Here are 6 random things about me:

1. I recently knocked the lower half of my top two front teeth out with the handle bars on my bike. I was walking it up the stairs to my porch, accidentally dropped it, then the shocks caused the bike to bounce back up and hit me in the face. In a flash, my lip was busted, my teeth were gone, and I experienced one of my biggest fears… and it wasn’t so bad. Told people I got in an insane fight.
2. I have a MySpace music profile, mainly metal.
3. I love watching commentaries of Starcraft tournaments played by progamers in South Korea.
4. I can bend my left pinky back and make it touch the top of my hand.
5. Coffee has stimulated some of my best ideas, in all aspects of life.
6. My favorite book is Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn

Because I revealed 6 random things about myself, I now have the power and the responsiblity to tag 6 other people to do the same. Tag, you are it:

1. Sara @ On Simplicity
2. Lance @ The Jungle of Life (That is twice that you have been tagged… feel the pressure?!)
3. Stacey @ Create a Balance (Check out her new eBook.)
4. Rachel @ Small Notebook
5. Julia @ Share World Love
6. Ross @ Will It Change You

I give all of you the option of either writing a post with 6 random things about yourself, just like I did, or you can just leave a comment. Either way, we are going to learn 6 random things about you, whether you like it or not!

Heck, I will take Jeremy’s lead, anyone who wants to post 6 random things about themselves can do so in the comments. Go crazy!

I just wanted to take a few minutes and thank you all for your support and your inspiring conversation. It so refreshing to know that there are so many out there who value a simple life. Living simple is not always easy, but it is always worth it. It takes a lot of discipline, but the rewards justify it completely.

I encourage you all to share your views about simple living. Whether it be in your own blog (which I highly recommend!), in a guest post on your favorite blog, in a comment on a post, in an e-mail, in a conversation, or even just to yourself in a journal. Simplifying your life is much easier when those around you are doing it too!

If you have any ideas you would like to share or if you have any topics that you would like to hear more about on Simple Sapien, send me a message through my contact form.

Simple Sapien Updates and Stats

The Theme and Layout

For starters, I want to apologize for all the theme changes that have been going on in the last month. I am very picky about that kind of thing and always want it to look just how I want it. On top of that, I get tired of stuff fast so I always want to keep it fresh. Always changing my mind… Annoying, I know! Perhaps I should just hire a professional to design my theme and leave it at that.

Traffic and Subscribers

As of today, Simple Sapien is getting an average of 203 unique visitors per day. I never dreamed that my blog would have that big of an audience. It makes me happy to see the blog grow and I hope it continues to do so.

Also, as of today, my Feedburner RSS count is up to 162 subscribers. Thank you to everyone who has subscribed and been a regular visitor to Simple Sapien. It is people like you who inspire me to continue living a simple life and write about it.

Haven’t subscribed? You can subscribe to Simple Sapien via RSS or via e-mail. Learn more about RSS.

Posting Schedule

I know that my posting schedule has been pretty sporadic in the past. Sorry about that! My goal is to get it under control with the following schedule. This will help me stay more consistent with my posts and you will know what to expect from Simple Sapien. Here is my goal for posting:

• Sunday – Simple Serving: Link Love
• Monday – Post
• Tuesday – Break
• Wednesday – Video Post
• Thursday – Break
• Friday – Post
• Saturday – Simple Challenge

This will put me at 5 posts per week. I will do my best to stay on this schedule, but don’t get too upset if I stray here and there!

Monetization

I currently have no advertisements or monetization methods on Simple Sapien. I love the look of a site with no ads, don’t you? However, this might not always be the case. If I ever do decide to put up ads, I will do my best to make sure that they are relevant and that they don’t interfere with the content. Just wanted to give you a heads up in case things change in the next few months.

Thank you all again for your support. You have inspired me so much!

Do you have any comments or questions about Simple Sapien? Is there anything you would like to see change with the site? Leave your feedback in the comments and let me know!

For starters, tell us a little bit about yourself. What is the life of Sara like?

I try to keep it simple, focusing on hobbies I enjoy and people I care about. I have a full-time job that puts me out in the community, but outside of that, I love to be home with my husband and dog. I really do take pleasure in simple things, so that means that my life is pretty quiet. To be honest, blogging is what has made my life complicated and crazy, but I wouldn’t give it up.

When did you create On Simplicity?

