Thoughts like never scare me. I don’t want can’t and never to be part of my life. So, while writing out my 2012 goal list in early January, I determined that this would be our year to visit.

After reading all sorts of “how to travel on a budget” guides, I found affordable tickets and put them on hold. After a brief email discussion with Brian, I purchased non-refundable tickets. They were paid off by February, and by April we were flying over the Atlantic on our way to the Emerald Isle.

What an adventure! After visiting Ireland, I know we’ll go back… and it won’t take us 10 years to get there. The lesson here: Don’t put your dreams on hold. I wish we’d gone sooner!

The video below includes a few of the 1,300 pictures I took on our nine-day trip. I hope you enjoy them!

A year ago I didn’t know what Minimalism was. As I started to read more about it and practice it I have fallen in love with the ideas and am trying to apply them at all levels of my life.

What is Minimalism? Minimalism has gotten the reputation of being a bunch of single city boys with less than 100 items in their homes but it is much more. Minimalism is being intentional about what I allow in my life. It is questioning and prioritizing. These ideas are all over the place with parenting, families, boundaries, and jobs, but minimalism takes another (I believe very helpful) look.

In short, minimalism asks: “What do I love?” and “What do I need?” Once this is decided everything else eliminated from the life.

The initial focus is on material belongings.

A year ago I became a minimalist before I even knew what the word was. I felt like I was reaching breakdown trying to be the mother, wife, (home school) teacher, community service helper, church volunteer, office manager (for my husbands businesses), and a healthy, balanced person. “I am woman hear me roar” was turning into “I am a woman and I am failing at every role I am trying to fill.” I knew I wasn’t that much different than most other moms I knew and the struggles I was going through were the same for many of them but I wanted something to change, I knew something had to change.

When I wrote out a list of everything I felt I needed to keep track of it hit me that so much of it was tied to running and maintaining our house. We had a very typical 2,000-square-foot house that we had purchased pretty beat up and had completely remodeled specifically for our family (my husband has a construction business). Sure, we loved the house but it was collecting and sucking time that I didn’t have. To make the story short we sold almost everything and moved into a small 2 bedroom apartment and haven’t looked back since. This was my husband and I and our two kids (Lily age 7 and Ian age 4). We now have less expenses, less stuff to clean and sort, less space to keep up, and no yard or garden to maintain.

We might have gone a bit more extreme than most people would feel comfortable with, but I want to tell you from experience that less stuff really does equal less stress. Brainstorm with me through your house for a minute to see how material minimalism would look. A house only holding what you love and what you need.

Kitchen

Fresh food purchased only a week or two in advance. Nothing sitting on the shelves or pantry for a year or two getting stale. Kitchen gadgets are way less. Only what you actually use is in your cupboards, it is easy to access and easy to all put away. Nothing ‘belongs’ on the counter-tops because there is room for everything in cupboards.

Closet

Maybe 20-40 good quality articles of clothing that look good, fit well, and easily can mix and match. Nothing too small, nothing too big, nothing too worn, and not so much excess that finding anything to wear is difficult.

Kids Room

Only a few really good quality toys. A few good art supplies, set of dolls, set of blocks, maybe a few age appropriate puzzles and games. Free wall and floor space inviting play with a comfortable chair in the corner with a small, age appropriate selection of books.

Garage…room for the car

I was never a pack rat and had a very organized house but I was amazed at how little I missed after I got rid of it. I have loved applying minimalist ideas to our house. After our house I have been working through the same ideas with my time and money.

Back to the struggles I was having a year ago – I believe that I do have the time, the money, and the energy to be the woman I want to be. I believe you do too.

I wrote about our journey and lots of specific tips on how you can also simplify your home and make it work for you in my new book, 321 Stop — stop running and start living. I blog about minimalist simple living at Loving Simple Living

Steps

Start planning at least a week in advance. The key to being organized is preparation, so you’ll need to consider several factors before implementing your ideas:

