Simplifying

The other day a friend and I were talking about our lives.  I had just finished donating several car loads of stuff to Goodwill and other local reuse places.  I had taken around 11 boxes of papers to be shredded at Automated Response Systems in Berkeley (for $7-10/box!), and had finally tossed or filed most of the loose papers in my house.  I had cleaned out my triangular closet under the stairs that seems to hold as much as one of those magician’s endless chests.  I had assembled 6 Ikea bookcases with their extensions, and they were going to be installed in a few days.  The stacks of books and magazines in the floor in literally each room would final have a true home or would get donated to the library.  I was simplifying, and boy, was I tired!

In sharing with her all I had done, I said, “It takes a lot of work to simplify.” 

The concept of simplifying has always appealed to me.  Simplifying life, inside and out.  The spartan Quaker room, the readings of Henry Nouwen, and the easy smooth tones of Sam Cooke have always appealed to me.   However, in my experience, achieving simplicity--whether in life or in the material world-- is not easy. Just like a beautiful room, living a great life involves planning, consulting with others, lots of decisions, trial and error, and a healthy dose of just sitting with it.   In short, it takes design.

I will post the photos of the new bookcases soon.  And stay tuned for some thoughts on Forgiveness.  

P.S.  I took the left and the right photos that are in the header in December at a Sonoma winery.  I love the wall because it is a bit meandering, like life.  And the statue just looked so wonderful through the trees.