Greenway Living

Everyone I know dreams of that little homestead to retire on somewhere in the country. The cottage with the picket fence and rose garden where there is peace and serenity. Guess what, it rarely comes to be a fact. As a matter of fact, you are missing the best part of it right now. You don't have to quit your job to come home to a peaceful serine lifestyle.

You don't have to move to the far far away to have a rose garden. Plant one in your own yard. The whole idea of living simpler and healthier is not something for the future, it can and should be right now. It is not a matter of retiring to it. It is the simple practice of getting back to basics or you may not be around to retire.

The first and most important factor to consider is where you live now. If you have your own home you need to take a critical look at your space indoors and out. If your are a renter your need to decide if you are going to be there for a long or short period of time and then do the same. The key to simple healthy living is making optimum use of the space you live in. By that I don't mean jamming it full of things. I mean clearing it out and making it comfortable and useful. Get rid of the non essentials. Clean out the cupboards and shelves and dispose of or donate the things you don't need and don't use. Be brutal! When you get rid of the clutter your life will begin to feel less stressful. Your home should be your haven, not your other job.

The hardest part, I think, is to stop spending money on things you don't need just because something is a new product. You wind up with five stain removers and 7 cleaning products that all do the same thing but smell different. They clutter the shelves until you finally throw them out without using the whole bottle just because you need space for the newest purchase. There are a dozen companies out there selling organic cleaning products that do no more than you can do yourself with vinegar, baking soda, bleach and pure soap. If you really need a flowery or piney smell just pick up a small bottle of essential oil at the local health food store.

Being healthy is something everyone is concerned about. Again, there are a million products out there to "make you better" than you are. Actually, only god could do that. It is your job to take care of the wonderful machine he has given you. Again, getting back to basics is the key. Eating right is primary to the proper function of your machine. Eating fresh foods, less fat and a good balance of nutrients is not as hard as it sounds. If you do not have a medical condition that requires it you don't need a special diet to eat what is good for you. You just have to be wise enough to eat what is not doctored with chemicals and growth hormones. Eat your heaviest meal at lunch. Don't load up before you go to bed when you are doing nothing to use the calories. Did you know that most soft drink manufacturers put an additive in the soda to make you thirsty. They all say the drinks are refreshing, not that they quench your thirst. That would be false advertising. If you are still thirsty you will drink another one.

Your first assignment is to pick up two glass parmesan cheese dispensers and two boxes of baking soda. I found mine at the dollar store. Put the soda in the dispensers and put one in your refrigerator to keep it smelling fresh and clean without spills. Put the other on or under your sink to use when you clean stainless steel fixtures, stainless steel sinks, and non-stick pans. Just a few shakes on a damp sponge cleans and deoderizes like magic. Rinse well with clear water and there is no residue. When the cleaning container is empty refill it with fresh soda and switch with the one in the refrigerator. No waste, no fuss, no set schedule to follow and it is all biodegradable. Best of all, you just saved a ton of money.

Come back next Monday for another discussion of how to simplify and enhance your comfort zone. There are a lot more tips and tricks to use to make your life less tense and more enjoyable