Simplicity Relished

minimalism for the adventurous heart

Archives for August 2015

10 Things You Should Never Do To De-Stress (and what to do instead)

We love to say this: “I need to (fill in the blank). It will help me de-stress.”

Usually, we fill that blank with some kind of guilty pleasure: shopping, overeating, drinking, binge-watching television, Facebook stalking, Pinterest scrolling, and more.

Last Thursday, I wrote a post about why we need real hobbies and not just side-hustles, but I don’t want the conversation to end there.

When asked how to eliminate stress, many people will tell you to do any number of the activities listed above. Why do we think that stress is something an indulgent activity can eliminate– like an eraser on a misspelled word?

We’ve somehow been fooled into thinking that a momentary pleasure can lift burdens off of our shoulders, as though any intentional action would fail to actually address the problem.

It’s what I call the “treat yourself” mentality.

10 things you should never do to eliminate stress- and what you can do instead …Continue Reading

25 Simple Joys for Not-So-Simple Days

I just got off the phone with a new friend who is facing a lot of challenges. She is as sweet as her troubles are heavy, and the hope in her voice had me inspired and moved.

We love to talk about living simply, but the human experience is rarely this way. We want to commit ourselves to one thing only, and yet that one thing encompasses many smaller things that tug us in different directions.

Simplicity is a choice amidst a reality that is far from simple.

I don’t advocate shutting ourselves to the troubles of the world in the name of simplicity— in fact, I insist on the opposite. I insist on shedding the excess in order to be involved with the greater struggles of our families, friends, and communities.

We all walk through seasons that are characterized by myriad emotions that entangle our hearts. We all experience the mess of what it means to be connected to loved ones. We face the interconnectedness of our decisions and their impact on others. There’s no escaping the fact that despite our pursuit of simplicity, life often deals us the opposite.

25 simple joys for not-so-simple days …Continue Reading

Why You Need A True Hobby (and not just a side-hustle)

Growing up, I never understood what it meant to just enjoy an activity. I was very performance-oriented, so I couldn’t comprehend why a person might be internally motivated enough to pursue a hobby– for the sheer joy of it.

This past year, I spent a lot of time blogging here on Simplicity Relished. I wrote several posts at the time defining the purpose of my blog– a hobby and creative outlet so that I would not neglect my writing skills.

Here comes the confession: I don’t think blogging was ever my true hobby. I cared too much about how my blog was received. I cared about its readership, and I cared about my audience. At the very least, I was not just in it for my own enjoyment. I was concerned with numbers, opinions, reactions, and relationships.

But the more important lesson here is this: my general obsession with excellence made it challenging for me to find a relaxing activity– where I could be completely at ease.

Why you need a true hobby and not just a side hustle …Continue Reading

A Quick Guide to 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, California

Pebble Beach is well-known for a few things: excellent golf courses, stunning coastlines, and large-for-California mansions. Located just south of Monterey, Pebble Beach is a branded, gated community that sees thousands of tourists each year. Famous for its stunning 17 mile drive, PB is a must-see for anyone traveling down California’s coast.

I grew up traveling down to this region– its kelp-dotted waters still cause me to remember times at the beach with family. But this is no ordinary beach: it is less appropriate for tanning and more appropriate for hiking, photography, and picnicking with a coat on.

There are no real “secrets” in Pebble Beach, but there are must-see stops along the way. Here are my tips for visiting this stunning coastal region.

A quick guide to 17-mile drive in Pebble Beach California …Continue Reading

7 Reasons You Don’t Feel Influential (and how to fix it)

Influence is a powerful phenomenon.

We all know of greatly influential people who use their influence either to better serve others, or to draw greater attention to themselves. Influence is desirable because it’s a clear indication that something we’re doing matters to people– perhaps even to people we don’t know in person.

But the difficulty with influence is that it’s morally neutral. Simply put, influence can be “good” or “bad”.

Yet, before we can even decide what kind of influence we want to have on others, we find ourselves wondering if we have any influence at all.

We wonder whether our everyday choices matter. We wonder whether our encouragement or wisdom falls on deaf ears.

