Often we begin doing things simply because they are available. As more becomes available we find ourselves delving into more of those things. In the long run we may be clogging some vital things without knowing it. The fact remains that just because you CAN do something, doesn’t necessarily mean you SHOULD. Let me share an example of something super simple but that illustrates the point well.

When I began e-mailing I delighted in the ability to so easily correspond with others. As it caught on, a new wave of customizing e-mails surfaced and I thought it was pretty cool. I could add stationery backgrounds, images, etc. After a while it became a little cumbersome so I backed it down to just adding a cute picture in my signature line. I was happy with it and although I hate to admit it, it was one thing that had some impact on my decision to use a different e-mail service/program that didn’t support images. Up to that point I had been using Microsoft Outlook, now my husband was encouraging me to try Gmail. Now the major difference is Gmail was developed by an Internet search engine company, namely Google who specializes in the area of Internet services. They understand how plain text versus html message formats work. The bottom line is that as cute as all my images and things were they were sent with every message as an attachment. Spam filters know that virus e-mails contain attachments and are set up accordingly. As soon as I made the switch I found more reliability with my e-mails reaching their destinations unfettered, and I began to really appreciate the way Gmail filtered my incoming mail. I’d unknowingly sacrificed functionality for frills before.

Blogging is a classic example of more becoming more. Plug-ins, gadgets, widgets….all these things are enticing and offer enhancements to the basic web page, to say nothing about ads. But they can also really slow things down. When I redesigned my blog a few years ago I moved all the “blog stuff” onto it’s own page so every page view wouldn’t be trying to download every unrelated but “cool” thing on my side bars. I can’t tell you the difference it made. I took control over my blog navigation and cut out all unnecessary elements. It was a good lesson.

I can’t remember if I shared it here before or if I just talked about it with someone else, but in the recent Indiana Jones movie there was an early scene that stretched believability to a breaking point. Sadly, it wasn’t necessary to the story line and it has now coined the phrase “Don’t nuke the fridge.” In other words, less is more. In my experience 99% of blogs nuke the fridge.

No matter the realm or situation, the truth that often less is more resounds with truth and clarity. If there is clutter in your life or surroundings, you’ll feel cluttered and messy. Sometimes we don’t recognize building clutter in our lives and projects but if it builds you can rest assured that eventually it will catch up to you. So my advice when you’re having problems is to step back and see if you’re nuking the fridge. It’s likely that if you work on simplifying you’ll regain much of what you desire, control being at the top of the list. *smile*

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Have you ever noticed how often we use negative motivation to influence ourselves, others, teach, or encourage something to go the way we want? Guilt is one that comes immediately to mind. I see this a lot, especially where important principles of productivity, compassion and service are involved. Instead of helping someone grasp how wonderful these things are, making them so desirable that it becomes only natural to work for it, we use guilt to make them feel bad. As a parent I catch myself giving my kids all the terrible consequences as reasons for them to not make certain choices. By contrast, the adversary paints a glamorous picture of all the wonderful (all be-it often short-sided, incomplete or complete fraudulent) reasons. Is it any wonder why it’s so hard to choose good over evil? So hard to be anxiously engaged in good things?

As I sit here thinking, I realize one thing I often do and how much it helps. I find myself picturing the desired result or finished product in my head for any task or project. Sometimes I need to picture that to find enough motivation to dig into something. Now what I need to master is channeling all this into not just beginning but finishing other projects. You know, those projects that aren’t critical like doing the dishes. The ones that hide in forgotten files, boxes and books. It’s about time to blow some dust off the many photo projects, scrapbooks, scanning, etc. that have been started but not completed.

So what do you do to keep yourself going? How do you stay on task?

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These flowers are all wild in Island Park, Idaho!

I managed to capture a small glimpse of it when I did his website for him several years ago. The man is just amazing to me.

And then there’s the fact that he takes my daughter under his wing and teaches her in the most simple moments this way of life. Like how the horses know their names and they respond with verbal command and sound not slapping of the reigns to get them to start. She loved learning how to steer them. I felt a knot of emotion as I watched him coaching her doing something for her that I can’t. Because while I grew up around it, I didn’t live it like he has every day of his life. To him, this stuff is like breathing air and these horses are part of him.

In fact, the one on the left, Babe is not only 16 years old but she’s the mother to Bally (sp?) on the right.
Now you can say you’ve had a view from the top…er make that back? *giggle, giggle, snort*

I hope I’m tapping into the things in my life that I’m good at and that I know. I hope I’m sharing those things and making the world a better place for my having lived in it. There’s more to doing what you love and loving what you do and I think the key to that is somewhere in this piece of knowing it.

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Happy 4th of July

You’ll hear Blake in the background as well as some crazy sparkler happy kids.

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The week was packed with fun and entertainment. We started with my husband’s 20 year class reunion, a jam packed memory event. We snuck in a night at the cabin in Island Park, took in a parade, played water games and even got to be there for the new arrival of my sister’s baby. The rest of the week was showered with trips to the movies, eating out and staying up way too late visiting. It makes me so very grateful for the wonderful families both my husband and I have. Family is truly where it’s at.

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How do you keep your sanity during summer vacation?

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