What is my ‘WHY’?

This seems to be a new catch phrase recently ‘What is your why?“ 

WHY are you doing the things you are doing? What is your motivation behind your actions. Your WHY should keep you motivated and driven to keep going and stay focused on your goals. So I think now is the perfect time to talk about my WHY….

Why do I want less stuff in my life?

Why do I want to simplify and minimize?

Why do I want to live a simpler life?

There are SO many reasons I could list here but let me share with you what my ‘WHY’ is at this point in time.

The reason I want to live simply is so that when the shit hits the fan, I don’t freak out! Simple as that.

Life has so many unexpected twists and turns that even the most skilled planner can’t possibly plan their way out of ALL of it.

Let me explain.

My fiancé has been working away from home during the week for about 6 months, I have been back in the office at work (I miss working from home!) and therefore, not a lot of time is spent at home. When we are home we are exhausted and just want to spend time as a family.

In order to do this (and keep ourselves from drowning in stuff), I don’t work hard. I work SMART.

I plan. I organize. I have rhythms.

Everything seems to be running nicely… until it isn’t…

Recently, on a regular Tuesday night, my 6 year old REALLY wanted to make smoothies for her and her twin brothers for dinner. Being the independent, strong willed, yet clumsy little person she is, she dropped the blender blade on the top of her foot…. Cue the panic!!!

I managed to get her bandaged up, calm and on the sofa with her foot raised AND not burn dinner, but now I had to take a breath and evaluate the situation.

With my lifeguard training from 20 something years ago, I deduced that this clearly needed stitches.

But what do I do about dinner?

What do I do with my two other kiddos?

What will I come home to after a night at the hospital?

BREATHE.

I’m lucky enough to have some support near by. My folks were over in a matter of minutes and I was packed and out the door with dinner in hand to sit at the hospital.

Long story short, 4 hours later I came home to 2 sleeping boys, and some very tired grandparents, a sink full of dishes from dinner (that are usually already in the dishwasher) and dirty, stinky boy clothes all over the bedroom floor. My clumsy little girl was snoring away and lucky to have all 10 toes still in tact. Once she was in bed, I took a breath and was relieved that it all worked out.

I wasn’t stressed about the mess.

Why? Because I knew that tomorrow, my rhythms would kick in at the same time they always do and it would all get done.

Why? Because I have worked my butt off this year getting these rhythms into place.

Why? So that life kind of flows and there is a sense of ease.

Why? So that when the shit hits the fan, I don’t freak out.

Life can get hard.

Life can throw you curve balls  that hit you right in the face.

So why not make those hard times that little bit easier?

The next 2 days could have been stressful, but instead I was able to spend time with my girl and help her rest and get better. I was basically a snack and cuddle machine!

Did things get left undone? YEP!

Did I stress about it? NOPE!

Did it all get done anyways? IT SURE DID!

The reason I was able to help my girl and get some rest myself at the same time was because I have some good systems in place for the few things in my home that used to be difficult to manage; laundry, dishes and clutter to name the top 3. I have started to minimize ‘stuff’ in our home and giving everything a place. This is still a work in progress, but I saw first hand that even without it being ‘done’ or ‘perfect’ it helped the situation.

Accidents happen, last minute plans happen and just wanting to spend time with your friends and family happens.

When it does, I want to enjoy those things (well, maybe not the accidents!) and not worry about the chores.

And THAT my friends, is my WHY.

Its not big or fancy, its just helping me live a simpler life with more ease and joy!

If I can do it, so can YOU!