HAPPY WITH LESS

The Initiation of the Insect

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:27:22 +1000

We all get a little down sometimes. I, on the other hand, am going through a proverbial shit-storm for a few months now. Nothing seems to be going my way. It was abysmal.

So yesterday, I decided to run.

Running has always been my go-to therapy for everything that ails me - from back pains to everyday worries to lack of inspiration and clarity.

So, I ran.

And as always, after running, I felt that everything was right with the world. That I was exactly where I needed to be.

I can’t say that the shit-storm subsided after that, but at least now I understood why I had to be in its eye.

I don’t want to burden you with details, as I know some of you are going through your own private storms right now. But I want you to know that you are not alone, and that within you is the key to end your own suffering. You just have to get real cosy with yourself to listen and understand. Some do meditation. I like that too. But for me, running is just as effective.

I run three times a week. More if a storm is brewing.

I pray you find your keys…or better yet, learn to sing in the rain.

—————————-

PS- I swallowed an insect for the first time on that run. It was tiny, and I didn’t have time to ask which species it was. But high-five to you, fitblr guy, who once said that swallowing an insect is what we runners have in common. I see more insects for me up ahead. Cheers! :)

Today, our family visited Ryoji Ikeda’s Test Pattern No. 5...

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:07:47 +1000

Today, our family visited Ryoji Ikeda’s Test Pattern No. 5 installation, which is currently in Sydney.

We found it enveloped us in a sensory assault with its minimalist yet immersive light and sound patterns.

It has previously been exhibited in Tokyo, Berlin, London, Barcelona and Singapore. If it tours your city, make sure to see it. Plus, it’s free!

Cheers!

It’s amazing how kids can just flick on a switch and...

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 23:14:00 +1000

It’s amazing how kids can just flick on a switch and relax.

Us, adults, on the other hand, sometimes require a good old whack on the head before we let ourselves breathe.

Thanks to my 13-year-old, this song, “Take It Easy” by Stan Walker, has been playing a lot at home lately - a great reminder for everyone not to sweat it.

So, enjoy!

Caution: It’s VERY catchy and may induce good vibes all day. Cheers!

I love your blog ! Your journey is very inspiring to me. I'm a minimalist mother to one :) I'm trying to get my husband more into it !! Glad I cam across your page :))

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:54:00 +1000

Thanks, deadheadmommy!

High-five, fellow minimalist mother! (Yes, it is possible, and actually has a nice ring to it!) I am MM to two beautiful souls.

It feels awesome to know that our journey has inspired at least one. You just made my week! (Heck, maybe my month too.)

Walking a simple path is a rewarding and life-changing journey - one that directly benefits you and your family. I congratulate you on taking the first steps, and look forward to hearing your stories.

Thanks for writing! :)

Cheers,

hwl

"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing..."

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:31:51 +1000

““Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.””

- Lao Tzu (via samsaranmusing)

Cheers to owning the world! -HWL

"Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater..."

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:40:00 +1000

“Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”

- — Napoleon Hill

Having suffered from great loss just recently, I find it hard to see this at the moment. But seeing and believing are two different things. I don’t see, but I have faith. There will be better days.

"There is no failure in walking away from whys left unanswered."

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:15:00 +1000

“There is no failure in walking away from whys left unanswered.”

- happywithless.tumblr.com

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:27:39 +1000

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

- Mark Twain

Although originally meant for children, I reckon this poem can...

Sat, 04 May 2013 11:29:29 +1000

Although originally meant for children, I reckon this poem can teach us adults a thing or two about courage. Life doesn’t frighten me at all!

Source: explore-blog

We are having a surprise addition to our family! Happy With Less is having one more kid, and is...

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:22:04 +1000

We are having a surprise addition to our family!

Happy With Less is having one more kid, and is humbled and full of gratitude.

Minimising while adding family members - now that’s a good challenge! Cheers!

"We really should make time to watch the grass bend when the wind blows."

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:32:00 +1000

“We really should make time to watch the grass bend when the wind blows.”

- www.happywithless.tumblr.com

(thoughts while running earlier)

Amen! I do love my fitblr community…and zenpencils,...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:49:53 +1100

Amen!

I do love my fitblr community…and zenpencils, too!

Cheers!

explore-blog: Anaïs Nin on love, hand-lettered by Debbie...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:17:28 +1100

explore-blog:

Anaïs Nin on love, hand-lettered by Debbie Millman

Born to Run: REGRETS OF THE DYING

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:49:00 +1100

Born to Run: REGRETS OF THE DYING:

Very interesting read.

"Don’t aim at success — the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss..."

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:05:00 +1100

“Don’t aim at success — the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long run—in the long run, I say!—success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think of it.”

- Viktor Frankl (via explore-blog)

Happy birthday, Viktor Frankl! :)

A partial list of what my two years of simplifying (and one...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:01:00 +1100

A partial list of what my two years of simplifying

(and one year of blogging about it) looks like.

What we used to have, but don’t anymore,
because I either gave it away or gave it up

All game consoles (Wii, PS2, DS, Leapster) and all games
40+ pairs of shoes
Facebook accounts
Gold watch
Huge closets crammed with clothes and accessories
Most jewellery that didn’t have any significant history for me
So-called friends that didn’t have any significant history for me
Drinking and smoking on a Friday night
Drinking and smoking on a Saturday night
Three nights a week eating out

What we have now

A CRT TV (that just wouldn’t break down)
An old Kindle
Good collection of jazz (Art Blakey, Dave Brubeck Quartet, etc)
A single car
A single closet that my husband and I share
Three days per week running
Memories of our trips to the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and over 20 national parks in Australia

What I wish I had

fountain of eternal youth
aside from that, I’m good ;)

Cheers!

ONE YEAR AND COUNTING! I can’t believe it’s been a...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:28:13 +1100

ONE YEAR AND COUNTING!

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I started this minimalist blog.

It sure has been a great family journey in living with less.

Yet like my side mirror pictured here, I have a feeling that what I’m surging towards holds far more awesomeness than what I’m leaving behind.

Feel free to browse my archives. It’s not that much, but I’m sure you’ll pick up an inspiration or two that would help in your path towards living a simpler yet richer life. Cheers!

Is this your ‘default’ life? Time to...

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:32:46 +1100

Is this your ‘default’ life? Time to re-think.

-happy with less

"Driving under a canopy of trees will surely be one of the best five minutes of your life. Try it."

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:22:25 +1100

“Driving under a canopy of trees will surely be one of the best five minutes of your life. Try it.”

- www.happywithless.tumblr.com

You better believe it. :) - happy with less

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:51:19 +1100

You better believe it. :) - happy with less