Beauty comes in unexpected places. Some people more naturally find it than others. I am in the others category. But I have taken on the mission of training myself to find the beauty that is already there.
Beauty can be manufactured or created easily, for some. But there is often an overlooked beauty in the simple things. Which is really comforting, because simple is where we find ourselves these days.
There are seasons of want and seasons of plenty. When you are newly married or in college, you expect that you won’t exactly live in a season of plenty. In those times, the barrage of fancy pinterest images can be overwhelming. Is that what life is supposed to be like? Am I doing it wrong or missing out? The comparison game starts to come into play, and we get discontent so quickly. Or embarrassed that our meals are less than gourmet, and our rooms are lacking the white ethereal touches we see everywhere else. I don’t think I have been able to keep anything white for longer than a few minutes and no amount of interior decorating or scotch guarding will change that.
While this may not be a season of “plenty” I am finding that it is far from a season of want. Living simply does not mean lacking joy and fun. I am so grateful for this season, because it is teaching me a new joy in things that I never would have noticed before.
Here are my “simple living” strategies that have been bringing so much joy:
Making coffee from home…. It just honestly tastes better. Make sure your mug is pretty. (who wants paper cups anyway)
Shopping at Thrift stores. Have you ever found a fabulous name brand shirt with the tags for $3. You should try it. My wardrobe at the moment is almost completely thrifted, and consists of American Eagle, The Loft, Old Navy, Abercrombie, etc. These ain’t your Grandma’s hand me downs.
Grocery shopping in your fridge. My goal was to go for an entire week making dinners with things I already owned. You will be shocked at how creative you can get, and how great things taste. I had so many ingredients that I didn’t realize.
Eating in, instead of dining out. Invite friends over and make a huge pot of chili. It’s cheap. It’s comfortable. And you will have leftovers for days. Plus now you can linger around the table instead of being rushed out by the waitress.
Netflix dates. There was nothing tempting at the movie theater so we challenged ourselves to find something new on Netflix. Have you all checked out the original Documentaries?? So interesting!
Card games. When all your friends are on a budget, game nights become weekend events. We highly recommend Monopoly deal! It’s so fun, and way faster than regular Monopoly
Dessert dates at home. Who needs to go out for ice cream, when you can grab a carton and your favorite mug. Enjoy ice cream from your couch in your PJ’s. It just tastes better that way. And Bonus: You will probably have some left for another evening as well!
Instead of fancy gifts, look for little things that show you care. I can’t afford to buy my husband a fancy watch or awesome concert tickets, but I can pick up a Cubs mug for him on a random weekday for no reason at all. Just to show him I was thinking about him.
Take an evening walk. Get your steps in, and get a chance to breath and be quiet.
All of these things are so simple, and may even seem lame. But we have found so much joy in the simple. There is no stress in trying to manufacture the perfect experience. Just simply enjoy the experience as it happens. Think less and be in the moment. Enjoy the simple, slower pace. Learn to create memories in the normal.