31: Doing Things on Purpose

Finally... the last BEDIM blog. I know it's taken a long time coming, but I'm glad it's finally being written. Anywho.





As y'all know, I am a strong supporter and believer in the minimalist lifestyle. To me, minimalism is doing everything consciously. Consuming objects, eating, walking, organizing, just living. It's making every decision you make deliberate.





So many people, myself included, go through their days doing things and not caring, much less thinking, about the outcomes or consequences. I'm not saying you should overthink everything, but that things should be done on purpose.





3 Ways To Be Deliberate





1) Go slowly. When you take the time to do something slowly, you truly experience every second of it. You do each step purposefully and mindfully. For example, how often do you brush your teeth whilst thinking of something else? The coming day, what you're going to wear, whatever. I challenge you to do a routine activity, like brushing your teeth or folding clothes, while focusing just on that thing.





2) Be mindful. I know I don't do this all the time, but I'm working on it. I so often speed through the day, without really feeling the emotions or experiences touch me. What I'm really working on now is taking away or ignoring the distractions, like listening to my iPod or reading on my phone on the bus or train. You miss so much of this blink of an eye we're given on earth if you don't take the time to just feel and be present.





3) Think things through. I've just recently started thinking about my actions and words before I do or say them. This prevents telling white lies when you could just tell the truth, missaying things, and leaving something out.





These 3 little tips are just some things that I am trying to focus on in my life, so I can fully live. I know I've only got one life, but I want to really be mindful and maximize it.

And, thus, concludes BEDIM, 2 months later. :)

31: Last Day of BEDIM... postponed.

I'll try to make a worthy post sometime this week, because I am just so overwhelmed right now.

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30

I had a pretty good day today, even though it started off quite overwhelmingly. I hope y'all did, too. :)

A bunch of my friends and family came over and we had a barbeque. It was dang hot, but once the sun went down, the weather was wonderful!

Overall, I had a lot of fun and learned a few things. I hope you guys had an awesome day.

P.S. God bless all the soldiers, vets, and those who have recently enlisted. <3

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29: What I'm Going To Do Tomorrow

1. Get up and eat breakfast
2. Cut the grass
3. Take a shower and get dressed
4. Take notes on an algebra PowerPoint
5. Finish my algebra homework
6. See if my biology homework is online yet
7. Relax, probably read
8. Think about soldiers and vets
9. Have an awesome Memorial Day cookout with my friends and family!

I hope y'all have a great day, too!

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28

Today, I babysat and read and thought. I need to simplify.

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27: Things I Do

I had amazing day today! I went with my friends to see Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D. I don't think it was as good as the first one, because it seemed like basically the same plot, but I loved spending time with my friends. :) I am so happy I have them. I was thinking, This is exactly where I want us to be in 4 years. I want the same ability to just let it flow. We can have really deep, philosophical conversations, or ones that we don't stop laughing through.

Anywho, here are a few things that I like to do:
Read books
Write
Sing
Dance (in the privacy of my bedroom, or in a store, or in the middle of a mall)
Watch movies
Read blogs
Make lists
Study
Listen to music
Watch TV with my family
Drive with my family
Go to bookstores
Go to office supply stores
Watch the sun set
Watch the moon
Vacuum
Lay
Make easy decisions
Make hard decisions
Think about the future
Think about the present
Think about other people and how they got where they are
Watch YouTube videos
Speak French
Travel
Go to school
Be crazy
Be quiet
Be goofy
Be serious
Listen to the radio
Observe (especially people)
Watch teachers (they are so interesting!)
Jump
Listen to other's points of view and opinions
Single-task
Slow down
Sleep
Take the bus/train
Smile
Laugh
♥♥

26: Thinking

I've been reading more of Minimal Student and it's got me thinking. One of the posts, "The biggest challenge," got me wondering why I want to go to a big university. Like, an Ivy League one. I'm obviously going to college no matter what, but I was thinking, what does it matter if where I learn is big or small, famous or not? As long as I get the education I'd like to pursue my goals, what does it matter?

Considering I don't even know what I want to do yet, I have no idea where I want to go, but in my head an Ivy League school just sounds so much better than a regular college. But, why? It's still education. It's still a piece of paper saying I graduated. I don't know.

These are the questions.

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25

Oops.

