As an English teacher, math has not been my strong suit. You can ask my husband or any one of my friends, and they will vouch that if I ever pay with change, I will always think the cashier is short-changing me. I have a way of complicating the most simple math equations.
If the total is $9.99, my mind thinks that giving the cashier $10 with an additional penny will reward me with an entire dollar back. I have done this countless times, finding myself dumb founded when I get a penny back - thinking I was getting rid of that penny for good.
Sometimes in life, we want things to be more simple in relationships, faith, our wardrobe, health. We take on the endeavor to simplify and subtract the unnecessary from our lives - getting rid of old clothes that have not been worn for 2 seasons, minimizing how many times we order take out, simplifying our make-up routine (because, you know, less is more, right?), taking a break from social media in hopes to soak up real moments, spending less time worrying and more time enjoying.
“Here is the secret to subtraction. It doesn’t matter what you remove. What matters is that you stop adding it back" (Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner).
I think about the life I want to live: debt-free, connected to genuine relationships, being willing to personally grow, choosing to sacrifice for my dreams, making time for my health, spending less to save more. This list goes on and on. We want to make more time for ourselves, our loved ones, God, but yet, as soon as we make more room in areas of our lives, we stuff it with more unnecessary stuff. All the clothes that I got rid of that made enough space between hangers where I don't feel like I have to peel back the never-ending layers of my wardrobe, some never seeing the light of day in my closet, soon get replaced with more stuff - leading to a de-cluttered life, cluttered once again.
I encourage you today to look at the areas in your life that you want more in. What are areas that we can subtract, minimize, limit ourselves in, so we can make more time for the people and things in our life that matters the most? Find the areas that you want more in and see where in your life that you can make more room by subtracting and simplifying.
The key is to not add back to that area, so you have the time and space for what matters most to you.
If your vision is to have a more operational closet than that means to limit your shopping sprees and living in contentment.
If your vision is to have more "me" time, do not over-book your schedule with people or unnecessary tasks.
If your vision is to make more time for your loved ones, do not be driven by busyness and push yourself to keep those commitments to your loved ones.
If your vision is to give God more space and time in your life, do not add to that sacred space.
I am committed to creating and fighting for free space, so I can live in contentment and freedom. I encourage you to subtract the unnecessary and to keep that space available for what really matters most to you.