Living a Life of Less: An Introduction
Living with less has been an overall theme in my year so far. It started with me simplifying at the beginning of the year and has just snowballed since.
Last week I finished re-reading Jen Hatmaker’s book Seven, if you you haven’t read this book yet, you absolutely need to. I first read it two years ago, loved it and made some small changes but after going through it again I find myself in a position to make some bigger changes, real lifestyle changes. After all, I say I want to live a life like Christ, but He didn’t even have a place to sleep, I can’t help but wonder what He would think about our overabundance and hoarder tendencies.
In the last few weeks I’ve been making lists of different areas I want to change and all sorts of ideas under each category (I’m a list girl, it’s how I do life). These are areas I want to cut back in, increase, or just be more aware of. And my lists aren’t set in stone, things will probably change along the way but right now I have:
- food
- clothes
- possessions
- media
- green living
- spending
- rest
Over the course of the next few months I’m going to be sharing more about each category and talking about ways that we as a family are living a life with less.
One of the huge motivators for me starting down the road to live with less has been our adoption journey. I’ve found that it has stretched me in so many ways and I feel more open to having God show me different areas of life that I need to make changes in.
Today I wanted to introduce you Bobbie from Wonderfully Unusual, a mother who has let God stretch her as well! She is a single foster and adoptive mother, the kind of woman that I admire so much. She has written a couple of ebooks and has some prints available in her shop and today we’ll be giving away this gorgeous in my heart print, I love it! And even though it is a print intended for adoption, it can be for so much more than that! You can enter below.
CHRISTINA @ ROUTE & BLISS
Hello, I’m Christina of Route Bliss. While I’ve been blogging for over a decade now, Route Bliss itself has only been around since the Summer of 2013. RB (as I’ve dubbed it) is where I share my love of travel and photography as well as what I’m learning on my journey to healthier living (adapted recipes as well as running and fitness tips and grumblings!).
Christina’s Favorite Posts
How To: Basic DSLR Settings
RB Eats: Shepherd’s Pie
Tiny Details of Major Significance
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LAUREN @ PINK ON THE CHEEK
Pink on the Cheek is a lifestyle blog highlighting tech tutorials, my personal style, and other helpful tips!
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I’m so excited to hear more about these new categories… living green is near and dear to my heart!
Awesome! Do you have any green living book recommendations? I want to get a few from the library.
Looking forward to those posts! I’ve been having to take a good, hard look at my life – where I am now and where I want to be in the future. If you haven’t read The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, I highly recommend it! He talks about living simply as well along with other personal and corporate practices. It’s important we learn to let things go that we may think are necessities but are really only luxuries. Sometimes we get those confused and it can hurt us in the long run with being in debt, feeling unsatisfied with what we have and more. Thanks again! 🙂
I have that one sitting on my shelf from the library! In finishing a book up and then it’s next on my list, I’ve heard it recommended by a few people, can’t wait to start it!
It’s a great book that you’ll be going to over and over when you’re done! He has other books that he goes into more depth about the disciplines like Prayer and Simplicity. I’ve read some of Prayer and have yet to read Freedom of Simplicity.
I am so looking forward to all of your upcoming posts! Interested to hear how it goes. Simplifying really is one of the greatest feelings, I think. And I can’t wait to check out that book. I’ve heard so much about it!
Thanks Ashley, I’m quite excited to share about the changes we have been/are going to make! You should definitely read the book!
Really excited to follow along with your journey, Chantel. I dislike how attached I become to “things” sometimes. This is such an inspirational post. I am definitely going to read Seven.
Oh I hear you! I am the queen of sentimental attachment when it comes to stuff. This year and all the purging I’ve done has been a great step for the changes I hope to implement over the course of the next few months.
Excited to read more of what you have to share!! We could all use good tips and pointers for this topic!
Thanks Caroline!
I just love her book, I’ve read it so many times. It’s so inspiring, but also so intimidating. I wish I had her bravery to just go for it. Can’t wait to see your journey.
Awesome, I love hearing about others who enjoyed the book as well!
I think I’m going to have to read Seven when I get back from Uganda! I can’t wait to see where you go with this. xxx
Yes, for sure Joanna!!
I’m excited to see how these areas in your life change and how it helps you and your family. 🙂 Also, I love the print, so pretty!
Thanks Jenna! I’m really looking forward to sharing about it all!
I’m excited to see this journey! I’m really wanting to start detoxing our house, that’s thing about moving so often, you really realize how much stuff you have and how much of it is unnecessary.
Yes, moving is such a great time/excuse/push to go through all our junk (ahem, possessions), isn’t it?! I’ve got a lot to share on this in the upcoming weeks, my first post will be tomorrow!
I can’t wait to read it!! I could use some encouragement in having less and how to go about that!
wow, seeing all those comments makes me feel i’m not the only one to be in the same place as you, chantel. agree with madison – moving is a great time to purge. especially when it’s to the other side of the ocean, and we already have tons of stuff in storage waiting for us. i’m really afraid of getting pulled back into american materialism, so i want to push back against it and keep my life simple as it is!
Mmm, so true Whitney! I love that you are thinking ahead now and not wanting to get sucked back into the materialism, awareness is the perfect place to begin!