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24: Good Day

Today was pretty good. I got my school, visiting with my family, most of my homework, and babysitting done. Had some good, albeit interrupted, conversations. How was your day?

Starting tomorrow, I am only going to have 1 or less servings of soda (I don't drink much now, but I'd like to cut it pretty much out) and have more fruit than candy. Baby steps. I think that if I get my diet to a healthy, maintainable level, then I'll be able to become a pescetarian, then a vegetarian, and then possibly a vegan. I just want to simplify my diet so I feel better.

Well, this post took an unexpected turn. TTYTomorrow. <3

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23

Sleep.

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21: The Day That Nothing Happened? and 22: Stuff

Alrighty! Well, clearly we were all spared from the Rapture, so, congratulations on being the damned! ;)

I didn't really buy into this whole "the world is ending!" nonsense, because I believe that only God will decide when it's time and we won't have a clue. Obviously that is a tad scary, but it's what meant to happen, I suppose. Yesterday, I can honestly say that when the clock was approaching 7 (the expected time of Judgment, as I'd heard), I was getting a bit nervous. That's when my mind was thinking, well maybe God did have his people write in the Bible a warning and this is it. But, lo and behold, we are still here.

Onward.

My family has been thinking a lot about the upcoming summer and the hectic schedule we have planned. It's going to be so much fun! Of course, y'all have heard our plans, what with the wedding and the West Coast and the fishing and concerts and all. Very exciting. :)

I'm still reading Minimal Student and loving it. It's so amazing and it's inspired my to get more of a jump on my goal of paring down my possessions and commitments. I have a garbage bag full of clothes ready to be donated, I've looked through tons of my old school stuff and am getting rid of a lot of it, and I'm planning on going through my books sometime this week. It feels wonderful to make this positive change!

Anyway, I'll speak at you tomorrow. Sweet dreams. <3

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20

Goodnight. TTYTomorrow. <3

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19: Darn

I almost forgot to post! Sorry. Better things tomorrow. Til then.

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18: On Life

I had a fantastic and eye-opening textual conversation with one of my very best friends tonight. We got to our opinions on life and, while different, they both were passionate. Here's mine: We only get one life to do anything we want. We have opportunities every single day to try new things and find/focus on our passions. We can do absolutely anything we want and I like to be fully present. I look at life like something to be active in, not passive, letting it slip through your fingers. I want to do something that makes me truly, truly happy for the rest of my life, or else it's wasted.

This may sound like I want life to be a nonstop tornado of new adventures and experiences, however I think I want to become a minimalist and celebrate the simple pleasures, too. If you're jumping from one high to the next, you're not enjoying life to its full potential, because you're missing the little things. A private smile, something funny that only you saw, the pretty eyes of a stranger. Any of these things can change your life and every one you miss is a lost opportunity for happiness. I'm not saying that people should be paranoid that they'll miss everything, just that we should try to be present.

My friend's opinion is simple. She just wants her music and to watch other people. Their reactions, emotions, how they feel about where they are and how they got there. Hers is so wonderful and it opened my eyes to other points of view. I love her passion and strength and how she does what she does.

So, I want to know other people's opinions on how they live their life. Is it day-to-day just trying to get by? Do they lead it with full purpose and intent? Are others, like me, trying to find themselves? I want to know. I'll put this on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, anywhere. This is really interesting and I'm hoping to get some feedback. Leave your opinion as a comment or on one of the other sites I mentioned.

Peace, love, and simplicity.

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17: Greetings

Hey, y'all. I've been reading a lot on Minimal Student, that blog I linked to yesterday, and I love it! It's so inspiring and it gives me applicable advice. :) Happiness.

Today, I ate 1 bowl of Cheerios, 1 chicken salad sandwich, 2 chocolate chip cookies, 1 mini Nutter Butter, some pistachios, a few peanut butter wafer cookies (love), some gumbo-like Campbell's soup, saltines with butter, a Banana Baby, and some mini Reese's. Yummy, but too much. My tummy doesn't like it. :(

Anyway, goodnight!

