I pour a cold glass of water, find a comfy spot to sit, and start to write. I pull out my journal and watch the ink flow onto the paper resting on my lap. For a few minutes, I immerse myself in the task. Then, I check my phone, get up to make my kids …
My oldest child is afraid of monsters and the dark. He races up from the basement so he won’t be the last one left down there and still struggles to fall asleep on his own. He’s always been a bit fearful of things, but lately, it felt like his fear was growing. I wanted to …
Letting Go of Toys We haven’t picked out a new house, but we started cleaning, packing, and decluttering as though we’ve already found one to love. This week I tackled the closets, beginning the painstaking process of boxing up our belongings in preparation for our move. I spent two days transporting our possessions out of the darkness …
I spent much of my life trying to fit into an ill-fitting mold. Rather than learning to embrace the person I am, I continued to reach for the person I thought I should be or the person I thought I would become. In doing so, I failed to be true to myself. For many years, …
While some people enjoy cleaning and decluttering, others downright hate it. If you don’t enjoy the process, how can you find the motivation to clean and declutter? Here are a few ideas to get you started: Create a Plan Before you begin to clean and declutter, create a plan for yourself. While you may feel …
Every year I dream of a simple, minimalist Christmas. One where we can skip out on exhausting holiday festivities, social gatherings, and mounds of gifts in favor of a quiet, relaxing celebration at home. It’s not that I hate those activities; it’s just that I yearn for a less stressful holiday season without a hefty …
I roll over and click the tiny button that illuminates my watch. The time is 2:33 am. I hate waking in the middle of the night. It’s too early to start the day, so I stare at the ceiling fan and count down the minutes until morning. Here we go again. 2020 has brought this …
Ding dong. The doorbell rang, and I darted to the front door to greet my best friend for a sleepover. “Check out my new clothes,” K screeched as she twirled in a circle. “My mom took me shopping this morning,” she said as she pointed at her off-the-shoulder Benetton sweater and acid-washed Guess jeans. “Then …
Can money buy happiness? Psychologists have been investigating this question for decades. Are we happier when we earn and spend more? What do you think? I think we can let researchers continue to run their surveys and experiments. In the meantime, we can use a spreadsheet full of emoticons to decide for ourselves. Tracking our …
What is the true value of money? This seems like an academic question doesn’t it? One I could answer with a two-second Google search, but somehow I don’t think Google will provide the answer I’m looking for. The Value of Money: Purchasing Power Over the years I’ve valued money for many different reasons. When I …