I created On Simplicity in April of 2008. I was ready for a new hobby, something I could throw myself into with a passion, and took the leap. I started with a free wordpress.com blog, but within a month, I knew I was
hooked and moved over a hosted domain.

Why did you choose the topic of simplicity? What inspired you?

I think simplicity choose me. I tried writing about other topics, but nothing ever “took.” It never felt authentic. Over the last two years, I’d become more and more convinced that having less stuff was a key part of my own happiness. As soon as I tried using just one pencil at work, I loved it. I couldn’t *not* write about it, and that one idea is what fueled the creation of the entire blog.

Were you a writer before starting On Simplicity?

Yes and no. I’m not a professional writer, but I’ve spent a few years in the web publishing and editing fields. Writing is something that’s always been a pleasure for me, so I relished every chance I got in my editing job to tackle a writing project. And I totally won first prize in the fifth grade fiction contest back in the day, so there is that…

What are some of your simple pleasures in life?

Food. I *love* food. I can spend an entire hour eating a chocolate bar, savoring every bite. Watching things bloom. Feeling sunshine on my skin. And I love music. Just laying on the floor, listening to an entire album, and letting my dog intermittently lick my face is pure bliss.

What is your definition of a simple life?

A simple life is one in which you can consciously choose what you’re surrounded by and how you spend your time. It’s about letting go of what others expect and tuning into what speaks to you. I don’t think it has to be about what you wear, where you live, or what you drive. At the core, a simple life is about doing what works for you, not about where you fall on any spectrum.

Do you consider your life to be simple?

That’s the million dollar question! Blogging really has made my life more complex, but it’s also caused me to value my time and space more than ever before. I would say that my life is simple in terms of the space I occupy, the hobbies I pursue, and the relationships I value, but my dreams and goals are far from simple.

Do you think humanity is moving in the direction of simplicity or complexity?

I would definitely say that things are becoming more complex. There are simply more sources of input and more ways to create output. I think the amount of choices available to us is what drives most of the complexity. In that light, it’s not a bad trend, but I do think people can live more satisfying lives by figuring out what choices work best for them and then letting the rest go. And who knows? It might all come full circle as a lot of new technologies become better integrated.

How do the readers of your blog help you and inspire your writing/life?

Through the “Three Things” series, I’ve learned to value a lot of things that I would otherwise take for granted. When someone lists a priority that I hadn’t even considered, it’s humbling. Plus, my readers just have awesome ideas. I’ll write a tutorial or guide piece, and then find way better ideas and insights right there in the comments. Again, humbling but wonderfully appreciated. Most of all, knowing that other people value simplicity is what keeps me writing and pursuing fresh ideas.

What other blogs/websites about simple living do you recommend? (Besides Simple Sapien of course, heh!)

I *do* recommend Simple Sapien. Your laser focus is such a treat! I veer toward personal finance blogs like Get Rich Slowly and The Simple Dollar since I feel it’s hard to live a truly simple life if you aren’t in control of your finances. Zen Habits and Think Simple Now are great for getting inspiration, and I love the honesty and realness of Remodeling This Life.

If you could only give one tip to readers about simplifying their lives, what would it be?

Oooh, hard question! Keep only what truly matters to you; the rest is just stuff.

Thank you, Sara, for agreeing to do this and providing inspiration to simplicity addicts (like me) around the world!

Hopefully all of you don’t hate your job as much as I hated mine. I would absolutely dread going to work and just thinking about it would ruin my days off. When my shift would end, I would feel this enormous sense of freedom and would race home to get away from my job.

Is your job working out for you? Do you feel some of the same feelings I am feeling? If you love your job, good for you! Hold on to it, cherish it, and excel at it. If not, go through this list and see if any of the items match up to your current situation. No, not all of these reasons alone are enough to quit your job, but a combination of them can be reason enough to leave. It will be up to you to decide which ones you can live with and which ones you can’t. I know that there is no perfect job out there and that they all can be hard at times. I hope this is a valuable resource!

