What Are You Figuring Out?

What are you figuring out these days, friends?

Have new year resolutions made you rethink your lifestyle?  Have current events drawn you down the way of curiosity or even activism?  Have you picked up a new study or philosophy?  Have you recently discovered how awesome hot tea is?

I've been mulling and exploring two pretty big things this winter.

photo by Billy Onjea

#1 Racial Issues

In November, my church hosted a discussion on Ferguson, racism, and what our response should be to the turmoil.  We had a panel of 4 leaders in the community discuss questions from the community, and I learned so, so much.  I was invited into the perspective of the black community's perspectives.  I got the best explanation of white privilege I've ever heard.  I never considered myself a racist, and I've never knowingly behaved in a way to discriminate against, harm, or offend another of a different race due to their race, but I feel like my horizons on all these topics have been so broadened that my outlook is completely different from before.

I hope to share some of what I've learned and what I've been learning soon.  In fact, I'd love to start writing on current issues and possibly some political and economic issues, as well.  Caleb has a huge passion for these topics, and he reads so much about them, we have at least 3-5 conversations about them a week.  Plenty of these things are mega important, and I'd love to see myself writing about things that matter, so I'm thinking they'll start cropping up here and there.  What do you think?

#2 Minimalism

I know this doesn't affect as many people as my philosophy on racial issues will, but this will definitely affect me greatly, should I choose to go all in.

I want to be one whose actions consistently reflect my beliefs.  I believe that success and happiness do not come from material possessions.  I believe that we are to live generously toward others.  I believe that organization and tidiness are the best things since sliced bread, and I believe that excess and clutter are just dumb.  If I were to put all these beliefs into practice, and diligently so, my wardrobe would definitely look much different.  I'm envisioning a collection of versatile clothing that fits me well and flatters me.  A handful of functional, reliable pieces would be much more valuable than a closet full of clothes I don't want to wear.

The thing is, I have many clothes that I do not consider functional and reliable and not many that I want to wear (at least not to work).  I need to flush out the majority of my work tops, but I can't while I don't have anything else to wear.  This will all take some time and some money and planning, and I want to be methodical and wise about this (so no shopping splurges for the heck of it).  Ha, and there's my decision!  I doubt my extensive earring collection will ever be winnowed much, but as far as clothing, I'm completely game.  Maybe I should document the process!?

I'd love to hear about what's been going on in your mind these days, and if you have any thoughts or advice on my journeys, I'm all ears.