New Year’s Priorities

Am I the only one who loves the simplicity that follows all the Christmas decorations being packed to be put away? The clear counters. The empty occasional tables. The ability to polish the furniture and wipe down the surfaces. We have so few holiday decorations now so putting it all away takes less than an hour but the quick transformation to uncluttered is spirit lifting.

I read a folktale with my children when they were young: The Cow in the Kitchen. This version was by Evelyn Johnson, and it is one of the few children’s books I still have on my slim bookshelf. The farmer and his wife live in a little house with their children and dog, and they are frustrated by how noisy and crowded their little house is. The farmer asks a wiseman in the village what to do. The wiseman tells him to bring a cow into the kitchen and will say nothing more. So, the farmer goes home and brings a cow into the kitchen. He comes back to the wiseman and tells him that the noise of the cow mooing, children crying, dog barking is terrible. What should he do? The wiseman tells him to bring a goat into the kitchen. Every time he returns to the wiseman for advice, the wiseman suggests bringing in another animal. A lamb, then ducks, then chickens. The farmer goes back and reports that he can’t stand it anymore, the crowded conditions and the noise are unbearable. The wiseman says, “Send all the farm animals out of the kitchen. “And the farmer goes back and shoos all the animals out. Then the farmer is pleased by how quiet it is and the wife says look at all the room we have. They marvel at how smart the wiseman is and how nice it is now that the cow is out of the kitchen.

It is all about our perspective. How we look at our surroundings is what matters. What we choose to keep in our environment defines us. What is most important to us?

We move many Customers who are facing downsizing, and we often hear “I can’t possibly live in that size space.” And I tell them to identify what is most important to them. This is where the process begins. Once they make the list of what they really need and we determine what will fit, they will live beautifully in the smaller space. Most never ask for anything they left behind. They are enjoying the simple new space that requires less time for upkeep. They are meeting new people, getting involved in activities and most tell us “I wish I had done this sooner.”

Instead of making resolutions this year, make a list of your priorities. What is most important to you? Enjoying nature. Making homemade food and sharing it with others. Seeing new places. Reconnecting with people that you have lost touch with and making time for them. Whatever it is you value and want to do more often. Then stand behind that list.

“What will you do with your one precious, wild life?” -Mary Oliver

Love people not things.