TxZen
1-5-14, 2:11pm
Hey y'all!! Good morning!!! Well, here it the straight story. After 23 years in mostly the same job, I am quitting to go back to college this fall. I will be 40 and I am terrified and excited at the same time!!! I am moving from the behind the desk in healthcare to out front, specializing in health and wellness. I love where I currently work but my job takes all I have to get it done. I have tried to get creative to find the passion again for my job but it’s just not there. I have felt that way for the past 2-3 years and I am taking a huge leap of faith and with a lot of soul searching and a lot of time on the yoga mat to find my true path.
This has inspired me to push myself and my family to live with WAY less. I, so far, have decluttered another 3 garbage bags of items to a Church charity and I am constantly pushing the envelope. I have no set number but my mantra is If it doesn't make me smile, I ain't keeping it!!! LOL Simple but effective.
I have pared down my corporate gear to just enough for 8 days of work, with mixing and matching going on. I have donated 2 bags just of clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc. When all is said and done, I will have 2 pairs of fancy pants, 2 suit type jackets, 1 lace skirt, 3 dresses, 3 pairs of jeans, a few floaty tops (which I wear with jeans and shorts or fancy pants), a basket of workout gear with 2 pairs of sneakers/socks/ sports bras/ swimsuit/ backpack, 2 pairs of kitten heels, various flip flops/sandals, 2 pairs of ballet flats, 2 pairs of cowgirl boots and a pair of warm winter boots, house shoes. I have 1 winter jacket with heavy scarf, 2 fleece, 1 sweatshirt, 2 sport jerseys, jean jacket (this might go) and leather jacket, a few tank tops, swimsuit for non sports, 3 pairs of shorts, underclothes for 8 days, 1 cowgirl rattan hat, 1 small purse, 1 tote bag for traveling (this may change to something else later on), 1 leather workbag, 1 clutch (Which I sometimes use in my workbag) 2 pairs of sunglasses, 2 pairs of regular glasses, 3 scarves (may pair down to 1 or 2) and about 12 pieces of jewelry. I realized I wore a LOT of black and I want happy colors in my life. I mostly like pinks and turquoise/sea blues and to see my little happy wardrobe makes me happy every day.
There is a pile of about 10 items that I will use for our painting project coming up, mostly old yoga pants and t shirts. Then I will toss all those items.
This is about a 1/3 of what I used to own. It’s awesome!!! I am wearing everything now.
It was hard giving up some of the items and I truly had to work through those moments but I am happy I experienced those feelings and now I understand why I kept them and the value they held over me. It may sound silly, but I had this beautiful name brand Navy blue pea coat, with a pretty fluttered collar. It was so cute and warm but I just never wore it and when I did, it was VERY heavy. Even with the unusually cold temps here in Texas this year, I still just wear my puffy black jacket with hood and I am happy. I can tell y’all I put that jacket in the” to donate” pile about 10x. But I finally let go and it’s been a week and I don’t regret it at all.
So why all the change? I need a creative outlet and I figure I have always been interested in holistic health and well being, so why not get paid to do so? I benefit from it physically, emotionally and in my soul and I can help people. Sitting behind a desk, working up to 14 hours a day and watching life go by is NOT worth the paycheck. I have never taken any risk in my life and now is the time.
Also, my dad has been very sick with cancer and although I don’t know where this year will take us, it made me look at my life. Life is now, life is short, live it now. Money is that last thing on my mind and as we push our simple lives even further, I am developing into my true self. I a certainly already reaping benefits.
This has inspired me to push myself and my family to live with WAY less. I, so far, have decluttered another 3 garbage bags of items to a Church charity and I am constantly pushing the envelope. I have no set number but my mantra is If it doesn't make me smile, I ain't keeping it!!! LOL Simple but effective.
I have pared down my corporate gear to just enough for 8 days of work, with mixing and matching going on. I have donated 2 bags just of clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc. When all is said and done, I will have 2 pairs of fancy pants, 2 suit type jackets, 1 lace skirt, 3 dresses, 3 pairs of jeans, a few floaty tops (which I wear with jeans and shorts or fancy pants), a basket of workout gear with 2 pairs of sneakers/socks/ sports bras/ swimsuit/ backpack, 2 pairs of kitten heels, various flip flops/sandals, 2 pairs of ballet flats, 2 pairs of cowgirl boots and a pair of warm winter boots, house shoes. I have 1 winter jacket with heavy scarf, 2 fleece, 1 sweatshirt, 2 sport jerseys, jean jacket (this might go) and leather jacket, a few tank tops, swimsuit for non sports, 3 pairs of shorts, underclothes for 8 days, 1 cowgirl rattan hat, 1 small purse, 1 tote bag for traveling (this may change to something else later on), 1 leather workbag, 1 clutch (Which I sometimes use in my workbag) 2 pairs of sunglasses, 2 pairs of regular glasses, 3 scarves (may pair down to 1 or 2) and about 12 pieces of jewelry. I realized I wore a LOT of black and I want happy colors in my life. I mostly like pinks and turquoise/sea blues and to see my little happy wardrobe makes me happy every day.
There is a pile of about 10 items that I will use for our painting project coming up, mostly old yoga pants and t shirts. Then I will toss all those items.
This is about a 1/3 of what I used to own. It’s awesome!!! I am wearing everything now.
It was hard giving up some of the items and I truly had to work through those moments but I am happy I experienced those feelings and now I understand why I kept them and the value they held over me. It may sound silly, but I had this beautiful name brand Navy blue pea coat, with a pretty fluttered collar. It was so cute and warm but I just never wore it and when I did, it was VERY heavy. Even with the unusually cold temps here in Texas this year, I still just wear my puffy black jacket with hood and I am happy. I can tell y’all I put that jacket in the” to donate” pile about 10x. But I finally let go and it’s been a week and I don’t regret it at all.
So why all the change? I need a creative outlet and I figure I have always been interested in holistic health and well being, so why not get paid to do so? I benefit from it physically, emotionally and in my soul and I can help people. Sitting behind a desk, working up to 14 hours a day and watching life go by is NOT worth the paycheck. I have never taken any risk in my life and now is the time.
Also, my dad has been very sick with cancer and although I don’t know where this year will take us, it made me look at my life. Life is now, life is short, live it now. Money is that last thing on my mind and as we push our simple lives even further, I am developing into my true self. I a certainly already reaping benefits.