Monday, August 21, 2006

Liking Simply...Simplified...Me

The phone is ringing now and I simply refuse to answer it. Neither am I opening up my cellphone. I think I am learning how to say “no” already. No to people’s incessant demands for my time ( when I have given more than enough)..No to people’s “can you please do me a favor??”…and “no” to picking up responsibilities left off by others…or responsibilities I take on because the person responsible doesn’t know how to do it.

You see, Me’ Hubz’ left off late for work coz’ he was really tired and needed a couple ov’ extra hours of sleep. I was getting’ up around 6 to prepare for school but he pulled me back and told me to…um’…rest….said he wanted to spend late breakfast with me cooking for him….

So, since the kids are on a half day sched anyway, I phoned the school to say I wasn’t coming in…..

After about half an hour…my phone rings…the school secretary of course asking if I could please just do this one little thing….so I said Ok…no problem…Then it rings again…if I could please…..said ok….Now…its ringing again…

I know what they want…they want me to sit in for a meeting. A meeting which the administrator herself should handle……nooooo way!...Not anymore.

Simply No…..

To unreasonable demands…….to meaningless chatter….to pointless arguments….to wasteful thinking ….to senseless actuations….to unmindful decisions….to wild anger…to unpalatable food….and to distasteful coffee…

And an even big No to the presence of people who will not serve any good uplifting purpose in my life….

So here I am in my simply “no” mode simply happy because my house is simply spick and span Luxlucisvita shinning bright.. I don’t know why…but doing the house chores myself gives me such a sense of accomplishment….much like the feeling of satisfaction I get when I’ve orchestrated a meeting that went exceptionally well.

I guess I take pride in my home…and the work of my hands…

It is very simple, this home…much smaller than the one we used to live in…but….a tad cozier….And I hug this abode even more than the last knowing that I can take charge, manage and control clutter without depending on outsourced help……Yes….I have so practically realized that by weeding out unnecessary burdensome possessions….and by living with only the simplest necessities…. one can truly subsist even more beautifully.

I like my home…I like who I am slowly becoming…..I like my life and I like the you who are reading this right now…..

……..simply grateful……….

18 comments:

Unknown said...

I am happy to see you happy!

Lady Prism said...

Sj:

ey' thanks!!

Sue said...

It's like the more you give, the more people take, take, take... Good luck on your quest for saying NO!

Lady Prism said...

Hi Sue!!

exactly...I hope I can live up to this "no " thing I have...

..................... said...

i'm sitting here 5:30 am about to get ready for work. I walked out of a meeting this summer.....waste of my time...
i'm dropping some committees i'm on...
i'm also learning to say no.....
and i've also been reeaaaaaally thinking about what to do next year. this may be my last year teaching...
in the school district i'm in anyway..


ps: i don't drink the coffee at work..
my goodness and the food......ugh..

Aunty Belle said...

Lux-cious, youse right sweetie!! Fer shure doan drink no distasteful coffee--coffee is as serious as sex--good is good and bad ain't worth the name.

Sayin' no is an art that requires practice, I s'pect. Post up a photo of purdy, cozy hearth.

Mayden' s Voyage said...

AMEN! YEAHHHH!!!! Whooppieeee!
I wrote a letter to a loved one yesterday- said the same things...
learning to say no to things that don't fulfill me, to people who use me...and Yes to what gives me joy :)
But I still need to give things away- I still need to down size.
You've inspired me! :)

Enemy of the Republic said...

Man, I needed this post. I am so keyed up these days. Too much work.

HLiza said...

Good for you, Lux! I ALWAYS do the same thing, especially if my darling hubby says he needs time together with me..it's such a tempting invitation to be missed. In our busy times, it feels like heaven to be together just the two of us, having meals and chit-chatting together..just like old times.

X. Dell said...

I don't get it. Why call a meeting to accomplish nothing? I can imagine calling a meeting and finding that either you're off kilter with each other, or something would be amiss. But you would have thought that if they had one wasted meeting, then they would have made sure not to waste time at the second meeting.

Or if there's nothing to meet about, why meet at all?

X. Dell said...

BTW, if the meetings are that bad, you had every right to stay in bed with your husband, and (um) rest.

Christine said...

It is such a simple thing to say but such a hard thing to keep saying. Good luck with keeping control.

butterflygirl said...

Good for you!!!

Michelle said...

It really is an art to say no. It took me a long time to learn, and occaisonally i still have difficulty with it. It's like "Sue" said the more you give, the more people take.

SCRIBBLEZ TO WAKEUP said...

Hey...was nice to see you at my blog..:) :)

Regards your post..Yes, we do have to just put our foot down sometimes and to make sure it is going ot be down we may have to put our other foot on top of it too...Those guys at your school really were extracting all they could from ya...But on the brighter side, your hubby was so cute in asking you to stay back for a while...Thts very loving right? Also it is so refreshing ot learn how you feel about your home...Sweet simple and ushered with love not commodities..Thts wht makes a home right, not the unlimited flow of materials...:) :)

Susannah Conway said...

No is the most empowering word we have i think. No to the demands, the expectations, the guilt. NO! good for you sweetie.... and thank you for the comment you left me - i am so touched and humbled. i'm glad we've connected :-) x

NWJR said...

I have a hard and fast rule..."A ringing phone does not need to be picked up."

It's life-changing when you can internalize that.

Nice site. Thanks for stopping by mine!

Helene said...

We like you too! I agree totally with your comment that these people who are demanding things from you are, in the long run, not going to bare any meaning in your grand life... spending the day with your spouse is FAR more important and may be a day you remember forever~

Cheers Lux!! Happy cleaning (and I mean that in the nicest possible way hehehhee)