the year of simpler living:

{via bluebirdbaby}

i've titled this post "the year of simpler living" because that is what i hope it will be.

i stood in the labor and delivery waiting room this evening at 12 midnight, styrofoam cup of sparkling grape juice in my hand, and i rung in the new year crowded around a small TV with my work family. as we all toasted our glasses, sipped in 2010, and returned to our work--- i couldn't help but stop and contemplate the clean slate that just appeared before me.

a new year.

a whole year to be better. different. to see new things. help more people. grow. it's my sincere hope and prayer that i will be able to look back on this night and recognize it as a turning point. as the axis of a change in my life. that from this night on i will live more simply. more sustainably. more fully.

i always like to think that my favorite year will be the next one.

here i go...

a different kind of question:::

i've decided to change my way of thinking. and by doing so, perhaps help challenge others way of thinking.

it is exceptionally easy to ask "why?". so many things can happen in our life that make us throw our hands to the heavens. or hang our heavy head in their palms. we can mourn our hardships, or we can look them in the face and ask:

WHY NOT?

what makes me think i shouldn't struggle. fight. overcome. what makes me exempt? i am no better than any other human being who has climbed their way to the top of a mountain-- and kissed the ground on the other side.

we live in a broken world. questioning it will not put the pieces back together. instead-- we can look at our struggles square in the face-- and conquer them. climb them. stand upon them. ask ourselves--not WHY?-- but WHY NOT?-- and steady on. we can achieve greatness-- despite our obstacles.

but hold your breath-- you'll never be prepared for the view from the mountaintop.

::: embracing fall

okay. let's talk fall. autumn. the season that we are now--officially-- participating in.

round about the middle of august, i became overcome with this undeniable feeling of absolute dread. it felt like a real sickness. i was devastated that my beautiful, glorious summer sun, and warm air, was going to be slowly drifting away from me. i wanted more hot days. more tan skin. more excuses to exercise my obnoxiously large flip flop collection. i was downright angry. i shook my proverbial fist at the sky, screaming "WHY? WHY?". i mean, maybe fall and winter could pass us this year?.....right?

but no such thing happened. nor will it ever. and i began to relinquish to fall.

then the unthinkable happened. i got an anthropologie catalog in the mail. followed by a toast catalog. and the coats and sweaters were so dreamy. then i saw the worlds most adorable scarf at target. and the cutest thanksgiving table additions on etsy. and then. THEN. i tasted this seasons first sip of starbucks pumpkin spice latte.



and it was all enough to throw me from my complacency about the seasons, right into a full on fall embrace. i am now pretty much ecstatic for fall. so much so- i was actually a little put out that it's been so hot and humid here in the Mitten, this week. i now have the urge to don a big cozy sweater. to curl up with fuzzy socks and a mug of coffee and watch charlie brown specials on tv. i want to feel the crunch of leaves. taste the extra-sweetness of fresh cider. maybe bake a pie.

funny what happens when we give up trying to control the things we cannot change, and simply do our best to enjoy what we've been given.

i raise my pumpkin spice latte to you. and to enjoying the journey. regardless of the weather.

OHHH:: what a beautiful morning:::

It's 0920. that perfect time of the morning. you've completely woken up, had at least one cup of coffee, and have an entire day ahead of you. the sun is casting it's delicious shadows on the sidewalks & porches. the neighborhood remains peaceful. still. quiet. the cats lay in narrow beams of light in the living room. regis & kelly banter on quietly from the television. the possibility is palpable in the air. ahhhh.....another day. another adventure. another chance to cross a few things off of your to-do list. to read a few more chapters in your current novel. to go for an afternoon stroll.

life is not a mystery. and about nothing should we fear. the world knows---God knows---exactly what will happen next, as if it already had. all we have to do is wake up, and be willing to be where we need to be & when. i imagine each day like emulating Mary Poppins. i just arise, open my umbrella, and let the wind take me where it may. oh the pure joy of releasing fret. worry. obligation. do what you have to do. what you want to do. and what doesn't get done doesn't need to get done. there's always tomorrow. and if there isn't---well....then it really won't matter, anyway will it?

i don't just live. i love living.


OH!! && if you get a free moment:: stop by the PARTY!