Simple Abundance

My husband, the ultimate garage sale aficionado, bought this book for me about a year-and-a-half ago at a garage sale. It is a book I had heard a lot about, but never went out and bought for myself. I was thrilled and touched that he thought it would be a book I would enjoy and immediately I started reading each daily entry. 

Somehow though, the book kind of disappeared, probably when we had house guests and I swept everything in the closet to make my craft room/office/guest room presentable, and I simply - forgot about it.

I was cleaning out the closet today when I came upon it and felt that "Oh!" like I had just found an old friend. I took it outside and started reading. If you aren't familiar with the book, it is about the author's journey as she searches for her authentic self. She takes you on the walk with her through each day of the year as she discovers six practical, creative, spiritual principles: gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty, and joy.

I flipped to today's entry and it begins with a quote from one of my favorite writers, Anne Lamott: "Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life." And I thought, "How very true." Sometimes, more often than I'd like to admit, I try so hard to make everything perfect especially when it comes to entertaining people in our home that I can't even enjoy the moment and enjoy our guests. Reading this was a reminder that my house doesn't need to be perfect to have friends over; that it's okay if the dishes aren't washed and someone pops in unexpectedly. It's okay.

The book isn't going back into my office - it is going on my bedside table so I can read it every day. I think I need this daybook of comfort and joy in my life right now. It came into my life a year-and-a-half ago for a reason and I think it has reappeared again for a reason. Serendipity? I think so.