Simply Giving – Minimally Living

While the holidays have become an iconic time for consumerism, there is something much deeper  I celebrate through the season and the  year. That is the joy of simply living and simply giving.  I find the more simple my life is, the easier it is and the more blissful I feel.  While it may seem a strange time for minimalism, it is the ideal time to reflect on the concept and with the new year around the corner, perhaps adopt it as a practice.

For gifts, of the favorite things I love to give and receive are things that don’t accumulate, namely flowers, food, time and touch.  Flowers can be sent afar or picked in my backyard.    Fruit too can be shared across the miles or exchanged locally.  (Harry and David have a great organic monthly fruit box that makes a perfect gift throughout the year bringing nourishment and blessings to any lucky recipient.)   Time can be shared across the ethers over the phone or better yet in the flesh.   A special gift is also one of touch.  Sharing Reiki with my mom was a favorite, giving my husband a massage or braiding a girl friend’s hair; all of these heartfelt moments make for the grandest gifts of all and include the most precious present of all, the gift of time.  I love receiving and giving gifts and especially those that nourish the mind, body and spirit.  Handmade art cards always bring a heartfelt smile and while they may become a keepsake, they don’t take up too much room.

One of the things I do to prevent an over accumulation of personal belongings is, every few months, I take an inventory of my closets and cupboards and donate anything I haven’t put to use in the past two years;  if I don’t absolutely love or need it, it goes.  If I bring something into the home besides food or flowers, I am sure to take something out of a similar size.  I recycle my books and am a regular at the local used book store, the one thing I admittedly buy a lot of.   I am a sucker for information and knowledge and reading is one of my favorite past times.  I have a loaner library in the office and another full spectrum library at home.

If you haven’t already seen it, you might really enjoy the NetFlix movie “Minimalistm”  Another great one is  “I Am,” both movies about simplifying life to get to what is most revered in life, that which is authentic, that which can most easily be experienced in the absence of the stuff that complicates and clutters our lives.   While I have a long way to go on being a minimalist, applying the principles to my own life makes room for more of what is important.  “You aren’t wealthy until you have something money cannot buy,” a popular quote by Garth Brooks and a wonderful motto to live by.

May your holiday be blessed with an abundance of love.  If you do not have the support of family and friends nearby, may you give yourself the gift of fresh flowers and nourishing food, the gift of quality time and of touch, perhaps a foot, scalp or hand massage.  Most important of all the gifts are the hugs and the smiles we exchange when we meet or even when we speak.  While not always seen, smiles can be felt over the phone.  May your holiday be rich with love  and well being.  Mele Mele!  XO, LaRen