"While our lives are full, they seem somehow less than they could be. They resemble a page crammed with too much type - and the margins get narrower all the time. " - Timothy Jones

How is your life? Do you have enough margin? Or is it like a page crammed with too much type?

Photo by Peter Kaminski

My husband recently bought a motorcycle, a Honda Shadow Sabre.

We’ve had motorcycles, mopeds, go-carts and various other things with wheels. I’ve never been too keen on any of them.

He’s had this one for 2 weeks. Both the teens have been on and loved it! "It rides much smoother than the other one." "It’s the best, Mom." and resignly, "Mom isn’t ever going on it."

I decided to ride on the motorcycle. I wanted to get on with no preconceptions of other bad rides. Lots of people love to go on motorcycles, I just had to see what they might like about riding.

I put on my daughter’s leopard print helmet. They hadn’t bothered getting me a helmet before. I breathed, then ungracefully slid myself onto the seat. We were off. Parts had me panicking a little like downshifting and making turns. My husband said I almost made him tip the bike once. Now I know not to wiggle when you are slowing down to make a turn.

But most of the ride was exhilarating. The wind makes you feel like you are flying.

We drove along the lakeshore and you can see all around you where you can’t when you are enclosed in a car. I could see why my husband likes to ride so much.

I may even get on the motorcycle again.

Have you already decided everything you do and don’t like? Have you boxed yourself in so you don’t try anything new? What could you try this week?

Picture by Rayced

Aren’t you tired of the striving?

The endless goal setting?

What if you take just four weeks off?

Don’t try to lose weight. Don’t worry about getting more organized. Don’t try to get ahead at your job.

I can see some of you panicking already. If you don’t push yourself, you think, you will end up being some lazy, slob who ends up with nothing.

But, you aren’t made to go all out all the time. You need some time to regain your energy and be happy with how far you have already come.

If you need a goal, try this one: I will see how many different ways I can have fun this month. And tell us what happened this month.

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/decluttercalendar.htm

This morning I set up a chair under a tree by my mini fountain garden where the tiger lilies spring sunshine and the clematis reaches its purple glory to the sky. I enjoyed my breakfast of yogurt with fresh strawberries and blueberries from the Farmer’s Market yesterday. I listened to the fountain and the birds sing, "Good morning". I saw the drops of rain on the leaves from a brief morning sprinkle. I smelled the blooming flowers mixed with the ripe berries as I savored each spoonful.

A hectic life makes these moments difficult. Often when we rush from one activity to another, we don’t think of how we could make moments more enjoyable.

I like to keep space in my day for moments like this and for inspiration, spontaneity and connecting with people.

And it doesn’t take much time to create little refreshing times during the day. You can slow down your breath in line. You can make eye contact and a brief comment to the cashier. You can decide to stop at the bookstore after your other errands to browse the bargain books for a few minutes. How about calling a friend in the evening instead of watching TV? Or being in the moment of smells and textures as you cook.

I have a little ritual of checking out the flower garden and fountain garden before I go into the house.

Eating, reading or walking outside is a lovely break.

Yesterday, a small, few hour trip was canceled. I spent the first part of the time bringing my home back to order and doing a little puttering around. The second half I made cards, scrapbooked, created some bookmarks and other paper crafts. I love using found time like that for something renewing.

"Life is made of millions of moments, but we live only one of these moments at a time. As we begin to change this moment, we begin to change our lives." -Trinidad Hunt

My teens and I went strawberry picking yesterday. We each had our own row to search for strawberries. The sunshine warmed our heads as the scent of ripe strawberries and hay surrounded us. I daydreamed, falling into a meditative like state as I relaxed from the day’s stresses. I realized we didn’t have enough moments like that anymore.

Earlier that day I went to the eye doctor. I was frantic when I realized I had left my reading materials at home. I calmed down then and thought, "Why can’t I just be right now." Unless you are fretting about waiting, it can be an enjoyable time of letting your mind wander, hearing your thoughts and relaxing. I left the office buoyant.

We have drowned out these times by filling every moment.

No longer do we just walk, we need to walk with someone to talk or talk on the phone or listen to music through headphones.

Dishes are done with a noisy dishwasher usually while listening to the TV or helping kids with homework.

We can’t even wait the few seconds for a page to load without going to check email.

Silence is quickly snuffed out by chatter, turning on the TV or radio or getting online.

 What would happen today if you let those times of waiting, those "unproductive" times nurture you?

See how other people are living their simpler lives at  The Simple Woman.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window…the tiger lilies are cheering the yard with their yellow burst of sunshine, a new motorcycle for my husband.

I am thinking…I got a lot done already today

I am thankful for…work, a call with my Mom, our cat, my Bible study

From the kitchen…chocolate marscapone brownies

I am creating…a fun teleclass, a powerpoint presentation

I am going…to take the kids strawberry picking in a little bit

I am wearing…a brown and cream empire waist shirt, jeans, brown and tourquoise earrings. I’ll need to change into my stained t shirt and ripped jean before we go picking.

I am reading…Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight by Sharon Heller

I am hoping…the hibiscus pops back up after it got stepped on

I am hearing…dishes banging for my son’s snack of waffles and berries, my daughter’s keyboard clicking

Around the house…uncovered my piano bench so I could play this weekend, the stove still has flour on it from the brownies

One of my favorite things…learning something new

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…my daughter has printworks class, my sister is coming into town for the day, and I am working at VBS all week

Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you…

No picture thought this week

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/decluttercalendar.htm

I got completely giddy reading this post by Marelisa:

50 Ways to Celebrate Life Every Day

Have fun!

Jen at Semi-Charmed Wife asked this question: "When does self-improvement become a negative? When should I be practicing self-acceptance instead?".

This is a question I struggle with as well. In fact in July, I am saying no to any self-improvement projects.

I usually have some going on.

Of course I am always going for the win-win. I think accepting where you are right now and who you are right now is the start to self-improvement. I like my gratitude journal, hanging around positive people, and relishing when I have accomplished something. I think who you are has more importance than what you do.

Going to self-improvement from a place of self-confidence and contentment makes projects more like fun experiments than torturous programs.

Photo by J. Gresham

I know when I try to improve because I am feeling like an incompetent slob it feels harder and more like work than when I am feeling good. So now I play with my thoughts and concentrate on self-care before doing another project.

And some work, some don’t. Fasting on brown rice for detox just gave me migraines. And I have yet to find out what works for my allergies. Boot camp was not highly successful, but swimming, pilates, yoga and walking I can stick with. If something doesn’t work, I look for another way.

Don’t like weights - try bands, a video, pilates, yoga, working with a trainer. Don’t like vegetables - try different preparation methods, hiding them in food, getting them from the farmer’s market. (personally I love vegetables).

I am shy, so I know how long I can be with people, crowds aren’t the best for me and I need downtime after being with a lot of people. So I give myself that downtime, but I will often give myself a tiny goal or risk to take like talking to a new person before an event. You can understand and accept who you are and still grow.

Working with who you are and playing with different methods while still being grateful and satisfied where you are now is the best win-win.

How about you? Are you working on any self-improvement projects? How are you feeling as you undertake them?