What Matters Most?
Fifty-nine percent of Americans are complaining about being
too busy, according to a national poll conducted by The Wall Street
Journal and NBC News last year. Welcome to the rat race. The one
that has you on a treadmill, running and not thinking about the fact
that you're not going anywhere, but running all the same.
I read about Diane and Ken Rosener who exemplify where all of this
running can lead. They started out with nothing when they got married,
but with an eagerness for more they soon became the classic American
family.
With new vehicles, a bigger house, three VCRs, four various-sized
and shaped TVs, new furniture, and bigger power tools the Rosners
worked more hours and found themselves stressed trying to meet all
of their financial, professional and emotional commitments. They
had a lot of things, but no time to enjoy them . . . or each other.
That's when Diane made some changes. She quit her job selling real
estate and supervising a 600-member community association. Now she
publishes A Penny Saved, a newsletter devoted to simplifying life.
Diane's new philosophy? Less is more.
And Diane is not the only one who thinks so. It's a whole new trend
called the Simplicity Movement, known also as downscaling
or downshifting. It's so widespread that forecasters are calling
it the trend of the 90's. Gone are the status symbols of the 80's,
according to Elaine St. James, an author and a pioneer of the simplicity
movement. Good-bye Corporate America and hello Colorado ranches and
four-day work weeks.
Does simplifying your life mean selling everything you own, going
back to nature, eating off the land and living in a teepee? No, not
unless you really want to.
St. James says, "Simplifying is about making wise choices and
recognizing that trying to have it all has gotten in the way of
enjoying the things that add to our happiness and well-being." The
difference is not worrying about having things but worrying about
having each other.
Linda Manessee Buell, 42, quit her career with American Express
and started a full-time coaching practice from her home. Like anyone
who makes such a move, Linda had to make some adjustments. She and
her husband no longer took twice-a-year vacations and she had to
forego the frequent manicures, pedicures and waxings that were once
part of her routine. But the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices.
She's kicked off her high heels and isn't commuting to endless meetings,
cautiously working her way through company politics. Instead of getting
up at 5:30 she sleeps in until 7 a.m. and has lunch with her husband
on the back patio. "I knew I would get rid of a lot of stress
when I left Corporate America," says Linda, "but I never realized
how much."
Roger Herman, a business futurist says, "People are no longer
interested in working for money. They're looking for more meaning
in their lives."
Simplifying your life is about relationships, self-improvement,
hobbies, quiet time, being a conscious consumer, a good steward,
a responsible human being, and a grateful person. Gosh, that sounds
a lot like what the Busy Woman's Daily Planner is all about: Making
time for what matters most.
Sooner or later we all come to realize that a frantic life-style
is a choice. The key to simplicity: Balancing and choosing, deciding
what you want out of life, then being willing to gracefully let other
things go. Once you simplify your life you begin to do your best
work.
Funny, we actually go somewhere when we get off the treadmill and
stop running. It's nice to have a planner and be a part of a business
that supports what matters most.
We knew we were on to something with our definition of time management,
but we had no idea that we were part of a "movement." I guess that
means sharing your business just got easier.
"Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the
time we have rushed through life trying to save."
- Will Rogers in a letter to the New York Times, April 29, 1930
Copyright © 1999 Susie Glennan
Susie Glennan has been happily married since 1982, is mom to 3 teenagers,
and is a Home Maker, Nurturer, Teacher, Author, Professional Speaker,
Toastmaster, President of The Busy Woman, Inc., DBA - The Busy Woman's Daily
Planner®. She teaches time management seminars, offers FREE consultations
with your order, and will help you set up a schedule that's right for you.
800-848-7715 www.thebusywoman.com
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