meant to them and how they were practically applying simple living principles to their lives.  So not only was this book written from my own experiences, it was also borne from the experiences and insights of 100+ others.

I’ve had numerous people tell me that this is a book they’ve kept for on-going reference over the years.  I’ve also been told it makes a great bridal shower gift.  

True confessions …

Well, I blew it this morning.  I spent money on a non-essential.  :(

But I learned something from today’s episode … so I’ll just dust myself off, start again, and head in the right direction with some new wisdom under my belt.

The lesson learned?

“Don’t leave home in the morning to run errands without eating breakfast (or at least SOMETHING!) first.”

Patting myself on the back …

I had to run up to the college this morning (I’m still volunteering at the radio station) and I wanted a cup of hot coffee badly. I walked by the coffee machine and actually stopped to dig in my purse to find 60 cents … but I stopped myself, closed my purse, and told myself to wait until I got home.

Normally I keep some loose change on me just for those little super cheap impulse purchases but because I’ve promised myself not to spend ANYTHING (not even 60 cents!), I kept my change and will add it to my change jar here at home.

Good for me.

Spending Moratorium …

I think tomorrow begins a Spending Moratorium in my life.

I’ve cut down to bare bones as it is, but now I’ve decided that if it isn’t necessary for life (food, shelter, heat), I won’t be spending money on it.  No clothing (not even from garage sales or thrift stores).

No food items other than the barest essentials (and ideally I’ll be able to cook from the pantry for awhile).  No school supplies.  No gum.  No coffee.  No nothing.  Which is a little amusing because I already don’t spend money on much of anything as it is … but I need to cut back to nothing.

Exhaustion …

I’ve cried more often and much harder in the past three days than I have in probably two years. Absolutely drained dry. I think I’ve been holding everything together by sheer grit and willpower … but it all unraveled at once.

Nothing particular happened … just everything that’s happened in the past five+ years came crashing in at once and I felt completely overwhelmed … almost unable to function much less do things like look for a job, etc.

I’m just really really tired. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically … what other “ly”s are there?

If it’s there, it’s exhausted.

Simple gift …

Last month a reader sent me a $5 gift card to Starbuck’s for Christmas.  (Thank you, by the way!)  :-)

I thought it was super sweet of her … but today I finally used it. Got a breakfast sandwich and a latte’ for $5.09 and it made my morning to have my breakfast paid for.

Yesterday was a hard day (long story) and I still feel like I’m recovering somewhat so it was nice to have a treat while I was out this morning. Just goes to show that even the simplest gestures can be meaningful and bring a much needed bright spot to someone’s life. ♥