All I Want for my Birthday is More
Are you confused? You didn’t send me a gift because you thought I wanted less? Don’t worry, you did the right thing. I don’t want more stuff. I don’t want gifts in pretty packages. My 42nd year was so brilliant and amazing and I want more of that. More brilliance, amazement, prayer, love, gratitude, laughter, collaboration, reveling, marveling and a few other things.
Today is the beginning of a brand new year and I want more …
Vitamin D
For the first time in my life, I work for myself and make my own schedule. I can find 20 minutes or more everyday to just be in the sunshine.
Whole foods
The farmer’s market will be starting soon in Salt Lake City and I want to support local farmers and linger over slow roasted tomatoes stuffed with garlic and olive oil, fresh bread and other lovely, local food.
Words
I want to write more. I want to write blog posts and books that help people change slowly and deliberately, and to make them feel loved and supported while they do it.
Creativity
I love creating new projects and helping others fuel their creativity by launching incredible blogs, projects and businesses and I want more of it. I want to share more photography. I just released the first image in my new photo collection, Legs & Lines. If you want to see more, subscribe here for future images delivered right to your inbox. Art can be deep and thoughtful, but this collection is designed for pure joy and smiling. For even more creative energy, I joined Instacamp, a virtual summer camp for camera phone photography.
Girl time
My local friends and I love each other but don’t spend much time together. It’s time ladies! Call me. My far away friends and I love each other too, but it’s been awhile since we talked. It’s time.
Mommy/Daughter time
A year from now, my daughter will graduate from high school and start her own big, beautiful life. I want time with her.
Date day/nights
I am married to the perfect man for me. I want to hike with him, travel with him and drink champagne on the beach with him. I want more days like this past weekend …
Less
Of course! I want more less. I am taking the 100 Thing Challenge. I read Dave Bruno’s book more than a year ago and have been thinking about taking the challenge ever since. I have my list almost complete and have been boxing up the straggling stuff that continues to make the decluttering cut. I am ready to live lighter than ever. I’ll be posting my list and rules next week so you can follow along, challenge my challenge, or just enjoy the ride. Note: I’ll be living within the parameters of Project 333 as well.
To enjoy more every year, owning less has been the answer. Mark and I have challenged ourselves to reduce our expenses by 50% or more over the next 5 years. You may think 5 years sounds like a long time, but it seems like I was 38 yesterday, and I’m 43 today. It was a full, delicious 5 years, but it was fast.
How can you live lighter? How can you live small so you can live big?
If simplicity is changing your life, imagine what it could do for your business.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to Be More with Less and connect with me on Twitter.
37 Responses to “All I Want for my Birthday is More”
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Happy birthday Courtney! Your birthday list is beautiful and inspiring. And the photos are wonderful! You live in a gorgeous place.
I love your goal to reduce your living expenses by 50% over the next five years. Kirk and I reduced our living expenses by about 40% over the past two years. Now it’s hard to remember what we were spending that 40% on for all those years.
Thanks Jenny. The first round of reducing expenses and paying off debt led to so many amazing things, that I can’t wait to get rid of even more!
Happy birthday, Courtney! The picture with your dog exudes so much joy!
Project 333 changed my life by helping me see that I could live better with less. Now I need to make my life lighter by culling projects and ideas so I feel less scattered. Channeling my focus to one or two projects rather than six or seven is bound to make my life better!
We are going to work on that!
Happy birthday. I am on my journey to minimalism too
It’s a wonderful journey. Let me know if I can help. xo
Happy birthday, and here’s to more.
Happy Birthday to the most inspiring person of the world. Thanks for everything. I wish you – may all your dreams come true
Happy Birthday Courtney! Wishing you many more years in good health and happiness. Thanks for all that you do.
Well happy birthday, Dear!! Thanks for your message. I’m looking at a birthday in 2 wks. trying to stay positive! This post helps! It will be a good year if I start thinking like this…
happy birthday! I didn’t realize you were in SLC. Just a little jaunt south of me. I am excited for our local farmers market to start as well. I’ve been on a mission to declutter our stuff including our diets, and your blog has really been an inspiration.
