I’m not going to beat around the bush with this post: I’ve decided to kill this blog. There are many reasons, which I’ll share in a moment. But first, I want to say that I’ve been thinking about changing things up for a while now, so I know a bit about postponing the kill switch. Here’s why I’ve decided to pull it, once and for all:

1. You’re here to read about simple living.
2. I’m writing about life transformation and design.

It’s that simple. But it’s also an incredibly difficult decision. Last night, I took a long, hard look at what I was actually writing about and the direction my life is heading; in the end, I decided that those things didn’t jive with the topic of this blog. More importantly, I find that centering my writing around one topic is constricting.

No more trying to figure out how my new post fits within the context of simple living. It’s time to heed the signs.

No more middle path. It’s time to walk the walk.

Essentially, I want more. Lately I’ve been feeling a little bored. Not unhappy, just bored. Life is content, which makes me discontent. Everything is safe and secure, but where’s the adventure, the fun? That’s what I’m after!

At this point of my life, I have a strong urge to pursue my passions and focus on meaning. I also have zero tolerance for contentment. From now on I’ll be writing at my personal blog, Confessions of a Mosaic Self (tentatively titled). I don’t know what form the new blog will take, but here are my 7 Desires:

1. I desire alignment between passion and pursuit.
2. I desire transparency, authenticity and unfiltered honesty.
3. I desire to write amazing stories that resonate and teach.
4. I desire to create incredible products, like this, that help people transcend the monotony and escape contentment to a place of absolute joy.
5. I desire to be an artist who blogs, not a problogger.
6. I desire connection and community.
7. I desire to break boundaries.

In the coming months, I plan to toss everything in a backpack and travel the world. To discover the known by exploring the unknown. To write my ass off. I hope you’ll join me on the journey.

That’s it. I’ve enjoyed a modest readership here on Liv Simpl. Thank you! Your support has meant the world to me. For now, I’ll leave this blog up, but there will be no new content.

Be well. Liv Simpl.

Photo Credit: [moving on] | Dany Sakugawa | CC BY 2.0

Yep, that's me in a snail staredown at Machu Picchu. In case you're wondering, the snail won.

Last week I shared with you that I haven’t been happy with my blogging voice. As my definition of simple living begins to evolve, my need to communicate authentically gets stronger. Living simple is living your truth.

I’ve been making some changes to get closer to my own truth. Part of that is being more open about who I am. It’s a challenge. How do you convey your personality through the screen? No, really, I’m asking. I have no idea. The only thing I know to do is to share more of me with you.

This whole thing was inspired by this post by Corbett Barr. But there’s also a deep knowingness that being true to yourself is the purest way to live simple. So, to start this blog off in a new, simpler direction, here are a few things that you don’t know about me:

1. I’m 32. Most people say I don’t look it, which runs in the family. It’s nice to hear that now, but it wasn’t so much fun as a child. Imagine being a junior in high school and having someone mistake you for a sixth grader. Not. Cool.
2. I make up silly songs and sing them around the house in my pjs. I also use made up words, like ridiculosity. It’s fun. You should try it.
3. I want to change the world. You know, to leave a legacy. I have absolutely no idea how I’ll do this, though…BUT, I am heading to the World Domination Summit this year. Maybe I’ll figure it out there.
4. I used to be a major control freak. I’m talking the anal retentive OCD variety, but then I got my heart broken a few times and generally learned that a) life does not revolve around my wants and b) life is full of unknowns. Now I just enjoy the ride, albeit with some planning.
5. Speaking of heartbreak: I’ve experienced it twice. Both times hurt like hell, but made me a nicer, more open person. I guess I should say thank you.
6. I lived in Atlanta for 11 years. Those were pretty much the worst years of my life (see mention of heartbreak in #5), but I also met some of my best friends and learned a LOT about people and integrity.
7. In case you can’t tell, I’m a romantic.
8. For many things, I’m an autodidact (self-taught). Everything I’ve learned about writing, web design, financial management and herbalism is from hours of curiosity-driven research.
9. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t go to college. Instead I’d travel the world and be an artist. College just taught me to postpone my dreams.
10. I was raised to question everything–to dig below the surface–so I ask why a lot. It bothers some people.
11. Three days before I was to graduate for my Masters degree, my father had a heart attack and needed open heart surgery. He made it through, but seeing him like that scared the hell out of me. It also made me realize that nothing is permanent.
12. Now that I’ve made it out of Atlanta, I can’t fathom living in one place for more than 3 years. Seriously, I start to twitch just thinking about it.
13. I’ve lived in Chicago for 2 years and 8 months.
14. I can’t bring myself to buy a house. I think this is tied to my need for freedom and my strong desire not to sign on for more debt.
15. I’ve always wanted to be a screenwriter, but I didn’t know it until last year.
16. My biggest wish these days is to meet (and work with) famed Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar. Pretty soon I’ll be on a plane to Spain to give it a shot. Wish me luck! (If you don’t know Almodovar’s work, check him out!)
17. Most of my wishes come true. I don’t know why, but I think it has to do with this next one…
18. I have tunnel vision. When I get a goal or destination in mind, I relentlessly pursue it and can’t see anything else. This happens in the physical realm too. Something I realized when my friends kept saying that I “walked right past them.” Or the time in high school when I was talking about a kid who was sitting right next to me–but I didn’t see him. Awkward.
19. I grew up spending a lot of time alone, reading, writing and thinking. My natural inclination is solitude. Strangely, though, as an adult I’m incredibly comfortable within and in front of crowds.
20. I have trouble with authority, boundaries and rules. In high school, my English teacher kept giving my papers back to me with notes to “stay within the margins.” I kept thinking “What the hell is she talking about? What’s a margin?” The concept of staying within the lines never made much sense to me.
21. I like saying British bad words, like “wanker, tosser, and bollocks.” C’mon, you know it’s funny!
22. I play back conversations in my head, thinking about all the ways I could have responded.
23. I’ve been predominantly vegetarian since high school. My mom says that as a baby I used to yell “No meats, mommy!”
24. I can’t cook worth a damn. Well, maybe I have two or three specialty dishes. But still, if you come over for dinner, you’ll probably be dining on a nice bowl of cereal.
25. I used to be a radio DJ and a spoken word artist. Words and music have always been my first loves.
26. What else do I love? Farming! When I get older I just want to be a farmer and a writer. Nothing more, nothing less. For me, having my hands in soil is a spiritual experience.
27. I’ve tried to learn to swim three (3!) times, dammit. I can paddle around and I won’t drown in shallow water, but mostly I just stand up and splash around. Or float. I can float for days.
28. I love water sports and houseboats. I know. It makes no sense.
29. I’m pretty sure this blog is going to grow into something huge. I have no vision or validation for this, just a feeling.
30. Lately I have an increasingly strong motivation to help people transform their lives.
31. I’m on a mission to reclaim my forgotten self, particularly the artist I left behind.
32. I love to travel. One day I’d like to live in South America as well as Europe.

