I get a lot of emails and comments from you saying that you come here for inspiration. And I'm glad for that. It feeds my soul and is much of why I come here day after day to talk with you. But you know, I am looking for inspiration too. I want a simple, clear, joy-filled life in which my children, my partner, my marriage, my community, our planet, and I will thrive. Where my home is calm and peaceful and a joyful physical manifestation of what I value. Where I can be not "good enough", but great. I am not interested in "good enough" anything. We all deserve better and better and better - our kids included. They will carry with them into their own adulthood that lessons that we teach by how we live and how we raise them. That, indeed, is the legacy of a parent.
Three times yesterday (and several times over the past few weeks) the book Simplicity Parenting, by Kim John Payne, has come up in conversation. Several good friends (one of whom lives what I would call a clear and simple life already) have seen their worlds transformed by reading this book. I interpreted yesterday's three references as a sign and decided to buy the book. And then I had a wonderful thought - do you want to read it with me?
What if we all picked up a copy of this book (through the library, our local book stores, or on-line) and week by week explored the concepts in it? If you are interested I'll invest some time figuring out the best way to open conversation through this blog and this book.
To give you a bit more information on the premise of Simplicity Parenting, it is focused on four realms:
Environment: De-cluttering too much stuff at home.
Rhythm: Increasing predictability by introducing rhythmic moments for connection and calm.
Scheduling: Soothing violent schedules brings moments for Being into all the Doing.
Unplugging: Reducing the influence of adult concerns, media and consumerism on children and families to increase resilience, social and emotional intelligence.
The ideas in here seem like that would transform many lives. Are you in? Leave a comment if you'd like to join me, and then take some time to find a copy of the book this weekend. We won't start for a while to give everyone time to find a copy.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
