Category: Simple Life

INTJ-Cafe

Six Things Your INTJ Friends Want You to Know

Posted on by Joy

A few months ago, I learned something that completely changed my perspective on my self and my relationships. I completed a Myers-Briggs personality assessment and learned that I’m an INTJ. (More on what that means in a minute.) I had taken this test many years ago, but I struggled with it at the time. I wondered, “Should my answers reflect how others see me or how I see myself?” I fumbled my way through the test, but the results didn’t really resonate with me. I chalked it up to a waste of time, and never thought much about it again. Read more…

Systems Resized

Six Systems for Success in the New Year

Posted on by Joy

A few years ago, I stopped making New Year’s resolutions and started setting goals. Resolutions tend to be big dreams or vague ideas, whereas goals are more action-oriented. Goals require us to take practical steps in a certain direction. But here’s what I’ve noticed about goals: they can be just as elusive as dreams if we don’t develop effective systems and habits to support them. As a society, our New Year’s resolutions don’t change much from year to year. Let’s name five of the ten most popular resolutions. (We won’t even need Google. It’s easy.) Lose weight, get out of Read more…

Habits

How Small Habits Produce Big Changes

Posted on by Joy

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post explaining how I came to believe I’m capable of change. For me, it started with practicing minimalism. I didn’t make a big, sweeping change all at once, but took many tiny steps toward my goal over time. Since then, I’ve been working on developing more good habits, and I’ve done some research on how to make them stick. The more I’ve learned about the science of habits, the more I’ve become fascinated by the way our brains work. We can apply what we know about habit formation to improve our lives in Read more…

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Summer Bucket List

Posted on by Joy

School will be out soon and our family is looking forward to a fun and restful summer break. I made a list of 30 things to do this summer, and my kids wholeheartedly approved it, so here is our summer bucket list… Go strawberry or blueberry picking Go to a water park or pool Go bowling Build a campfire and make s’mores Go to the beach Go for a bike ride Have a picnic Go to a playground Go to a concert, play, or movie Do a science experiment Visit a library Bake cookies Make popsicles Play miniature golf Invite Read more…

RoadSquare

How Minimalism Proves Lasting Change is Possible

Posted on by Joy

Do you believe people can change? I’ve always struggled with making lasting changes in my life. Sometimes I feel like I was born with a brain that is hard-wired with traits, habits, and behaviors that can’t be re-programmed. It’s tempting to live on autopilot – doing things the way we’ve always done them. We might get inspired and change our methods for a while, but it’s easy to revert to old habits. Change can look like a mountain that just won’t move. A few years ago, I felt like I needed a major change. With my youngest son headed to Read more…

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Tween Boy Gift Guide

Posted on by Joy

Do you have a tween boy on your holiday gift list? Buying gifts for boys can be a challenge, especially when they’re in the tween category. They are between (hence the label “tween”) childhood and the teenage years, so they are too old for childish toys but too young for grown-up gifts. Also, at this stage in their lives, they have been collecting stuff over many holidays and birthdays, so their rooms may be getting cluttered. As the mom of an 11-year-old boy, I try to select practical gifts for him that will encourage meaningful activities, learning, and creativity. I’ve Read more…

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The Minimalist Challenge

Posted on by Joy

I participated in a minimalist challenge in September. Every month, The Minimalists invite their followers to play the 30-Day Minimalism Game. On the first day of the month, you get rid of one thing. On the second day, two things. This continues day after day, and becomes more difficult when you’re releasing 15 items, then 16, then 17…you get the idea. The goal is to remove 465 items from your home in 30 days. I’ve considered accepting this challenge in the past, but I didn’t think I could do it. “This is for hard-core minimalists,” I thought, “not someone like Read more…

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Seeing My Infertility in the Rear View Mirror

Posted on by Joy

My husband, Derek, and I struggled with infertility for about two years before our first child was conceived. The journey began after we’d been married for three years, when a death in our family gave us the desire to see a new life beginning. I started seeking medical advice, knowing that I likely had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and would have difficulty conceiving. After two years of various treatments and nine months of joyful anticipation, we welcomed our son in June 2007. That season of our lives was challenging, but I’m grateful for the experience because I learned valuable lessons Read more…

Typewriter

My Simple Living Manifesto

Posted on by Joy

What would it take to simplify our lives? This is a question I’ve been contemplating in the midst of ever-increasing demands on my time, money, and energy. My mind is forever preoccupied with my to-do list: chores, errands, appointments, calls to make, emails to answer, pictures to post. Not to mention the demands of 21st century parenting: Are the children vaccinated? How much screen time are they getting? Do they play outside every day? They must be supervised at all times. Their cups have to be BPA-free! Don’t let the Epi-Pens expire! And make sure the birthday cake is gluten-free!!! Read more…

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War Stories from my Uncle Louie

Posted on by Joy

On December 7, 1941, Japanese fighter planes attacked Pearl Harbor, sinking five battleships, destroying 188 aircraft, and killing 2355 U.S. servicemen. Four days later, the United States declared war against Japan, Germany, and Italy. My Uncle Louie was 20 years old at the time, living in Springfield, MA, and working at the Bosch plant there. He was engaged to his sweetheart, Betty, and they were planning a summer wedding. Louie Gentile married Betty in July 1942, and soon received his draft notice. No one in the family was particularly concerned about Louie being drafted. He was blind in his right Read more…