We wonder whether our art is considered beautiful to anyone other than our mom.

And we wonder whether one day we’ll be able to look back and point to people whose lives are better because of something we did. Desiring influence is natural; finding it– and using it well– can be tough.

7 Reasons You Dont Feel Influential - and how to fix that

Redefining influence

…Continue Reading

How to Work from ANYWHERE and Still Be Productive

This summer I will have been on the road for about 7 weeks total. From our time traveling through Japan to our volunteering experience in Ecuador, Aaron and I have learned to work productively while we’re away from our usual space.

One of the benefits to working remotely is that it allows for flexibility of location. Freedom of location is something many of us desire– and yet, productivity can be elusive. 

Some friends have asked me how I keep up with posting, emails, and even social media while I’m traveling. The truth is, it takes quite a bit of effort, but it’s definitely doable.

If you want to work while while away from home, you’ll have to throw out any preconceived notions of bronzy, attractive people lounging with their margaritas and laptops at the beach. Instead, you need to start practicing discipline– and finding a good rhythm so that neither your work nor your travels will suffer too much.

How to work from anywhere and still be productive- 8 tips for the freelancer on the road …Continue Reading

6 Questions To Ask Before Volunteering Abroad

Not long ago, I came across a post from a popular travel blogger that mentioned the evils of volunteering abroad.

I was surprised by how vehemently she denounced the practice, so I read on.

6 questions to ask before volunteering overseas

Before we headed to volunteer in Quito, Ecuador, it had never occurred to me that American (or largely Western) volunteers overseas had a bad reputation. My experiences abroad had always been fruitful, engaged, and rewarding for everyone involved. I was, quite honestly, shocked that the work I did could offend someone….Continue Reading

The Moment When Dreams Come True: Casa Victoria in Quito Ecuador

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See the mint-green house below?

Two dreams came true there.

1) My dream this summer was to interact with children in need and support a ministry doing amazing work. And that’s exactly what happened.

2) Alicia’s dream years ago was to purchase this dilapidated home and turn it into a redemptive force in the community. And that’s what it is now.

Today I’m sharing about dreams, and the strange ways that they come true. You know that I believe in keeping dreams alive— even when circumstances are challenging….Continue Reading

10 Best Snapshots from Ecuador

There’s a feeling I can’t seem to shake. Coming back from Japan, I was energized by the beauty we explored there. But coming back from Ecuador, I was just nostalgic– crazy nostalgic.

Perhaps this is because we did not simply tour the lovely cities of Quito and Cuenca while we were there. We actually spent most of our time in Quito working with underprivileged youth at Casa Victoria, a ministry that is dear to my heart. I will be sharing more about our time at Casa Victoria next week.

But, without any doubt, Ecuador is absolutely gorgeous. Popular mainly for the Galapagos Islands– which we had neither the time nor budget to visit– Ecuador’s mainland is less recognized among Americans.

But both Quito and Cuenca are gems in Ecuador’s Andean range, 8,000-9,000 feet above sea level. This means the whole area is surrounded by gorgeous mountains, and little towns bedeck the hills!

So, in an effort to convince you to add Ecuador to your travel bucket list, I’ve compiled my ten favorite snapshots from our time there. Perhaps this means I’m only indulging the nostalgia more…

10 Best Snapshots From Ecuador

10 Best Snapshots From Ecuador - santo domingo church …Continue Reading

6 Tips For Better Travel Planning

There’s often something stressful about international (or even domestic) travel. It’s odd that a leisure activity can be so anxiety-inducing, but most of us will work up a bit of a sweat before we step on the plane. We’re usually running through a mental checklist of items, hoping that there’s nothing vital that has been left behind.

How a trip turns out is often a matter of perspective; but we can do our best to plan ahead. So how do we go from conception to execution in a streamlined, thorough, and possibly even enjoyable manner?

There are some obvious steps towards good trip planning, which I won’t elaborate on:

  • Start planning early, especially for flights and accommodations.
  • Set a budget and research the estimated costs of all aspects of the trip.
  • Choose a destination that is financially, mentally, and physically appropriate.

In addition to these steps, however, there are a few tricks I use to make sure the trips I plan go as smoothly as possible. Here they are!