If you’re still reading, thanks for being a part of all this. I’d love to hear some fun facts about you! 

Ever get the feeling that something amazing is happening?

I hope the answer is yes.

There’s this feeling deep down in my bones that something huge is happening. Many of the people I’ve spoken to recently share the same feeling. While we may not know exactly what is brewing, we know that change is coming. Old paradigms and ideas are being replaced with new ones. In short: it’s time to re-define the ideas that rule our universe.

This week I shared my plot to redefine simple living in my new free guide, More: A Brief Guide to Living Simple. (Sidebar: if you’re interested in getting the guide, please subscribe/ re-subscribe to the email list.) I’m on a mission to craft simple living into something more personal, accessible and revolutionary…and I need your help.

Let’s Hangout

In a couple of weeks we’ll have the first ever Liv Simpl virtual hangout. I want to hear what living simple means to you, discuss the challenges you face and talk about ways to make simple living more relevant to your life. I want to talk about what you could use more of and help you brainstorm how to get it.

Why would you be interested in hanging out with me? Besides the fact that you get to experience my witty charm–isn’t that enough?–you’ll also be helping me write the next edition to my new guide. That’s right, I plan to do a reader’s edition and I want you to be part of it.

If you’re interested, stay tuned for more details next week.

If you’re not interested, check back next week as I return to “normal” content now that publishing madness is over!

What do you think? Is this something you’d like to participate in? Join the discussion and share your thoughts!

Photo Credit: A Change is Gonna Come | Javier Alvarez | CC BY-ND 2.0

You helped me to see this, dear reader. Thank you. By studying your searches and most read posts, I was able to see what you wanted more of: meaning. I deeply understand this desire, because it’s something that I share with you. We all seek meaningful lives. That’s why we’re living simple, not to count how many items we own or to take pictures of our sparse desks. It’s about crafting a life that makes you feel gloriously alive!

A New Lens

So many simple living resources focus on the negative: what you don’t need, what you must let go of, what’s getting in the way. Less, less, less. It’s time to stop. I, too, thought this was the way to write about living simple. But it’s not.

Because you are well-read…and intelligent…and introspective…and here, I’m willing to bet that you already have an idea of what’s not adding value to your life. More importantly, you probably know what you’d like to have more of. So, how about we focus on that from now on? More.

It’s time to stop looking at the world through a lens of less and start focusing on what you need more of: more happiness, more time, more healthy food, more passion, more fun, more exercise, more listening, more love. Whatever you need, it’s available.

Let’s examine what’s adding value to our lives and focus on getting more of that.

And everything else? It will work out. It will fall away. Yes, you’ll have to release it–this isn’t an excuse from doing your part–but once you begin to focus on value, that release process will be a little easier. And what isn’t adding any value will find it’s way out of your life. Focus is the key. What you focus on comes into your existence.

Will you join me in creating a new simple?

This week I’m launching my first free guide–More: A Brief Guide to Living Simple. Originally scheduled to launch on Tuesday, I’m going to publish it on Wednesday morning, because I want to add a little more. It’ll be ready to help you start your February off right!

Be well.

Photo credit: Lens of my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 | Dale M. Moore | CC BY-ND 2.0