I'm a big fan of his system, and have modified it a bit to work for me.
Control and perspective are closely intertwined dynamics, but achieving each one involves different approaches, whether the matter at hand is your teenager doing homework, your soccer team’s practice, your next vacation, or your product launch. If your kitchen is a mess, for example, cleaning it up and placing all the tools and equipment where they belong will be a very different exercise from deciding what to cook and how to present it. But the two activities remain very connected, in that without an organized kitchen, it will be very challenging to stay focused on the dinner itself; likewise, an insufficient focus on the recipes, the various components of the dinner event itself, and the plan for deploying them will allow the situation to quickly get out of control again.
As a Christian, I'm bothered by an increasingly disturbing trend to erase anything Christian from the public eye.
NPR is running a hannukah special, but frequently says little about the Christian aspects of the Christmas season.
Stores say "Happy Holidays" in favor of a more "tolerant" expression of holiday cheer.
While I don't want to see my faith pushed to the side, I'm also not offended if a Jewish person wishes me "Happy Hannukah"... I should not be!
In a town not too far from here last year, Christian groups worked together to have a nativity scene placed in front of City Hall. A local wicca group petitioned to have a large pentagram painted on plywood and placed right next to the nativity. Some bonehead ran over the pentagram, causing a flurry of emotions and religious debate.
In my town, the local ministerium decided that rather than to push for a nativity in front of City Hall, why don't we encourage all of our Christian friends, family and neighbors to place a nativity in their front yard.
Instead of fighting over one Baby Jesus and family, there would be THOUSANDS of Baby Jesus-es across the city.
I have no problem with the fact that people don't want to be FORCED to recognize the divinity of Christ. They don't want to be FORCED to worship a God they don't believe in.
But even from a secular, purely historical standpoint, what's so bad about the story of a man who came, was born in a stable, encouraged people to love each other, and do good, and treat people with the respect that we wish we were treated with?
Can't we recognize Christmas as a holiday honoring a really good teacher and man?
I personally believe Jesus is more than that! But why invent all the crazy mythology about flying reindeer and elves and singing snowmen?
Isn't just the story of Jesus worth celebrating, whether you believe it is true or not?
PS I do have one question. Does anyone have advice for buying used clothing for big guys? I'm a large man, and there is never any big and tall clothes at the thift stores in my area.
A friend requested I check out ebay, but it's slim pickin's there too.
I'm all about simplicity, so when someone gave me a pre-lit tree, I say "woo hoo" no more messing around with lights (until a bulb blows, and I wonder if it really is more simple.)
Posted by
joshhatcher
Monday, December 8, 2008
at
12:50 PM
The October 08 edition of Business Week has an interesting side bar, defining "recessionista".
The magazine says the terms is in Glamour magazine, the Irish Times, and everything in between to describe a "modern sort of girl who is trying to survive the credit crunch the best she can."
The word was coined in 2001 with a different meaning entirely, referring to the people that constantly predict economic downfall... with the flair of "Henny Penny."
Truth be told, I think my "recessionista" at home is quite sexy when she saves me money!
Frugality is fast becoming a hip trend, as Salvation Army and Goodwill outlets report growth of 6 to 15 percent this year.
Bargain Basement TJ Maxx is also expected to make a pretty chunk of change this year as well. What do you know?
I think that there is something a little vain about trying to keep the body of a 20 year old when you are clearly 60. Sure, striving and trying to be healthy and strong is important, even vital for survival.
It would be stupid to let your body decay, but what if cenegenics has it all wrong?
What if we're supposed to age?
National Geographic says that the reason we have so many wildfires now is that we worked so hard to stop them from happening. Overgrowth and underbrush has created a virtual "tinderbox" in the west. Now, because we didn't let nature run its course and purge itself with fire, our fires are bigger and harder to control.
What if Cenegenics poses a similar problem down the road?
Nick and Starr Spangler won the Amazing Race last night, winning the $1 Million.
They were front runners pretty much the whole time... I wonder how they'll use that million?
The best two moments of the whole season:
The Fighting Cholitas in Bolivia... watching the two nerds get beaten badly by South American women in floor length skirts and superhero capes was hilarious.
Former NFL football player Ken and his wife Tina put their rings back on at the end of the race, committing to make their marriage work.
Ken and Tina were good competitors, and they started the race separated, and hoping to restore their marriage.
At one point at the end, Ken said, "This hasn't been easy. But we're going to do what it takes to make it work."
That's really the key to a successful relationship, commitment to make it work, even when it's difficult, uncomfortable, and painful!
Posted by
joshhatcher
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
at
10:30 AM
I am convinced that it's not the rich and lavish gifts, the music, the parties, the cleaning of the house for the in-laws that make a holiday what it is.
The word Holiday comes from the concept of a "holy" day....
Holy means: sacred or set apart.
So when you get that mega-mart flyer in the mail, and you are feeling stressed about your christmas budget and your crazy party schedule, stop. Take a breath. And Ask yourself:
1. What is it that makes this season sacred to me? 2. What is it that sets this time of the year apart from the rest? 3. How can I enjoy the sacred moments? 4. What memories of the "holiness" of Christmas do I have in my head, and how can I recapture them? 5. Is this thing that has me stressed REALLY that important?
It's the simple things that are the most important.
Now that they have officially declared that the US has been in a recession since December of 2007, the stock market is reacting with it's typical (as of late) downward spiral.
but what does that mean for you and me, and our own economic activity?
The key is to start making steps to live within our means.
