It finally clicked. Michele had, subtly and not so subtly, been sharing this mantra with me for over a year. "Keisha, I'm telling you--less is more! Don't kill it." I'd smile and nod while my head swam with more things I had to do. Yeah right, less is more. Have you seen my desk? Have you seen my to do list? Have you checked my inbox? My life was MORE! There was no seeming escape from it. But I was wrong. I have found refuge in the peace and rest of these summer days. The 'more' that cluttered my head has diffused and in this clarity, the wisdom of my friend is salient. Less is more. I've had time to think about what these words truly mean to me, and I'm adopting Michele's mantra because I think it will save and better me. As a wife, less time nagging and more time together. More hand holding and seeing him as lover and not just provider. As a parent, less is more. Less time worrying about trivial things that don't mean a hill of beans in the long run. I want to raise happy, loving, kind citizens and my husband and I are on the right track. More time laughing and enjoying who they are. At home, less stuff! Less to clean--enough said. I have enjoyed watching shows about tiny house living and while I am not there, my land of excess needs to be pared down. More peace with less stuff. As a teacher, less of me and more of them. Learning is about ownership, and if I have taken full ownership, what is left for my students. Time to divest. Less instruction and more construction of their own ideas, questions and whatever else comes from kids taking the reins. As a friend, less talking and more listening. I could go on and on. I don't want or need a life of 'more' when it compromises my peace and rest. I am hoping even on my busiest day, I can smile and nod emptying all the clutter and recall my friends words "less is more." Thanks, Mich!
10 Comments
7/14/2015 05:00:59 am
I just blogged about this book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, today! It's great! I'm done with clothes and on to books.
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7/14/2015 03:04:10 am
Well stated! Sometimes I take my inspiration from bumper stickers, too! :) This one, advertising something, was spotted as I impatiently waited in the Starbucks drive through line one day. "Wag more, bark less!". As a dog lover it clicked! Less of some things means MORE of things that matter!
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7/14/2015 03:53:43 am
Less is more-a worthy mantra, especially when more is too much on summer days that should be spent relaxing.
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7/14/2015 04:33:13 am
Wonderful post! Your examples are so salient. Love that you included your teaching, your house, you husband, and you children. All so important. Less worry and wanting, more time to breath in the beauty we have. Thank you for this reminder!
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7/14/2015 04:56:58 am
This is so true! You have extended the less is more message in such positive ways.
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AuthorDocumenting my evolution by filling in space and matter one word at a time. Archives
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