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16: Ohmygoodness

I just watched the season finale of Gossip Girl and it was so. dang. good! I want to put my thoughts about it on here, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone or bore anybody with my fangirling. I'll have to save that for when I talk to my French teacher tomorrow. :)

Getting over that, I recently came across a website called http://minimalstudent.com/ and I love it! I've been looking for ways to more easily apply minimalism to my life as a teenager and student. Most minimalist sites I find seem to be targeted towards adults who have a lot more freedom than I do, so it's nice that this one pertains to me. The author Jessica Dang is very relatable and I think she's from the UK!

I don't feel like writing my noms down, so I'll just tell you what I'm reading. I finished rereading HP1 a few days ago and I'm onto the second one now. Love. I've not read the full series since the summer before 5th grade! Absurd.

Anywho, TTFN. <3

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15: Day Blog

♫ Hello, world, hope you're listening. ♫

Well, hello there! I feel like I've been up for a loooong time, because I've been up since 8! For no particular reason, of course. It seems like I got a lot done, but this is what I did so far: ate breakfast, ate lunch, caught up on my YouTube subscriptions, finished checking over my French homework, started an assignment for Biology that I don't know when it's due, and read a tad. Pretty good day, and it's barely noon!

As you can see, I have lots of energy. I suppose I could exercise to release some of this energy. Perhaps.

I've been thinking a bit about YouTube lately. About watching vlogs, making vlogs, and the like. I'd really like to start. Now that I think about it, I feel that the only thing holding me back is the unwillingness to put forth the energy and time needed to go into the videos. This is a problem for me that translates to many things in my life (ie. school, reading, making plans, etc.). I think I'll talk to my pa today and ask him if I can.

On the rest of the todo list today: clean my room, finish Biology homework, exercise, check over my Algebra homework, and take a shower. Pretty relaxed.

I think I might start a tumblr. Probably for my personal use, to collect inspirations, but I might make it public. I don't know.

Sorry this post is so jumpy and unfocused. I'm just in an odd mood right now.

Breakfast was 2 blueberry Eggos and 1 bowl of Reese's Puffs.
Lunch was leftover tomato soup and noodles from yesterday.

Later, taters.

14: What Interests Me

Books. Magazines. The interwebs. YouTube. Writing. People. Accents. Other languages. Gilmore Girls. Gossip Girl. Sarah Dessen's writings. Harry Potter. Blogs. Minimalism. The sky. Infinity. The afterlife. Fashion. Photography. Music. Instruments. The education system. Society. Cameras. Telephones. Nutrition. Antiques. Travel. Aaaaaand...

Nosh: 1 1/2 bowls of Reese's Puffs, many blueberry Eggos throughout the day, tomato soup and noodles. That's all I can think of, but I know I ate a lot, because j'ai une food-bébé.

Good night. >.<

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13: Why I Like Minimalism

Sorry, sorry. I know that I'm late. Meh.





Here are the top 5 reasons why I like minimalism so much (btw, some of these are ones that I've read before, but I wholeheartedly agree with them) :

1. It makes you pick what's important, be it an item, an activity, a TV show, whatever. Minimalism is about paring down to what you absolutely need and gives you time and space to focus on the things you love.




2. The simplicity. Even though it may not seem like it on the outside, I adore simplicity. Having just enough and being able to cherish every object or thing you do is so inspiring to me.




3. The neatness of it. This goes along with #2. If you only have a few things, then nothing is cluttered or messy and it all looks clean.




4. The way it reminds me of the olden days. Minimalism makes me think of colonial times or even before that in developing nations like Egypt or France or anywhere else where people did not have or need a lot.




5. The rebelliousness of it. By not buying everything you see or like, you are taking a stand against corporations and consumerism. You are sending a message that you do not support what a company is doing. If you like a company and its concept, then you use your hard-earned dollars to invest in it, because money is your voice when it comes to buying.

These are just some of the reasons why I lovelovelove minimalism and what it stands for. Check out mnmlist.com or ZenHabits for more info on this topic.

I'll have another post up tonight for today.

Peace, love, and simplicity. ♥

12

Food: 2 blueberry Eggos, 1 Rice Krispie Treat, 1 banana, peanut butter, hobo dinner (pork chop, potatoes, carrots, onion, and butter), and 1 Like It Peanut Butter Cup Perfection from Cold Stone. Lovelovelove.

Perhaps interesting content tomorrow, since it'll be the weekend, weekend.

Payce.

***Edit: Blogger was down Thursday night, so sorry for the late post.***

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