These last few years have been a continual stripping away, haven’t they?

Laying things bare.

Pulling the world and all of its trappings from my tight little fist one bony finger at a time.

School. Sports. Activities. Travel. Conferences. Restaurants. Get-togethers.

For the longest time it was back to the basics—of people, health, food, safety, family, love.

Then, as the world opened up, it became about reconfiguring our old ways to fit with a new ‘normal.’

Now as I move gently into this next year, I’m realizing how much I want to stay…

In the LESS.

Less stuff. Less obligation. Less expectation. Less comparison. Less activities. Less striving. Less scrolling.

Less of everything.

Just LESS.

I’m realizing I don’t want 2024 to be my year.

For anything.

Like finally achieving whole house organization. Or finally getting into the best shape of my life. Or finally achieving some grand purpose.

I’m realizing I don’t want to push toward some lifestyle that has a name or a How-To book or a million Pinterest pins or a ‘movement.’

Like Minimalism. The Simplicity Movement. Whole 30. Keto.

No.

I just want LIFE.

Me. Family. Good friends. Connection. Real food. Nature. Pets. Comfortable footwear. Fresh baked bread. My tattered bible while soaking in a warm tub before bed.

Less of the world and that constant push for MORE.

I just want this.

I want less.

I want my good, hard, messy, gritty, beautiful, ordinary LIFE.