My Simplicity Statement

I believe that when you decide to make a commitment to living simply, you should first sit down and write out a simplicity statement.  The first thing you should do is jot down some KEY points to why you want to live simply.

My key points are as follows:

• To care for and be mindful of the things that God alone has given to me.
• To lead my children (and my husband ;) away from finding comfort in the material things of life, and teach them that less is more.
• To create an environment in my home where I feel calm and at peace, so that I may then be able to calmly and peacefully give of myself to my family.

Secondly, you should make a list of the 4-5 things that are most important to you and present the most value to your life.  Here is my list:

• My faith and my personal relationship with God
• My husband Kevin and my children
• My immediate & extended family, my church family, and my friends
• My God-given role as a wife and mother
• My "passions" ~ cooking, gardening, reading, and yes...organizing :)

Then, start with a statement that encompasses all of these points. 

I want to be mindful of the things that God has given me, to teach my children (and my husband ;) that less is more, and to create a calm and peaceful environment so that I may focus on my personal relationship with God, my husband and children, my friends and family, my role as a wife and mother, and lastly on the things in my life that I am passionate about.

Now, since this is an exercise in SIMPLICITY, narrow it down to its most basic elements.

I want to live simply so I can focus more of my time and energy on what matters most to me, and I want to be able to do it with a calm heart and a peaceful spirit.

And there you go....my simplicity statement.