An Ode to My Closet

Dear Closet:

Do you see how full you are?
Do you know how much I love shopping?
Do you see how we have a problem?
Do you know that most shopaholic girls would just go buy more hangers?
Do you see how you are chock full and another hanger would not fit?
Do you know that I love having new clothes to wear?
Do you see that I have also bought a lot of the clothes on great sales?
Do you know that you also have to spend money to save money?
Do you see that your hanger rod might come out of the wall someday?
Do you know that all my dresser drawers and under-my-bed-totes are also full of clothes?
Do you see that I have more than 50 pairs of shoes?
Do you know that I pay lots of money for my tiny room and tiny closet?
Do you see how I have to get rid of older-much-still-in-style-shirts in order to fit the new ones?
Do you know that most of the time I don't really even miss those shirts?
Do you see how I have an absolutely first world problem?

Thank you. I appreciate you listening.

For the Love of a Simple Life

It's crazy how the first step of a daunting task sometimes gives you great clarity.

As I began my first run in training for the Utah Valley Marathon, this morning,
my mind was very far from the pounding of my feet.

In one of my favorite movies, You've Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly writes:

Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave?

I have a friend who is always traveling some place or another, seeing this and that, and always having crazy adventures.

I feel as if my life is somewhere in between. My life isn't small but nor is it one string of adventures after another.
My life is simple. Wonderful and simple with bouts of adventurism.


I don't have a million blog followers, but I have many incredibly wonderful friends.
I haven't been on a mission to convert hundreds of people, but I try to magnify my calling and make a difference in my sphere of influence.
I am no sports hero, but I love to run and love the challenge that it presents.
I haven't traveled the whole world, but what I've seen has taught me a great deal about how blessed I am.
I don't have millions of dollars, but I am self sufficient and hard working.
I have very little claim to fame, but I have wonderful supporters and rocks in my life.
My life is by no means perfect, but it's perfect for me. Simple and wonderful.

Simplicity is perfect for me.
Whenever I complicate life and get frustrated, I miss out on the finer things of life--time with family, beautiful sunrises, reading a book, making a new friend, having a good hair day, singing along to a great song, beautiful sunny days, laughter with good friends or achieving a small goal.
And aren't those the things that make life beautiful?

Whatever kind of life you live, be sure that it is the life that you've always dreamed of.
There may be circumstances that you can't change, challenges that are difficult to overcome, but there are many things that you do have control over.
Enjoy the finer things of life. Simply the things that you can.
Have some crazy adventures. Be brave. But because you have the power, make it the very best.