Simple Manifesto #51 – Live life more deliberately
This is part of our series on Leo Babauta’s Simple Living Manifesto. We invite you to join us on the journey.
The 51st idea in the manifesto is:
Live life more deliberately. Do every task slowly, with ease, paying full attention to what you’re doing. For more, see Peaceful Simplicity: How to Live a Life of Contentment.
Enjoying a break on the Cascade Canyon train ride | Photo by Jonathan Blundell
Slowing down, cutting back on my to-do list and de-cluttering this year has been trying at times — but it’s also helped me enjoy and notice the simpler (and far more valuable) things around me.
When we slow down and live our lives deliberately it can open our eyes to so many wonderful things.
For me, living deliberately is really about a few things…
- Slow down
- Be aware of others and their needs
- Be generous
- Be content in all things
- Be aware of the beauty all around you
But of course these are just the basics for me. Perhaps you might need some fresh practical ideas.
Well, you’re in luck! Here are 31 ways you can live life more deliberately (for little to no money)…
- Find one thing each day that’s beautiful — and snap a photo of it
- Give thanks daily
- Draw a picture with crayons
- Bake a batch of cookies and share them with your neighbor
- Tell your spouse you love them every day
- Greet your spouse with a kiss
- Greet your children with a kiss
- Spend an afternoon visiting with your parents — without it being a holiday
- Observe a sabbath day each week
- Read one chapter of Proverbs each day for a month
- Write a handwritten letter to a friend or family member
- Send a card to a friend — just because
- Take you kids fishing
- Take your spouse on a date for ice cream or snow cones
- Pay for a stranger’s meal
- Fast
- Go for a walk with your family
- Try eating a new cuisine or food
- Spend a morning shopping at a local farmers market
- Stop procrastinating and write that book you keep talking about
- Build a birdhouse for your backyard
- Ask a stranger to tell you his/her story
- Greet those who work in the service industry by their name (it’s written on their shirt or name badge)
- Leave a large tip for your waiter or waitress (even if they didn’t offer the best service)
- Enjoy a bike ride around your neighborhood
- Go for a hike
- Go geocaching with your family
- Invite a friend you don’t see very often over for dinner
- Visit a winery and sit and enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the beautiful scenery
- Take a random train ride — either on your local public transportation system or perhaps on a historical train ride
- Host a Gift Card party for friends and family — invite them to bring their unused gift cards to donate to Gift Card Giver
How are you living a more deliberate life?
Join us!
Write a blog post about the point above and then share the link in the comments below…
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Hello,Mr. Blundell1 What a great post this is. I can do all of this!
I love that this was posted on my husband’s birthday, and we pretty much did much of this list, as opposed to the extravagant obligatory night-in-the-City we both thought the other wanted.
Thanks for visiting our blog. I like this place. I’ll be back.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I’m a big fan of Love and Trash so be sure and keep up the great work!