• * Identify the vehicle you will be using to take your road trip. Is it a large, roomy SUV or a small car? Obviously, the vehicle size will be extremely important in planning what (or how much) you can take and trying to stuff more into a car that has very little room will make life harder for you.
• * Make a list of the vehicle occupants. If you can fit everyone in your vehicle comfortably, along with their suitcase and one travel and activity bag, you should be fine for the road trip. If you think you may be cramped, consider renting a larger vehicle for your trip if possible, especially if you will be car-bound for more than one day.
• * Consider your final destination. Will you be heading somewhere cold or a tropical paradise? Do your accommodations have a washer and dryer and how many days will you be gone? Also, do you need to pack equipment for your vacation such as skis or a surfboard? Knowing as much about your accommodations as possible will help you determine if you can pack a smaller sized suitcase (if you’re heading to the beach where you have access to a washer and dryer) or if there’s no way around it and you must pack for each day. Also, consider renting supplies (such as skis and boots) if car room is at a premium.
• * Determine the number of days or hours that it will take you to complete your road trip. If it will take more than one day to get to your destination, will you need to secure accommodations along the way? If you will need overnight accommodations, conduct online research to identify hotels along your route and make a reservation for each night you need lodging. Don’t assume availability; all it takes is one wedding party to fill up the only motel in town.
• * Obtain directions or a map. If you don’t have a GPS system, print directions using a mapping website or visit your local travel club (like AAA) and obtain a map.GPS systems are not always available,obtain a map.

Allow each passenger to bring one activity bag (in addition to their suitcase). The best way to stay in control while on the road is to allow each passenger one small bag (roughly the size of a backpack) in which they can pack games, books and electronic devices.

• * Provide children with a specific list of what they can and cannot take in their activity bag. For example, tell them they can take three books, one pack of crayons and two coloring books. The amount of items should directly correlate to the number of hours or days on the road. For a three hour road trip, one book should be sufficient, however, if you will be road-bound for three days, asking that they pack several books and puzzles is not out of the question. Electronic devices such as tablets or game consoles can carry more books, puzzles and games, so consider taking one to share among the children.

• * Ask adults to ensure they have all important documentation included inside their travel bag. Maps, day planners, confirmation numbers and tickets should be secured in their bag. Medication should be in the bag too, to avoid having to rummage through the back for it when needed.

Pack a small overnight bag for each passenger if your road trip will span over multiple days. At the end of a 12 hour driving stint, the last thing you want to do is drag heavy luggage to a room for a quick rest. Instead, determine the number of days you will be on the road, and pack a travel bag that includes enough fresh clothing and toiletries for the number of days on the road. Pack a plastic garbage bag inside one of the passenger’s bags and for dirty clothes each evening; that way, you keep the dirty clothes worn during the day separate from the rest of your items.

Make road rules before departing. The only way you will calm the chaos is to establish a few general car rules and ask everyone to kindly adhere to them throughout the trip. Some rules that have proven their worth for others taking road trips include:

• * Trash is thrown away at every stop. Request that every passenger search their area for cups, napkins, bags etc. and dispose of it every time the car stops. This will avoid mountains of trash building up and unidentified squashed objects being smushed into the hard-to-reach places of the car.
• * Maintain a small trash receptacle in the car. Keep a small garbage bag in the front seat and ask that each passenger use it after snacks or meals. This will help to minimize the amount of rogue trash in the car. Empty this bag at every stop.
• * Shoes must be kept by each passenger. Although everyone loves to take off their shoes during a road trip, demand that shoes be kept on the ground by the passenger to prevent missing shoes. Also, if your feet stink, shoes must be worn at all times unless they’re a cherubic toddler with no foot odor. Alternatively, bring foot spray to kill odors. (We are flip flop fans for road trips.)
• * Passenger space must be maintained and organized at each stop. If the kids want to color in the car or play with toys, fine. However, they must understand that once the car stops they must return whatever they’ve taken out of their activity bag back to its original spot.
• * Each passenger should perform a mental checklist after every stop. To ensure that items are not lost during the road trip, ask that each passenger double check important items that should be in their activity bag such as cash, maps and favorite toys, for example. The last thing you want is to be an hour away from the last stop only to realize you left tickets or your child’s favorite blanket at the last stop.
• * Always check you have your wallet after roadside stops. The feeling of leaving it behind is more than chilling.

