Building a Life of Your Own Design
story·@ericvancewalton·
0.000 HBDBuilding a Life of Your Own Design
My wife and I have been deliberately downsizing our possessions since selling our craftsman-style bungalow in 2015 and moving into a smaller living space. Marie Kondo’s book, [The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up](http://www.tidyingup.com/books/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-hc) has helped us tremendously in this effort. We recently watched a wonderful documentary called, [Minimalism]( http://minimalismfilm.com/) that only further fueled our fire. Our goal is to minimize our possessions (and our budget) so we can afford to live a life of more personal freedom while we’re still young enough to travel. It's not all about shedding possessions but getting rid of the right ones. One thing that author Marie Kondo stresses time and time again in her book is each item you own should spark some kind of joy in you. This concept alone makes you reevaluate your relationship with your “stuff”. Determining what brings you joy is a litmus test to make it easier to decide what adds true value to your life and what you can live without. Lately, I’m noticing there is growing list of Steemit memorabilia that I’ve decided to hang onto as a memento of the incredible experience I've had here. There are, of course, the pictures on my phone from SteemFest that I’ve saved. I’ve also kept the wristband in my passport wallet, my Steemit scarf and t-shirt, and then there’s this… <center>  </center> I was thrilled when a box recently arrived in the mail from Newport Beach, California. I’ve been “patiently” waiting for this because the moment I saw it I knew that it would spark joy for years to come. <center>  </center> To add to my growing list of SteemFest memorabilia, this is the newest piece.. A [SteemFest Commemorative Print](https://www.peerhub.com/items/7311-steemfest-commemorative-print) created by @fairytalelife. Mine is number 20 out of the print-run of 100. <center>  </center> The detail and quality are amazing, the pictures really don't do it justice. <center>  </center> Each time I look at this print I’m reminded of the possibilities, the excitement, the friendships, and fun that we all experienced during that weekend in Amsterdam. I can’t wait to find just the right frame for this print but for now it’s resting on a shelf where I can see it as a reminder that all things are possible. <center>  </center> SteemFest and my time on this platform in general have taught me that we don’t have to live lives of quiet desperation. We don't have to work at jobs that we don’t enjoy and don’t add value to our lives. We don’t have to share our time with people who bring us negativity. Our only true limits are the ones we impose on ourselves. I’m discovering in my middle years that life is much shorter than I thought it was when I was younger. So much of what happens in this world is beyond our control. Unfortunately, in this world we live in, it’s impossible to separate life’s fragility from its beauty. One thing that is well within our control are our choices. We can strive to live a meaningful life of our own conscious design -- this effort is truly more of a path than it is a destination. Life is so much better when we surround ourselves with people and things that ignite a spark of inner joy. This is what brought me to this platform and I'll stay as long as I feel it. I am certain I'll spend the rest of my days continuing to build a life of my own conscious design, one choice (and one post) at a time, there is no other way. --- **For those of you who are interested, there are still some of these prints left. They can be found at the following link on Peerhub – [SteemFest Commemorative Print]( https://www.peerhub.com/items/7311-steemfest-commemorative-print).** --- *I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and Steemit enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work, my handmade poetry chapbook, [Emancipation](https://www.peerhub.com/items/7405-emancipation---handmade-poetry-chapbook), is for sale on Peerhub for a limited time.* <center>  </center> # <center> Eric Vance Walton ~ Media </center> # <center> [www.ericvancewalton.net](http://www.ericvancewalton.net) </center> <center> [Steemit](https://steemit.com/@ericvancewalton) </center> <center> [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ericvancewalton) </center> <center> [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/EricVanceWaltonAuthor/) </center>
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