You Don't Have to Live This Way

Saying no for a more simple life.

I recently read a post by Emily Freeman about being a writer and slowing down in the summer to give more time and energy to her kids.  She ended her post with this statement that I loved:
As schedules shift, so must our souls. And as my soul takes a deep breath in, I remember how it could be like this all the time if I wanted it to be. Not the schedule part, but the centered part. There is a strong stillness deep within me, the place where God lives. He is not pulled in ten thousand directions and in him, neither am I.
It could be like this all the time if I wanted it to be.  Now we could argue all day about what we have to do and what we want to do.  But honestly, if we were really true with ourselves, we could have the life we want.

We could have the time to be with our kids.  We could make that creative dream come true.  We could live a simpler, slower paced life.  We could spend time doing things we love and we could spend time with our family.

But all those things come at a cost.  You have to say no to a whole lot to make it happen.  But aren't our dreams and our true priorities worth it? 

I think mine are and that is why I have learned the art of saying "no".  To be completely honest, I don't do a lot.  And because of it I am able to do so much more.