December 1st, 2010
Enjoy this guest post/book excerpt from Tsh Oxenreider, who blogs at SimpleMom.net. I’ll review her new book soon, but this post should give you a good idea of what the book is about — just in case you or someone you love is looking for inspiration to simply! That’s a big challenge, especially around the holidays.
Stuff: Our Modern-Day Slave Master
By Tsh Oxenreider
Author of Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living
“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
– – WILL ROGERS
What does it look like for a modern-day family to live simply while still participating in after school sports, errand running, and getting enough sleep to not go insane? Simple living is about living your life with a purpose that aligns with your values. It’s about enjoying the things you love and care about and not about stressing over the things that don’t matter. It’s fulfilling; it brings peace; it drips with contentment. Living simply is about being who you were made to be.
That’s what this book is about. I want to park at the nitty-gritty of life – – the intersection between good intentions and reality. I want to help you find that peaceful place, where your pocketbook, your home, and your weekly routine reflect your family’s convictions and values. Responsible home managers must be intentional with their decisions – – we need to take time to evaluate our priorities and then take the steps necessary to make our family life reflect the simple life we crave. It won’t happen for us – – mature adults proactively make decisions and form habits to shape their home lives into the lifestyles they desire. We can’t blame a hectic schedule, too many bills to pay, or too many messes to clean for keeping us from our goals because we can do something about those. You want a simpler life at home for your family – – a home that is clean and organized and fits your life’s purpose. I want to give you some tools to help you do this.
Admitting that I’m not a certified organizer or a simplicity guru is probably not the best way to begin a book about simple living. But I need to lay that out on the table between me and you, the reader, before we begin this journey together. I don’t have a database full of clients, and I don’t have my own TV show. I’m a young mom running a busy household. Maybe you can relate. Simple living is something I’ve learned to value through my life experience. It’s been along journey to get here, and it’s a journey you can take as well. In fact, I’m still walking the path.
My husband and I have made simplicity one of our life’s highest priorities. We currently live outside of the United States in a 1,400-square- foot apartment (boasting only one closet) with our five-year-old daughter, our two-year-old son, and another little one on the way. We continually evaluate all of our belongings to make sure they still offer our value to our lives. We are selective with the new purchases we bring in our home in order to make the most of our space. We hardly watch any television, and we spend lots of time together because both my husband and I work from home. These intentional decisions allow us to live a life that feels right in a way that corresponds with our highest values. We’re able to live on a rather meager salary while still enjoying family outings, the occasional vacation, and even quality coffee. But our lifestyle didn’t happen overnight. My life’s journey helped shape my philosophy about simple living.
Copyright © 2010 Tsh Oxenreider, author of Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living.
Author Bio
Tsh Oxenreider, author of Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living, is the creator of the popular blog SimpleMom.net and is the founder of SimpleLivingMedia.com. She is passionate about simplifying life and eliminating clutter so that the truly meaningful things in life can breathe. Tsh spends her days with her husband and three young children exploring the world, reading and learning, and being inspired by whatever surroundings their travels take them to.
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