Essentialism is Essential
Back in July of 2019, I was given a copy of the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg Mckeown, and it quickly became one of my all time favorites. I have been on a pursuit of an easier life for quite a few years, trying to work 60 plus hours a week while blending two blended families together is a Molotov Cocktail of pure chaos. So, when this book crossed my over anxious and overwhelmed path, I secretly thought: I don’t have time for this.
As I opened the cover, with all my book sniffing glory, I flipped the book over to reread the blurb. Yes, Greg, I have felt stretched too thin. Yes, Greg, I constantly feel overworked and underutilized: I am a mother of two teenagers and a soon to be preteen (I’m accepting prayers as we speak). Oh, did I mention, Greg, I am a middle school teacher, I commute three hours a day, am an author/blogger, and I am highly involved in my church. In fact, Gregster, the reason I’m holding your book to begin with is because I’m about to get even more involved in my church… stretched too thin doesn’t even begin to describe me.
So, I began to read, despite the nerve twitching over my right eye. I read word after word, sentence after sentence, and page after page… and I wept, the Kardashians would have been jealous. I wept because this book hit me across the face with truth after truth. I am a seeker of approval, a success addict, and an egomaniac, if you will. Not only do I burn the candle at both ends, I pour kerosene on that sucker and light it up. I am a pyre of stress, y’all, and in that moment I was undone.
When I was only three chapters in, I made a quick decision. I could not continue living my life at the pace I was going, and if I did, I would most certainly crash and burn (apparently I like fire metaphors and idioms). I texted the woman I was going to work with at church and said, “You know that book you gave me to prepare for this new position? Well, it’s working, and I think I need to tap out.”
I expected her to be angry and demand the book back instantly, but instead she was full of grace and even complimented me on attempting to live the book’s message out. Who’d have thunk it? Well, I guess you would have, Greg, right?
In the end, this book really has lived up to it’s claim: “The disciplined pursuit of less empowers us to reclaim control of our own choices about where to spend our precious time and energy.” Though I struggle daily with my anxiety, I now have the proper tools to assess what I keep or what needs to get chucked out of my life. I guess essentialism really is essential after all.
If you’re interested in getting a copy of this book, click the link below. They do not sponsor me in any way. I just feel it’s my way of paying it forward. Oh, and my eye twitch thing… so much better now, y’all.
