My NOTHING Lesson.

Don’t ya just love eye-popping experiences? This month I’ve had a few.

But to explain my biggest lesson for the month I’ve got to take you back to Two words that always elicit failure for me. ALWAYS! They are… ‘Diet’ and ‘Budget’. Don’t you think it’s appropriate that the word Diet contains the word ‘Die’ to a T.? And I don’t know what it is about sticking to a Budget that makes it near impossible for me to do also. So I can never rely on those words. If I ever Diet or Try to Stick to a Budget I will fail. I’ve proved it over and over again for the last umpteen years.

How then do I lose weight and get healthy and how in the blazes do I control spending???
For me it’s all about reframing my thoughts or trying to view the situation with a new perspective. So I'm taking the game to a different level. For me I always have to gain control over the mental level as well. So far it's working.

This last month has been the closest I’ve ever come to trying to stick to a budget, much to my husbands chagrin. I realized early in the month that if I focused on what I couldn’t get, well, it was much harder than focusing on what was truly a need.

It’s kind of the same principle I discovered when I realized that New Year’s Resolutions by themselves just don’t cut it and for the majority of people including me. They fail within the first two weeks of setting them.

So how can I make it really work? How can I achieve my health and finance goals without the failure that crops up when I view them as just goals.

For me Will-Power doesn’t cut it either. Never has - Never will. For me I can turn it all onto the simple Disney Phrase, ‘A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes' (My cell phone ring tone, remember). Wishing isn’t enough, and Sometimes Dreams aren’t enough especially if they lack the secret Ingredient – HEART! What does heart have that will-power doesn’t? For me 'heart' means physical, mental and most importantly spiritual.

Well if the dream of being healthy doesn’t originate in my heart or the very core of my being, my spirit, well, it’s just not going to happen.

But I do believe that it’s there in my heart. I may have set-backs like a couple of brownies at a party, or buying one or two non-needs this month. But in my heart I really want these things. These are dreams that will come true. And I want them bad.

For me, myself and I sometimes my heart needs a little help and in that I turn to my Heavenly Father. I usually can't do it alone. I need to be accountable to him.

This month I’ve been able to view finances with new eyes as well. Although, I’ve still a long road to hoe, I’m a teensy, tiny bit better at seeing the blessing of simplicity. For me it’s trying to view everything I have as a gift from God: my health, family, home, knowledge, possessions, etc. If I can be a better steward of my blessings and gifts then I won’t be as wasteful of the things that I have, and I’m better apt to taking care of them. Plus I’m not as inclined to spend money for that which is of no worth. Like I said before I’ve got a long ways to go but I know I’m headed in the right direction. The key is staying in tune with my heart and viewing my dreams through it.

I wasn’t perfect this last month but I think I did pretty darn good considering the many months before. I’ll try and break it down for you in the next few days. I’m excited to make focusing on needs and my stewardships a bigger priority in my life. We are going to try and see how long we can keep a lot of the things we’ve learned going.

Just glad that THIS old dog can still learn a few new tricks every now and then.

Nothing but Needs

Well ,here we are at Day #1 of our Nothing but Needs, Back to the Basics, Simply Simple living month. Believe it or not I'm dang excited but scared silly all at the same time. The only thing is I'm a wee bit afraid of the whining I’m going to have to deal with when we tell the kids sorry but no McDonalds or snacks or DVD rentals or something they feel entitled to, but isn't really a need. We’ve sat down with them and explained the whole concept and they were fine with it until we got into details. So the devils in the details.

Even though I expect a little moaning from the munchkins I’m excited and very hopeful about the whole thing. But I’ve really been thinking about how many changes we are going to have to make that I've taken for granted.

For instance – my gym membership. Which my husband considers an investment but I am still going to try and go the month and work out totally at home and outside. Please pray it doesn’t rain everyday.

My husband is giving up driving his car to work for the entire month. On good days he will either ride his bicycle or his motorbike and on crummy weather days he will take his works free shuttle-bus.

The Kids are going to give up baths in our huge master bathtub. It’s large enough to be a swimming pool but I’ve made them promise to take quick showers.

Last night Evo-man told me that he needed a haircut. The boys are quite shaggy and I've been begging them all summer to get a trim. But no - wait until school starts and then ask. but guess what - I'm not taking them to the hair salon when I can cut it myself. When I told them this they were horrified. Mom... cut our hair... get out! Trouble is I haven't cut their hair for 10 years. I was tired of all the buzz clippers we killed because their hair is so freaking thick. So not only do I have to cut their hair but I have to do it with nothing but scissors. How's that for a back to basic. Maybe they will want to go shaggy for another month now.

There are so many other little details to living on needs only that I’m sure we will run into, and have to make decisions on, as we get started on this adventure. But I’m dang excited about the whole experience. We’ll see how I feel after a few days.

I know it seems like I've been commiting to doing a whole bunch of changes like over-coming the dreaded clutter monster, and losing weight. But this whole nothing but needs idea dovetails right into the other two. So I feel it' not going to be a strain to accomplish all three.

A few of you want to play along. I'll see if I can't then figure out about posting links to those people so you can see some of the different changes some other families are having to make. If you decide to join this challenge let me know and I'll add your link.