Signs That You Should Quit Your Job

1. There is no passion – I made this number one for a reason. If you have no passion for your job, then the rest of these signs don’t matter. Finding your passion can be a difficult thing. Sometimes it seems like there isn’t one, sometimes it seems like there are too many. I don’t claim to know a tried and true way to find your passion. But when you do find it, do everything in your power to integrate it with your career. It will no longer be a job to at this point. If you would do your job on your own time, even if you weren’t getting paid for it, that is a good sign that you have a passion for it. Good luck!
2. You don’t get paid enough – If you are just barely scraping by month to month or are getting yourself into a lot of debt, you might not be getting paid enough. Yes, you might be making horrible choices with your money as well, but it could be your payment. Are you living frugally, spending your money very carefully, and still find it hard to get ahead? If that is so then you are not getting paid enough!
3. You are uncomfortable or don’t get along with coworkers – These are the people that you will be spending time with for at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month, 12 months a year. If you are not getting along with them or don’t feel comfortable around them, then it might be time to move on. However, if everything else is working out, do what you can to fix this one.
4. You dread going to work each day – Like I said before, I would dread going to work each day. I would dread it at the beginning of my weekend! This is not healthy. Over time it will drive you crazy and will most likely just keep getting worse. Don’t submit yourself to something you dread for a living.
5. Your work schedule does not fit into your life – Some people like a hectic schedule that never stays the same. But I don’t! My previous schedule was complete chaos. I never knew what to expect for the week ahead and therefore could not make plans too far in advance. This is also true for the night shift. I did it for 3 months and it really messed with me. If you can handle it, good for you. If not, get out of there or change your schedule!
6. Lack of benefits – Sometimes this one has to be sacrificed. There are many jobs out there that don’t provide benefits. It can help so much when you have a family that needs health insurance though. This one alone might not be reason to leave, but combined with others, maybe.
7. You are embarrassed to tell others what you do – If you find yourself trying to avoid conversation about jobs, salaries, careers and promotions with your friends and family because you are embarrassed about your job, that is not a good sign! Find something that you are proud to share with people. Over the span of a lifetime you will spend an incredible amount of time at your job. Make it something that you are not embarrassed about and something that you wish to share with others.
8. Too long of a commute – This is another one that alone may not be enough to change your job, but with others, it could be. A long commute will drain your time, energy, and money. Is the passion you have for your job worth all of that? If so, great. If not, find something closer.
9. Your strengths are not being utilized – If you seem to be hitting a wall with your progress at your job or just don’t seem to understand it or get better at it, this could be a sign. Some things are difficult to learn, so give it some time before deciding to try something new. If you do change, find something that utilizes the strengths you already have!
10. Your job is not fulfilling – If you come home from work each day and you feel like you have not really helped the world in some way, or that your job is just not fulfilling, take a step back and think about your job. I got to the point with my job where it had no fulfillment. One day I realized that I put boxes on a shelf for a living and decided to get out of there.
11. You have no desire to be the best you can be at your job – One sign that you are not in the right field is lack of effort. Your job should be something that you put all of yourself into. You need to genuinely care about your job and want to succeed. If you can’t get into this mindset with your current job, think about a job that you would care about and put your all into.

I do realize that changing a job that you have been doing for years that has some security is not an easy move for some people. I know that sometimes there are families involved and making a change would put them in a bad situation. I just encourage you to always keep your eyes out for new opportunities.

A job does not have to be an everyday burden. It can help you fulfill your purpose in life if you find the right one. If you do decide to quit your job, do it the right way. Be honest with your boss or manager about why you are leaving and give them two weeks notice. You don’t want to burn any bridges and lose a good reference.

I hope this helped you find some clarity as to whether or not your job is right for you. What are some other signs that you should not be in the job that you are in? What steps have you taken to make the situation better? Post a comment below and let us know.

Photo By richardmasoner

I want your voice to truly be heard!

Invitation For Guest Posts

What better way to get your voice heard here at Simple Sapien than by writing your own post? It benefits both of us. I have a busy schedule and don’t have a chance to write all of the time, so guest posts help me keep my content fresh and frequent. And you get an open forum with an audience to share your viewpoint about simple living. (And a link back to your blog for you bloggers out there.)

My goal is to get a collaboration of experiences and viewpoints on Simple Sapien. The more people we hear from, the better!

In the spirit of simple living here at Simple Sapien, I ask that you keep your guest posts on these topics:

• Simplicity
• Frugality
• Environmental Sustainability
• Inspiration
• Health
• Reducing Stress
• De-cluttering
• Organization
  
• Personal Growth
• Relationships
• Productivity

Please send me a message with any guest post ideas or questions. I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say!

Photo By _StaR_DusT_