• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simply Being Mum

Simply Being Mum

Family Life Simply Done

  • Home
  • About
  • Other Stuff
  • Contact

Lessons From Leo

July 17, 2013 by SimplyBeingMum

27 February 2009 was a day that changed my life.

IMG_3379

As uneventful as the day seemed, at the time, it was the start of a journey toward a different type of family life. A simpler family life. I won’t bore you with the detail as it’s likely you’ve heard it all before, but if it not – click here.

Who’d have thought a short stroll, and buggy-push, to the local library could be the beginning of something so life-changing? Not I.

I grabbed 2 books off the shelf that day. The Courage To Grieve and Simplify Your Life.

Naomi’s book on simplification was the epitome of ‘right time right place’. It was so relevant to what I needed to read at that time in my life. But the real life-changer was in the additional information at the back of the book. The web address forย www.zenhabits.net.

I’d never read a blog before. This was a completely new experience.

Leo Babauta is probably the most famous blogger there is. Well, maybe after Belle de Jour.

I’m sure I’m not sharing anything today that you don’t already know. Zen Habits can change your life, or at least open your eyes to what may be possible.

So why this post? Today?

Earlier I had another completely new experience. Brace yourself – as it may surprise you.

Today I listened to a podcast for the first time on my iPhone. To pass the time whist doing chores (which I find immensely boring but necessary) I downloaded this from Good Life Project.

Not knowing what to download I opted for a safe bet. There’d be a lesson from Leo in there somewhere.

Lesson 1 –ย It doesn’t matter how much you read of one author, if they genuinely have something to share then you will always learn more.

Lesson 2 – Listening to something rather than reading the words from a page is a different experience. Listening to Leo’s voice has brought his writing to life for me, This is something that recently I discovered, even more intensely,ย  when meeting Rachel aka The Minimalist Mom for the first time in person, after knowing her virtually for almost 4 years.

Lesson 3 – I really shouldn’t e-mail unsubscribe from blogs I love, purely to reduce inbox traffic. I’ve done this with a couple of the favourite blogs I read, thinking my habits of reading them were so inbred I would remember to check them daily. It hasn’t happened and some gems have been missed (see lesson 4).

Lesson 4 – That discomfort is good. In checking out Leo’s blog today I found a recent post about discomfort. I needed to read this. My natural reaction, to discomfort, is to back off. Would it surprise you to learn that as much as I love blogging sometimes I am really uncomfortable with it? Do you ever have a dream where you are naked infront of a room full of people? It’s awkward and uncomfortable. That’s how I sometimes feel about blogging. But what I know deep down, and what Leo confirms, is that discomfort is good. Generally the more uncomfortable I feel writing a post (or running, or baking…), the better the finished article.

Lesson 5 – Showing gratitude is very important. We all measure our success differently. Leo measures his by how many people he has helped, even if that number is just 1. This post is a thank you to Leo. Because he helped me on a Friday afternoon 4 years ago, and continues to do so.

Lesson 6 – Lists are the way to go.

Filed Under: About simplybeingmum, Life simplification, Minimalism, Miscellaneous Tagged: family minimalism, leo babauta, life simplification, minimalism, rachel jonat, simplify your life, the minimalist mom, zen habits

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. anexactinglife says

    July 17, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    I don’t aspire to be as minimal as Leo, but I still find his blog inspiring!

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      July 19, 2013 at 11:35 am

      Agree!

      Reply
  2. anexactinglife says

    July 17, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    I don’t aspire to be as minimal as Leo, but I still find his blog inspiring!

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      July 19, 2013 at 11:35 am

      Agree!

      Reply
  3. Clare says

    July 18, 2013 at 1:06 am

    I have never really got into Zen Habits (I must!), but I love podcasts ๐Ÿ™‚ When I started listening to them, it was while I was putting my son to bed (when he still needed snuggles to stay in bed…i almost miss those days!), but now I listen to Graham Norton’s radio 2 podcast while I fold the laundry ๐Ÿ™‚ I’ve listening to all sorts of things and you are so right – listening brings a whole new dimension to your learning. I went over and read the post on discomfort – wise words. And lists, can’t live without them. Great post Jo, lots to think about. Thanks for embracing your discomfort and sharing your thoughts ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      July 19, 2013 at 11:40 am