Don't spend more than you bring in, and find ways to make extra money if you need to.
If you have money in stocks, it doesn't mean the best solution is to take that money out. Sometimes it's best to leave the money in a mutual fund, and wait for the markets to turn back up.
We've had four recessions since 1980, and we've recovered from each of them.
Be prepared for company downsizing. Your job may be in jeopardy, so prepare accordingly. Start saving as much as you can, to get you through any job loss or potential loss of income. Dust off that resume, and be sure to update it with your most recent employment history. You don't need to start sending it out yet, but you might. Read up on unemployment benefits, so that you know the ins and outs of the system, just in case you need to file for them in the near future.
Resolve to live simply. Cut down any bills and expenses that you have and can live without, so that you can save more, just in case your income does drop.
Don't listen to those that tell you to "spend" to get out of a recession. But if you must spend, spend responsibly. Shop locally whenever possible, to support local and small businesses that might not be able to survive without your support. Do you really want to help the rich get richer? Skip the mega-mart and support main street whenever possible.
Here's seven ways to keep your holiday simple, and make those blues "red and green"
1. Make a list, check it twice - Instead of the mad dash to the mega-mart, throwing items in your cart left and right, make up a shopping list, and do your best to stick to it. In fact, why not get your WHOLE holiday organized with Flylady? Download and print off her Holiday Control Journal here. Zoe does this every year. You wouldn't believe how much simpler it makes the holidays!
2. Remember the reason for the season - Why do we celebrate Christmas? Birthdays were not even celebrated at the time Jesus was born! Why did this holiday originate? The reason Christmas resonates with us is that it's about giving, and sacrificial love - (God loved the world so much, He gave His only Son...) Remember that Christmas is not about fancy presents and credit card bills. It's about giving love...
3. Count your blessings - The holidays are a natural time to reflect and be grateful. Make a list of all of the things you have to be thankful for.
4. Relax - Don't stress. Sit on the bench at the megamart, take a break, make funny faces at the little kids when they walk by. Enjoy some time in the dark with your sweetie with only the Christmas tree lights.
5. K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid! - Have a family meeting. Work with the whole family to set a reasonable family budget for Christmas. Make sure that budget fits your budget! Don't go into debt going crazy at Christmas. Instead, determine how much (or little) you are willing to spend on your family, and decide to stick with it. Don't spend 600 dollars on plastic toys that will break and end up at the bottom of the closet before next year. Buy timeless, meaningful gifts that your family will enjoy.
6. Grieve - Sometimes the holidays are hard for those who are missing loved ones. It's okay to cry, to hurt, and to grieve during the holidays. Don't feel bad about it. Find someone to talk to about it - a counselor, a pastor, a friend, a spouse. Write down some of your favorite holiday memories of your lost loved one. Don't feel bad about feeling bad. It's normal, and expressing those feelings will help you through the process.
7. Give Back - Find a local charity that you want to support, like your local Salvation Army. Volunteer to serve as a family at the local soup kitchen. Buy a goat for a family in Africa. ( Find out more at Samaritan's Purse. )
It's about making connections worldwide. We make the world a better place by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents, and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world.
The premise is this. log on to the website CouchSurfing.com , and book your stay at someone's home. A complete stranger will open up his or her home to you for you to stay as you travel.
Seems like it could have a number of pro's and con's... but the concept of skipping the hotel stay and saving a lot of money could be very beneficial! I will have to check it out personally, and see how well it works.
"The least of these" includes 24,000 people worldwide who die daily from starvation and malnutrition. That's over 8 million annually. Three of four who die are younger than 5 years old. But it's not an unsolvable problem. Hunger relief groups estimate that it would take $13 billion a year to end hunger for the earth's poorest citizens. North Americans and Europeans spend $18 billion each year on pet food.
-James N. Watkins
in the article "Purposeful Simplicity" from Light and Life Magazine July/August 2008
We can describe voluntary simplicity as a manner of living that is outwardly more simple and inwardly more rich, a way of being in which our most authentic and alive self is brought into direct and conscious contact with living.
Posted by
joshhatcher
Sunday, November 16, 2008
at
8:18 AM
The Simple Family Blog is about simplicity...
In a world of carpools, swim meets, online banking, financial crisis, and a screaming debt to income ratio, we've found that people are longing for something simple.
That's why Apple and Google are successful. It's clean, clear, basic, simple, easy...
We thing that simplicity can translate to family life, and create the kind of synergy in a family that can help marriage grow stronger, personal budgets be more effective, children grow up better...
Our culture is constantly creating more and more clutter.
In the 1960's the average american was influenced by about 600 advertising impressions a day. In 2008, the average american is hit with 1700 impressions each day. Experts say by the year 2010, that number will near 5,000. We're not against advertising, we're just saying that too much can clog our brains,
We're all about frugality, simplicity, and using technology to make families run smoother, and more efficiently.
Posted by
joshhatcher
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
at
3:46 PM
When you are headed a couple hours away, or across town, and you know you will be away from home over dinner time, the temptation to stop for at the Pizza King or the Burger Hut for dinner is huge.
Why not plan ahead a bit, and pack some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the family?
Sandwiches, a piece of fruit, some crackers or pretzels and a bottle of water can save quite a bit of money, and it can help take care of that hunger feeling.
Stop by the park to eat your picnic lunch with the family, or pack a couple stickers, or a little toy in the kids' lunchbag, so that they can enjoy the excitement of a "Happy Meal" without making your wallet unhappy.
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