This post have nothing to do with bikes and everything to do with bikes. Huh? Well, by getting non-bike parts of life in order, there will be more time for the bike riding that is so enjoyable. This is the idea behind the Path To Less posts here at Pale Spruce.
My friend Brion describes it much better:
Finding ways to live simply so that you can put more time and energy into wherever you find joy in life
It’s easy to forget these things when the stress and busyness of daily life take hold. My goal is to do a monthly Path To Less post like this one to be a reminder of keeping it simple and enjoying the little things around us.
Links
A Photo Essay: Siskiyou County Scenes – Rowdy Kittens – 8 wonderful pictures by Tammy Strobel that remind us to enjoy the world around us. It is a beautiful place.
Financial Freedom – Becoming Minimalist – Joshua Becker describes 8 ways to get finances under control. The ideas of paying with cash and putting the spender in charge of finances are great steps to take.
A Guide to Creating a Minimalist Home – Zen Habits – My house is not minimalist by any means, but Leo’s ideas can help work towards a simpler home. Less stuff to clean and arrange means more time for things you enjoy!
Thoughtfulness is Freeing Your Mind to be Creative – Inspired Gift Giving – Making time to step away from the tasks of the day can help generate ideas and free your mind to solve problems.
How To Complain Less – Becoming Minimalist – Probably my favorite non-cycling post lately because mindset definitely affects how you experience each day. And boy do I need some mindset shifts on some days, just ask my wife.
Picture of the month
Fall has provided some incredible sunsets and sunrises this year. This is probably my favorite of the bunch. The single large tree makes me think of an African savannah, but the picture was actually taken in Colorado.
Riding when the sun is coming up starts the day off right, and it reminds me of how the little things can make us happy. It doesn’t take a new bike or an epic ride to enjoy an hour or two of riding.
Blog Profile
Tammy Strobel writes at Rowdy Kittens where she focuses on simple living with an occasional bike post. She and her husband live in a tiny house in northern California. Her beautiful pictures of simple daily life – sunsets, horses, flowers, and, of course, kittens – are reason enough to follow the blog.
In her own words, “RowdyKittens is about going small, thinking big, and being happy. I post a few articles a week on topics like living simply, photography, and writing.”
In 2012 she released her first book ‘You Can Buy Happiness (And It’s Cheap)’ that tells her story of going from a crazy commute, long work hours, and in debt to living in a tiny house and being a writer. The book also presents current research on happiness and stories of other people who have downsized and are much happier. It’s a great read if you’re looking to simplify your days and still live well.
Feedback
Did this post make sense? Do you get any value out of this type of information when you’re used to seeing cycling, paracord, and outdoor adventure posts?
For me personally, I’m trying to focus on the things that matter and let go of the things that don’t. It’s a long way from being a reality, which my wife would be happy to attest to, but it’s something to works towards. I really do believe that a path to less stress, debt, and stuff will free us to enjoy more outdoors experiences.
