My return to reality begins tomorrow. I’ve had a glorious time. I’ve read many books, napped, cooked a little, watched tons of movies, organized the house and had plenty of time to decompress, which I needed so badly. After a very stressful end of the year, I feel as if my family and I are in a better place, and I am hoping that this year continues down that path.
Everyone seems to be doing that one word thing where they choose a word to set the tone for the year. When I first thought of a word for myself, I chose PEACE but I’ve been thinking about it and I think SIMPLICITY ought to be my focus this year. My life shouldn’t be all that complicated but with all of the events and stuff that we participate in, so much time is spent prepping or running around trying to get people where they need to be. I don’t want to do that this year.
I want to prepare simple meals.
I want to spread appointments out so that we don’t have twenty things going on in one week.
I want to continue to purge my house of “stuff” because we just don’t need it.
I want each kid to work some down time into their schedule. They need it.
I’d like to go back to the time where people came home and talked to one another. It can be done, right? I’d like to think so.
What am I reading?
I just finished The Troop by Nick Cutter. Now THAT was an interesting read. It reminded me a lot of Bait by J. Kent Messum. It was so intense that I blew through it but I have to organize my thoughts before I review it. It’s wild, crazy ride of a book. Definitely NOT for the squeamish.
What am I cooking?
Not a thing. Cooking would require me to go to the store and that just isn’t going to happen.
What am I watching?
At the moment, nothing. But, I have all sorts of stuff recorded (Lincoln, Argo, Beaches). Plus, I’ve been on a Leave it to Beaver kick lately. I never tire of that show.
This week, rehearsals start-up again for Oliver. School starts again, too. Wish us luck! It’s bound to be a little crazy but I am going to try to ignore it and just go with the flow.
Book Chatter 
I hear you 100%. I got a knot in my stomach last Sunday night, anticipating the return of the whirlwind. It WAS busy this week but everyone was in good spirits. I like your word by the way. In 2013 I actually started trying to simplify but I have more that I could do. I also need to BREATHE. I get myself so worked up over crap. You have me intrigued with this book you read, The Troop. I love the little dare you threw out there about the squeamish! hee hee
The Troop is a book to love or hate. If you can stomach it you might enjoy it.
I am so dreading work tomorrow. Plus we have rehearsal right after work. BUT, Oliver will be over soon, the week after Superbowl and then that’s it for that. Both kids are taking a break from that production group because they signed up for other things.
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I like your idea of simplicity. I’m trying to find ways to cut back too, whether it is as simple as cutting out services we don’t need or thoroughly enjoying the little downtime we do have.
Good luck on your first week back to work. I’m sure it will be over before you know it!
If it weren’t for the Hub and his sports, I’d ditch the TV portion of our U-verse. We watch a lot of Netflix in this house. We could skip the TV part if it weren’t for live sports.
Even without the buying this year we still have a lot of stuff. It’s a constant battle to get rid of stuff.
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Sounds like you’ve got a great word…Simplicity. This Spring, I’m going to do a massive house cleaning and yard sale as much stuff as we can…and donate the rest. We need a purge
We did a yard sale once and it was more work than I am willing to put into it. I didn’t care for the haggling and the lookie loos pawing through everything and then coming back two to three times to see if an item is still there. I guess I don’t have the patience for it to do it well.
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Can I admit that it’s felt like too much work to think of ONE word? LOL! So I haven’t done so but I like the idea of simplicity. Here’s to hoping that you’re able to find it this year, especially amongst the hustle and bustle of the kiddos’ events.
Ugh, the decluttering. I so badly want to do this but it makes me tired just thinking about it. I promised myself I’d work on one room each month…so I guess I still have two weeks to figure out which room. 😉
Good luck tomorrow!!
I love to de-clutter! It’s therapeutic for me. I feel so calm when I finish a task.
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I agree with everyone else that simplicity is a great word for the year, and from where I’m at, your life does seem complicated with all the running around, BUT if you’re used to it, I guess it’s not that complicated OR doesn’t have to be anyway.
I’ve seen that meme going around, but haven’t decided if I want to have one word. I’m ike Trish in that I don’t know if I can narrow down to just one word; I’m a bit loquacious anyway, if you haven’t noticed. 😉
As for older shows, The Wife and I lately have been watching a little of Emergency, of all things. Talk about when life was simpler. 🙂
I am thinking about the word GENEROUS – not committing to it totally but allowing the idea to wash over my gently… Last year my phrase was ‘generous of spirit’ but I had to look it up since I had forgotten it by Dec…
Leave it to Beaver? huh
It sounds like you’re getting back on track, Ti. In glad to hear it. I’ve been back to work for one week now and wow, it’s tough to get back in that high gear when you’ve been cruising along for a long Christmas break. Luckily I get a lot of reading done and that helps me keep the stress level down. Take care 🙂
Sometimes it’s hard to not participate but sometimes you have to decide what is truly going to be the best thing for everyone…maybe more down time will be good for everyone…of course this is easy for me to say….I love down time…I always have…
I can’t believe you have still bee on break! Lucky you! I agree – simplicity is a great word for the year. I started cleaning out my bedroom today – really cleaning. There is so much junk. Every time I found something to get rid of my husband wanted to keep it. I bought the book Zero Waste Home that I am anxious to read. I know I am not going to be able to downsize to that level, but we could certainly live with a lot less and need to acquire nothing.
Good luck with being back at work. I find that it takes a while to get back in the groove of work – just when I got in the groove of being off.
The Otter Pup is going to miss u. Sounds like a great vacation Ti.
I was amazed how little I had to do at work last week after being off for 16 days. Classes don’t resume until 1/21.
Reality stinks. I want a day to just do nothing but I think I’ll have to be sick for that to happen and I’d rather be well. I wonder if I can fake it. Hmm.
Okay, you made me laugh. Fake it!
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Simplicity sounds like a terrific word for you! I’m so glad that your time off has given you the recuperative peace you so needed.
I think Simplicity is a great word. It’s easy to get swept back into complicated life after the new year.
I love the idea of “simplicity” for the year’s theme! I would be so much less stressed if I had one thing to do after school each day instead of 3 or 4. I think I’ll post the word on my bathroom mirror and make it my phone lock screen as a reminder 🙂
I like those ideas. I am back at work this morning and already finding myself getting worked up. Breathe in, breathe out.
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I’m watching Haven now (it’s inspired by Stephen King’s Colorado Kid) and that show is ah-mazing! It’s messing up with my head, in a seriously awesome way.
I hope your first day back at work went great!
I like your simplicity plan. We need to get rid of “stuff” too. Cracks me up about Leave It to Beaver … reruns of that can be addictive in a weird way. Have a good first week back
I would love to be June Cleaver. Hanging around the house, dressed in pearls and pretty dresses. LOL. My fave thing is that the kids played… real games with their imagination. They had play clothes and got dirty.
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I love your word!! Simplicity is something I am going to keep in mind for next year … after we move again this summer and we get settled!!