Prepare for emergencies. Anticipating the unexpected will help you stick to your schedule and maintain a sense of order throughout your car trip. Assemble an emergency travel kit that can be maintained either underneath a car seat or in the trunk (but in an accessible area so it can be accessed if needed while the car is in motion). Items to consider include:

• * Over the counter and/or prescription medication. Also, don’t forget important medicines such as an Epi Pen or migraine medication if you have allergies or are prone to sudden extreme headaches
• * Bandages and Band-Aids. Include various sizes and special blister Band-Aids
• * Antibiotic cream and anti-itch cream
• * Antibacterial waterless soap or wipes
• * Diapers and wipes (if a baby is traveling with you)
• * Small can of insect repellant
• * Digital thermometer
• * Leak-proof plastic bag. Whether someone has to vomit or if they have to use the toilet and you can’t get off the road, it’s better than having the offensive matter strew all over the vehicle. Don’t forget to dispose of the plastic bag immediately at the next stop
• * Small can of air freshener–for a more pleasant ride
• * One 8 ounce bottle of water–you never know when or if you may need water to clean up messes or wash wounds.

Be flexible while on the road. Sometimes events happen that are beyond your control. Learn to relax and go with the flow if your trip becomes disorganized (think of it as making fond memories that you’ll laugh about in years to come). You can always regroup at overnight stops (do it first thing in the morning when you’re most refreshed and least likely to despair over the state of the car).

Tips

• * Another emergency kit to consider is an auto emergency kit that may include a tire patch kit, a small bottle of windshield wiper fluid, a flashlight and your auto club identification number and telephone number.
• * Replenish used emergency kit items before you road trip back home.
• * Make room in your car or luggage for souvenirs.
• * Always take a spare set of car keys. You never know when you might need them.
• * A throw rug across the back seat can do wonders for quick crumb cleaning at roadside stops, as well as preventing passengers from sticking to the seat if they get sweaty or drop drink everywhere.

Warnings

• * Stop the car and stretch your legs every few hours to refresh the mind and revive the body; for some people, sitting in the same position for too long can encourage blood clots.
• * If you feel as if you are getting too tired to drive, pull over and either ask another person to take the wheel or stop for the night.

Things You’ll Need

• * Organization bags
• * Trash bags
• * Set of basic rules
• * Amusement items
• * Snacks

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stay Organized on the Road. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

In this short clip, Marcia explains that dreamers live longer–up to seven years longer. As if you needed yet another reason to dream big!!–

Watch the Dream Big video clip.

What’s your big dream? What do you imagine for your life?

You can join Jack Canfield’s Inner Circle Club now and enjoy a free 10-day trial. (I think it’s worth it just for this one interview!)

Dream big. Live the life you imagine.

Strung in the chain-link fence, my attention zoomed right past them to the mystical, fog-covered landscape beyond.

Struck by their simple beauty, I knew I had to capture them. But only gray light filled my viewfinder. My macro lens couldn’t see them. The autofocus couldn’t find them.

Switching to manual, I focused my attention to the decorated trail left behind by a tiny creature traveling under the cover of darkness.

I held my breath and forced myself into stillness.

zwishi whit (My camera doesn’t click.)

They were gone an instant later—scattered by a puff of gentle wind.

I took this picture while stuck in traffic I-10 in Arizona. Mangled cars blocked our path. Tired and hungry and cranky, we sat fuming at the situation and each other. The sunbeams pierced through the clouds and into my heart.

How could we complain? We were on vacation. No deadlines, no need to hurry.

And what about the people broken on the road ahead of us? Who were we to complain when our greatest troubles were rumbling stomachs and impatient hearts?

Remember.

Remember: You are not the center of the universe.

Remember: You are abundantly blessed.

Remember: Your complaints shift your focus from the Creator and on to yourself.

Remember, and give thanks in all things.

Dream big. Think big. Act with purpose. Live with passion. But remember who is in control.

If you had a free hour… or even a free day, what would you do with it? You may imagine that you’d read all the books and magazines that have been collecting dust in your home. Or maybe you’d rent the entire season of your favorite show from Netflix and watch nine episodes in a row. Or maybe you’d sit still for just a few moments and enjoy that elusive quiet time—time to read your Bible, pray and to simply rest.

Or maybe you’d be like me and not know what to do with yourself.

I’ve been working on reducing my stress level, and although I still have a lot on my plate and my house is still cluttered, I’ve begun saying no to work projects that don’t match up with my goals. As a result, I experienced a not too-busy evening this week. With a reasonable amount of work done for the day, dinner in the oven, the laundry (mostly) done, and everyone playing happily, I stood in the kitchen at a loss; there was nothing urgent to do. And I didn’t know what to do.

I felt uncomfortable with my lack of busyness. I scanned my mental to-do list thinking of projects, errands, chores… nothing had to be done right then. I was free to do whatever I wanted.