6 tips for planning the best trip ever …Continue Reading

Why comparison is NOT the true thief of joy (and what really is)

Many well-intentioned people have recited the adage, Comparison is the thief of joy. I myself have been one of those people.

However, I’ve realized that this adage scratches at the surface of a much deeper issue.

I do not believe that comparison has to steal joy. The mere act of realizing somebody is taller than I am does not immediately make me discontent with my own height. Did I compare? Yes. Did I lose joy? No.

This is one of the dilemmas that we often have as individuals, and as a society: we blame the wrong source for our woes. Or, as one of my best friends used to say, we need to attack the lion, not the flies buzzing around the lion. 

Here’s what I’m getting at. The mere act of comparison is simply observing, perhaps taking stock of, the differences between one thing and another.

We compare all the time. We compare deals at the grocery store. We compare phone plans. We compare career options. We compare different pairs of shoes to decide which one to purchase.

Comparison is an important act of discernment. If we weren’t able to compare, we would be unable to make wise decisions.

Comparison is an important act of discernment, and NOT the true thief of joy. Find out what is. via…

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Why comparison is not the true thief of joy- and what really is …Continue Reading

7 Days of Courage: The Story Behind My New Ebook!

So, the word is out! I wrote a short ebook which I’ve already shared with my email letter subscribers. Today I want to make sure you have the opportunity to receive it for free in your inbox, and to tell you a bit more about it.

The book is titled 7 Days of Courage: Finding Brave In Your Everyday Life. It’s a workbook that reflects on seven aspects of practicing courage, with practical applications for each day of the week.

I hope that 7 Days of Courage will come in handy whenever we feel the need to work through some fear, or when we are about to face an important challenge. Courage will hopefully expand your definition of what it means to be brave, and show you little opportunities throughout your everyday life to choose courage.

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Why Courage?

…Continue Reading

What To Do This Weekend If You’re Avoiding The Mall

Let’s be honest. Wandering around the mall (or Walmart or Target) is a real American past-time.

A pretzel, a swimsuit, and a few shopping bags later, we find ourselves having spent more money than we had planned when we initially said we’d go “walk around.”

And if you’re trying to resist buying things you don’t need, a trip to the mall is probably not what the doctor ordered.

But it’s so hot outside.

I get it– the mall offers “free” air conditioning, right? Well, perhaps. It would be free if you didn’t drop a single dime while you were there. You get the point.

So what options do we have in the summer that don’t involve shopping and subsequently cluttering up our homes?

I’ve got a few ideas for you that will not only protect your wallet, but also possibly expand the list of options you have for any open weekends coming up.

Avoiding the mall? Here are 7 alternatives for your weekend via @daisylinshih #minimalism #budget

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what to do if you are avoiding the mall this weekend- 8 fun ideas …Continue Reading

6 Questions to Ask Before Making Big Decisions

Until our early 20s, many life decisions are made for us.

We’re told to attend school, we’re told to do our best, we’re told what’s socially acceptable and what’s not– we’re raised by our families, our friends, and our society.

So when it’s time to make a big decision later in life, we’re often found unprepared. I’ve never had to choose between two things in which one is not clearly the answer, we realize. What do we do now?

The truth is, wise decision-making is a skill that requires practice. It feels even more intimidating to practice that skill when your job, relationship, education or passion is at stake.

How can we practice on reality?

Here’s the tough realization we all have to come to: when there’s no absolute dichotomy of the moral vs. immoral decision (or legal vs. illegal decision), what we choose comes down to wisdom.

And we gain wisdom in practice, in seeking counsel, and in choosing to grow as human beings.

6 questions to ask before making a big decision

A story from childhood

When I was in 5th grade, I applied to attend a different middle school. One of the application questions was: If you could invent anything, what would it be?…Continue Reading

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Disclaimer: Simplicity Relished is a for profit blog. Any company that I collaborate with is chosen by me and chosen because they fit the theme and readership of my blog. Copyright: If you see something you like here, please be encouraged to share it along with a link back to my site. All of the images and content here, unless otherwise noted or linked, is my own original work.