      Hey Clare! I listen to Graham Norton too (but in real-time). Have you ever seen his chat show? It airs here late Friday evening…I love it. But I love Graham Norton full-stop. To have the ability to honestly say what you think, but to not cause (well not always!) offence is a rare quality.
      (He hosted our Baftas on the BBC earlier this year… his comment to the audience about getting on with it before anyone else got arrested (highly paraphrased) literally made me gasp! but laugh! it was gold. Pure gold. But that’s my sense of humour I guess.
      http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/tv-baftas-2013-graham-norton-1886139

      Reply
  4. Clare says

    July 18, 2013 at 1:06 am

    I have never really got into Zen Habits (I must!), but I love podcasts ๐Ÿ™‚ When I started listening to them, it was while I was putting my son to bed (when he still needed snuggles to stay in bed…i almost miss those days!), but now I listen to Graham Norton’s radio 2 podcast while I fold the laundry ๐Ÿ™‚ I’ve listening to all sorts of things and you are so right – listening brings a whole new dimension to your learning. I went over and read the post on discomfort – wise words. And lists, can’t live without them. Great post Jo, lots to think about. Thanks for embracing your discomfort and sharing your thoughts ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      July 19, 2013 at 11:40 am

      Hey Clare! I listen to Graham Norton too (but in real-time). Have you ever seen his chat show? It airs here late Friday evening…I love it. But I love Graham Norton full-stop. To have the ability to honestly say what you think, but to not cause (well not always!) offence is a rare quality.
      (He hosted our Baftas on the BBC earlier this year… his comment to the audience about getting on with it before anyone else got arrested (highly paraphrased) literally made me gasp! but laugh! it was gold. Pure gold. But that’s my sense of humour I guess.
      http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/tv-baftas-2013-graham-norton-1886139

      Reply
  5. sarahn says

    July 21, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    I confuse Zen habits with mnlists or however it’s spelt! I’ve yet to try podcasts, but I really should. Such a technophobe! I also love having emailed blog posts, but there’s still some I check in regularly independent of emails (like yours) – I’m not sure why. The email influx can be insane some days!

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      July 23, 2013 at 10:05 pm

      I’ve really enjoyed the podcasts. I’ve been working my way through Good Life Project. It’s been great to do menial tasks whilst listening to some really good stuff…

      Reply
  6. sarahn says

    July 21, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    I confuse Zen habits with mnlists or however it’s spelt! I’ve yet to try podcasts, but I really should. Such a technophobe! I also love having emailed blog posts, but there’s still some I check in regularly independent of emails (like yours) – I’m not sure why. The email influx can be insane some days!

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      July 23, 2013 at 10:05 pm

      I’ve really enjoyed the podcasts. I’ve been working my way through Good Life Project. It’s been great to do menial tasks whilst listening to some really good stuff…

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 Years On Am I Living Better? | Simply Being Mum says:
    March 3, 2014 at 11:26 am

    […] I’ve learnt a lot from Leo. […]

    Reply
  2. 5 Years On Am I Living Better? | Simply Being Mum says:
    March 3, 2014 at 11:26 am

    […] I’ve learnt a lot from Leo. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to SimplyBeingMum โ€“ one motherโ€™s personal website documenting the journey toward a family life simply done.Here you will find a collection of recipes, ideas, musings and philosophies related to families who feel a pull toward a more conscious, mindful and simpler way of life.

You donโ€™t have to homeschool or bake your own bread daily to hang out here. At whatever stage of your journey, you are on, you are very welcome. I personally still have a long way left down my own path and find that by blogging about it, it helps to keep me on track.

Please stay a while, have a meander around, see what takes your interest, and do join in the discussion.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 594 other subscribers

Recent Articles

  • Let’s talk fairytales and cake
  • Simple Indian Butter Chicken and Naan Bread Recipe
  • That Was Then, This Is Now
  • Tips For Reducing Air Pollution Outdoors
  • Reading a bookWhat Will You Do For 1 Day?
  • The Most Wasteful Time Of The Year
  • Old School Food Waste Friday
  • Spicy Butternut Squash One Pot Recipe
  • Slow Cooker Five Bean Vegetarian Chilli Recipe
  • Apple, Fig and Pumpkin Cheesy Crumble Recipe

Topics

Copyright © 2023 ยท Simply Being Mum. All Rights Reserved. Contact | Design by Pixelloop.