So, let’s go back to the original question: What would you do if you weren’t too busy? Sometimes we fill our lives to the brim because we don’t want to be left with that uncomfortable feeling of sitting still. Some of us (certainly not everyone, but I know I’m not the only person who falls into this trap), falsely believe that if we’re sitting still—reading a book, indulging in a hobby, daydreaming, watching a movie with our families—we’re wasting time.

And then I am reminded that while Proverbs 31 encourages us to be productive and profitable, we must also take time to rest and reflect. It isn’t a waste of time to refill our cups; it is a necessity.

Unfilled time allows us to reconnect with (or perhaps discover) who we are. Periods of quiet, moments spent laughing with our families or friends, and time spent enjoying our hobbies all help reduce stress and reinvigorate our creativity and our enthusiasm for life. And if we choose turn that time into a few moments spent reading our Bibles and talking to God, we can reconnect with what matters most.

Today, take time to sit in a quiet place and consider the following verses. Think about how you may be doing yourself a disservice by distracting yourself with busyness.

God sets the example for us by establishing a day of rest. When was the last time you experienced an entire day of rest?

Genesis 2:1-3 – By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

God refreshes our souls when we are quiet and still. Are you making time to be still?
Psalm 23:2-3 – The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.


Please leave a comment below with your response to the question: What would you do if you weren’t too busy? And then start figuring out a way to carve a few minutes of un-busyness out of your day.

Question: How do you eat an elephant?

Answer: One bite at a time.

Building a business can be an inspiring, big dream, and it can also be daunting at times. The question “HOW do I do it?” crops up a lot. Often meaning, “How do I practically find the time to take action and get everything done when I have so much on my plate already?”

Sometimes, in between looking after the children, doing the laundry, walking the dog, having more than two lines of conversation with our spouse, feeding everybody and cleaning up afterwards (and more), the slices of time we have available, and our own capacity, can seem very small.

There’s a proverb that says “Go to the ant… Observe her ways and be wise.” And while it’s amazing that an ant can carry 10-50 times its own body weight, that still only equates to a tiny piece of food or soil. However in taking each piece from one place to another, piece by piece, step by step, ants can create large intricate network of tunnels to house and provide for a whole colony.

So what wisdom can we learn from an ant?

It struck me that even though each piece of food or soil is tiny, it’s still an amazing achievement for the ant, I wonder if we give ourselves enough acknowledgement for what we see as the little things we do every day?

Ants very rarely work alone either. They work in groups, in colonies. Each ant does their part as they work together. Running your own business does not have to mean being on your own. Finding the right support, whether with peers, colleagues, in a mastermind or networking group, or with a coach or mentor, can have a huge effect on the health and effectiveness of you and your business.

Great things can be accomplished by taking tiny steps every day in the right direction. A mammoth task, however big or complex, can be broken down into lots of small, manageable, achievable steps, which you can do without disowning your family or taking extreme lengths.

In other words, take stock of what you are doing, however little, surround yourself with great support, keep taking action and you’ll find that baby steps can move mountains.

What baby steps are you taking today?

Do you remember how slowly time seemed to move when you were a child? Summer vacation took forever to arrive. You waited and waited until, finally, the last day of school had come and gone, and nothing stood between you and those long summer days.

But time itself has changed for me. I’m constantly amazed at how quickly the minutes pass now. Yesterday it was January 1… and now it’s April. How did that happen?!

It happens the way the sun sets… in a blink. I love sunrise and sunset photos. The color and changing light thrill me. (I’m thankful for digital cameras because I can click away with abandon–and not worry about using up a whole roll of film to capture just a few moments of the day.)

When I take time to watch the sunset, I am reminded to enjoy the minutes of life, to not look away even for a few seconds. I want to make the most of life! I want to enjoy the simple pleasure of:

* Reading with my child
* Hanging out with my teenage son
* Holding my husband’s hand
* Traveling to new places
* Expressing God’s love to others
* Living in the moment

It’s difficult to live in the moment when we’re pressured by deadlines. But I know that in a few seconds, my 1st grader will be graduating from high school, and my teenager will be off on his own adventures. So, in the midst of the chaos of life, I’m trying to focus on the things that really matter. I’m trying to keep time in perspective. Because that sun is tricky. It stays high in the sky all day… for hours and hours… and then in the briefest moment it is gone.

What are you doing to make the most of your moments?

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