Living Simply

Living simply doesn't mean you have to give up creature comforts and embrace the life of a monk. Read more

Why Choose to Simplify?

Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2011 | Comments (0)

For some time now I’ve been walking around with three words at the top of my To Do list— simplify simplify simplify. I know it’s just one word repeated three times, and I’m not trying to be redundant, but I’m with Thoreau on this one. Less is better. Having and doing less gives you more time, energy, and money to...

On the Path to Simplicity

Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 | Comments (6)

The path to a simple life is not always so simple. It’s often filled with distractions and detours that take you off course. For me, a simple life means an easier life . . . joyous and less complicated . . . with less house to maintain, less clutter, fewer bills to pay, no pressing appointments or meetings, less rushing around to get...

Decluttering as Zen Meditation

Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2011 | Comments (2)

Decluttering your home or workspace can often seem overwhelming; but, in truth, it can be as peaceful as meditation and a way to practice living mindfully and in the moment. Decluttering can be your zazen, as it is often mine. Recently, I was honored with the chance to speak to a class at the San Francisco Zen Center with the wonderful Zen priest,...

75 Simple Ways to Simplify

Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2011 | Comments (3)

Oh, how easy it would be if all you had to do to simplify your life was eliminate, toss out, throw away the stuff you didn’t want or need and keep the rest. Essentially, that is one way to simplicity. But simplifying also means reducing the complexity of life by rejecting, on some level, the busy, materialistic, supersized culture we are all...

Upsizing After All These Years

Posted on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 | Comments (0)

Let’s just say I have a friend. She and her husband have worked hard all of their lives, scrimped and saved, and are now planning to sell everything and build a brand new five-bedroom Victorian on a dozen or so acres somewhere in the middle of nowhere with a great big kitchen and cherry cabinets and a kazillion copper pans hanging over the...

The Simplicity of Tea

Posted on Monday, August 1, 2011 | Comments (0)

“There is born a feeling of tranquility, a purification of our human spirits. We are confronted with our common humanity. Please look very deeply into the tea bowl. It represents the essence of pure Nature and becoming one with Nature.”—Tea Master Genshitsu Sen (Soshitsu Sen XV),Tea Life: Zen and TeaRead more Tea is an act...

Slow Down to Savor Life

Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2011 | Comments (1)

I’ve been known to tell people that I’m so busy, I don’t have time to breathe. It might be an exaggeration, but there are some days when I simply have way too much on my plate. By day’s end, the day is a blur . . . and, as busy as I was, I flop into bed feeling I’ve done nothing remarkable nor worth...

The Simple Joys of Smaller Living

Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 | Comments (2)

We all know that we need to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the small joys in our lives. However, we have to have room in our minds and schedules to engage not just in those joyful moments, but also in reflection afterward. It’s in the processing and reflection that allows these experiences to become meaningful to us and for us to deeply...

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