I once went on a day trip to Atlanta with a nun from Tanzania who, upon leaving our house, slipped a handkerchief into her pocket. No purse, no handbag, no jacket or snack. Just a hankie.
That image stayed with me and later I wrote (and published) a story on the
lessons of simplicity Sr. Gaudiosa taught me during her visits with us. (A Hankie for My Pocket)
Those lessons keep me mindful of too much, of clutter that has
a way of taking over all aspects of life, everything from what is in our
closets to how we schedule our free time.
It was in this mindset that I packed for our spring break trip this past April.
I wanted to keep things
simple. Then, because I needed to provide drawer and closet space for
our Masters guests, I squirreled away the rest—the clothes, shoes, and
jewelry that weren't going with me—into storage boxes. Here is what I packed:
-enough clothes to mix and match
outfits for nine days
-six accessories (Fitbit w/
interchangeable straps, a ring, a pair of earrings, a wrap bracelet, one scarf,
one black backpack)
For those 9 days of vacation I had what I needed; I had a choice of what to wear but was not burdened with too many selections. I wore a watch daily, added the wrap bracelet and ring in the evening, but didn't waste time pawing through my jewelry drawer. When it was chilly I wore a cardigan, when it got warmer I knotted it around my shoulders, and I carried the same backpack all week (sometimes packed with snacks for a hike, sometimes packed with just a wallet and iPhone).
I wanted for nothing, but had exactly what I needed. Not too much, not too little, but the blessing of just enough.
Interestingly, we have been home for three weeks and I still haven't pulled the rest of my clothes and jewelry out of storage. I'm sure at some point I will, but I don't even miss them.
Living with enough is more than plenty.
1 comment:
Great lesson!!
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