Complexity causes Anxiety

I've never thought of myself as a complex person. I'm sure my husband would disagree since I say "fine" when he knows I am clearly not fine. I however find my attitude towards life to be simple. I want to be a nurse. I love my savior Jesus Christ. I like food. I like art. I like to smile and laugh. I'm not a complex person when it comes to knowing what it is I want out of life. There are, however, a few things in life that I find create anxiety because of their complexity. Money: the root of all evil. Money gives me great anxiety and worry when I very well know that it shouldn't affect my happiness. I will admit that over the past three years of marriage I have definitely mellowed out when it comes to finances. God always provides even when I think we won't make it, we always see another month and live another day. We are very lucky blessed and fortunate to have all that we have and I am thankful everyday. I however, in recent months have thought about what it is I really NEED in life. After traveling to the Dominican Republic with a church from my hometown in Connecticut, I did a lot of thinking when I came back about how ridiculously large my apartment is, how many things just sit around and serve no purpose, how there is so much clutter and unnecessary crap in my life. I found that the Dominicans found a joy unlike any other because their lives weren't about the things they had but more so the things that kept them alive. It made me really rethink how it is and where it is I am living.

Another anxiety of mine is work. I am sure everyone's job causes stress and unhappiness and I don't want it to be that way for me. Every job will have it's days but I am trying to refocus my energy and positivity into the important things in life. I'm not going to take my job with me when I die so to put forth so much energy in being a waitress is just crazy. I leave work at work and keep try to focus my energy on the important things like being a wife, making art, eating good food, making lasting relationships. These things are what I find to be stress free!

My husband has had no problem with thinking about a simpler life. He knows exactly what it is he needs: internet for his love of gaming/ internet usage, and lots of land with limited human interaction.  It's not that he doesn't like people but myself and Kyle enjoy the privacy of our own home to be alone together in the middle of no man's land in the woods just seems so appealing to the both of us.

SO what's the point of this first post since I have done the inevitable and rambled on for three paragraphs? Welcome to the adventures of Kyle and Emily where you will witness us SIMPLIFYING our life to create a HOME, not a house. A FAMILY, not a house of strangers, a HAPPINESS, not sadness. A life of CALMNESS, TRANQUILITY, AND KINDNESS instead of the anxieties created by the complexities of what America has created to be "the American Dream".

Join us on our journey of downsizing.