Simple Life Reboot - Transformational / Healthy / Minimalism / Lifestyle / Edit

“Money is not the prime asset in life. Time is.”  Unknown Far too often we fail to appreciate the preciousness of time. Unlike other resources,  it is irreplaceable.  Nonetheless,   we tend to operate in default mode, either rushing about or coasting along,  giving very little thought to how spending time doing “X” may well preclude us from […]

I wanted to edit it out.  In our 67th episode, Interview with Mom, we asked if she had learned anything from observing our Simple Life Reboot journey.  I hoped to hear how inspired she was, or perhaps how we were making a difference.   Instead, she paused, and said: “Well, I’ve learned that you’re much more compassionate than I realized.” […]

Sheryl and I have been talking lately about some of the unexpected benefits of our decision to simplify our lives. It was just 15 short months ago that we undertook The Trip that Changed Everything, our 10-day tour of the California coastline between Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara.   Meandering south along Highway 1, listening to podcasts […]

Far too often the journey to simplicity focuses on our own needs and desires. In an effort to share another perspective, Dave and I sat down for a candid talk with my mother, Carolyn. Mom has had a front row seat on this roller coaster ride to greater margin.  Though not a “fan” of reducing possessions, she stood by us as […]

Sheryl and I have been influenced by a number of extraordinary thinkers on the subject of simplifying your life to focus on what is important.  One person who has inspired us is Michael Hyatt , author of “Platform”, and online entrepreneur, who spoke recently at the World Domination Summit in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. Default Approaches Michael’s […]

There was no forewarning.  One moment I was happily standing with two other summit attendees.  The next,  I was struggling to maintain my composure, holding back an overwhelming urge to cry, scream, and vomit. It all started innocently enough.  Dave and I were attending the World Domination Summit.  As big Amazing Race fans,  we were thrilled to learn that WDS […]

What things do we need from others to feel our life has worth? The answer to that question informs us about why material treasures so inadequately satisfy our most basic emotional needs. Three emotional reservoirs are required in order to be happy.  They are the longings of our heart… …to be known …to be needed […]

It’ s time to reclaim downsizing as an empowering  practice.  For far too long,  downsizing has been understood to be a process of decline whereby individuals were forced to make undesirable lifestyle changes due to the loss of  employment, relationship or health. While the initial  impetus may be an involuntary loss,  “downsizing” itself,   if done mindfully,  is a positive.  In […]

You hear a lot of people talking these days about following your passion.  Too often this advice includes dropping everything to go after that one thing in life that “fulfills” you.  But what effect does “dropping everything”  have on the people who depend on you? Following your passion is not something we advocate here at […]

Many of us come to a point in our lives when we sense that something is wrong. We work harder and harder, and yet, never quite seem to achieve our desired lifestyle. Is the goalpost moving? Or, is some other dynamic at work? For those of us seeking to edit the non-essentials from our lives […]

We are blessed to have four wonderful children.  With Father’s Day just a few days gone, a lot has been on my mind regarding being a father. When you become a father you surrender the right to be a selfish man.  At first it’s against your will, but as time goes on and you hold, […]

What is the best way to tackle a daunting task or behavioral change?   Many authorities emphasize the traditional approach of goal, structure, and feedback.  While helpful,  such approach lacks  the transformational jet fuel of adventure and experimentation. Rediscover Adventure Ask a young person why she tried chocolate on her broccoli. She may well answer  […]

In modern American culture, being a big consumer has almost become a badge of honor. We enjoy acquiring and displaying material wealth.  Our approach of spend now – pay later, is based on the faulty premise that happiness can be purchased with  the acquisition, collection and consumption of things. Truly, to live is to consume. However, when we make consumption our primary objective, […]

The genesis of the project was practical and uninspired – but the outcome was akin to finding hidden treasure. No Room For Albums When we moved into our smaller space,  we simply did not have room for the family photo albums we had lovingly assembled over the years. We had no choice but to box […]

Are you afraid to drink from the cup of success? What is it that keeps us from realizing our best selves, the person we were born to become? Sharing our journey with you here at Simple Life Reboot continues to help us stay focused on building our new life of margin and deep living.  We […]

If you are reading this and are over the age of 40, please stop.  Wait, on second thought, nix that. Whatever your age, please keep reading… but only for the purpose of ultimately sharing or implementing the simple lessons it has taken me nearly five decades to learn. Now, as a disclaimer, this article is […]

What is the course of your life?  How we understand the unfolding of our lives not only impacts our ability to weather life’s storms, it also shapes the journey itself. As Dave and I get to know people creating margin and focusing on priorities rather than stuff, we cannot help but draw parallels between the […]

Do you manage urgency, or rather urgently manage, the events of your life?  Simple living is made possible when we  focus on the long term important issues so they do not become short-term critical emergencies due to lack of planning and execution. In a former life, I was a restaurant owner.  In the heat of […]

Far too often we forget to tell people how much they mean to us. Dave and I would both like to take this opportunity to thank you.  We recognize that by reading this,  you have taken precious time out of your day.  We treasure you as a reader and are committed to honoring your time. […]

Quiet time is hard to find. So when a client canceled an appointment a few afternoons ago, I decided to drive to a local hill and get in a short, solitary hike. Mt. Pisgah is situated a few miles south of Eugene, Oregon.  It rises over a thousand feet above the surrounding Willamette Valley, and […]