Happy Birthday Courtney! This is a wonderful list and I love the pictures. I am excited to see how you take on the 100 Thing Challenge. I look forward to the inspiration that this will provide for me to continue getting rid of the excess in my life.
Happy Birthday Courtney! I recently found your blog and I’m truly inspired. I am also a Dave Ramsey girl. I completed FPU at our church a year ago and it has changed our lives! Now I’m working on the clutter and it feels great!!! Now it’s time to complete your challenges. Thanks for the inspiration
I want so much to do the 100 thing challenge. I’ve started my list many times but I get overwhelmed when I realize how much stuff there is.
Recently my birthday too. All I want is more….
Great posts by Courtney!
Happy, happy Birthday Courtney! It’s great that we share a birthday week and birthday insights too. Mine was yesterday (http://awishcomeclear.com/blog/2012/06/breaking-news-your-birthday-is-a-big-deal-as-are-you/), and as I embark on this new year, I love your idea of wanting more of the things that give you life.
I also just finished reading the 100 Thing Challenge, and have started my list – I’ll look forward to your next post and accompaniment on that journey.
Blessings to you!
Happy Birthday, Courtney! That’s a terrific list of “Mores”, much like my own. Less is more (fun, enjoyment). Oh, less is less dusting too!
I am seriously working on clearing clutter.
Much love coming your way!
Hugs, Vidya
happy, happy birthday, courtney! i wish you more — and less. (the 100 thing challenge, hunh? wow, i’ll be so interested to hear how it goes.)
I turn 42 on June 10th this year!!! It was really fun to read your post. Your inspiring words and gentle evolution are comforting to read. You can forget what direction your compass is pointing a lot of the time. But, on your birthday it seems like an important time to check it and make sure you’re headed in the right direction. I enjoy reading your blog and maybe in some small but important ways it has made a difference in my everyday life. Happy Birthday – and thanks!
My birthday is June 10th also! Happy Birthday Amanda & Happy Birthday Courtney!!
Great list, I dream of getting my priorities this clarified.
Happy Birthday and thanks for writing this amazing blog!
Luce
Happy Birthday, Courtney! Looking forward to reading more about your 100 Thing Challenge.
I’m 38 years old. Yes, time does fly by. I’ve been in this path to minimalism for longer than I can remember without even knowing it!
I can’t wait to see where life takes me 5 years from now… Thank you for your inspiring words!
Happy Birthday Courtney! What great photos – I really enjoyed seeing them, but I’m a visual person so it really helps to make the picture whole when reading someones words.
(Your Birthday is one week ahead of mine – I’ve been asked what I want. I replied ‘nothing’)
Thanks to all of you for your kind words and wonderful birthday wishes. I love you.
I’ve been echoing your desires for a time now. I too want more creativity, to be more engaged, to feel more alive, and I know I can achieve this with less anger, less stress, and less substance abuse. This morning I took my first step in living with less. I’ve been stripping down continuously, but not in as dramatic a fashion as this morning. Thank you for your writing.
Love this list.
And Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! What an amazing and inspiring post. Loved every word of it. I have been getting rid of things for almost 2 months now and love the freedom of it. My family think that I am crazy but that is okay. I think husband is coming around to see I am nuts but it is a great nuts to be.
I got the book The 100 Thing Challenge last week at the library and I am loving it. Keep up the great work! Hugs, Bobbi Jo
Happy Birthday… and I so love your dog and how is leaning against you for an ear scratch… beautiful. Your words have given me a craving for slow roasted tomatoes… must go find some now!
HaPpY BiRtHdAy CoUrTnEy!!!
Happy Birthday!!!
I hope you have an amazing year!
As a fan of your blog I just wanted to let you know how wonderful that blog made me feel, I’m pleased and excited for you, for all the wonderful changes and joy that you’re experiencing!
Beautifully uplifting
Happy Birthday!x
Happy Birthday Courtney!
I LOVE that photo of you ad your dog!
You have been a great influencer for me over the last year. I so appreciate you.
Great list to want more of. Me too!
Happy belated birthday Courtney!
Many good wishes for a wonderful 43rd year!
Happy birthday!! I hope this year brings you everything you wished for and abundant happiness
Loving your beautiful blog, have been reading for a couple of years but this is my first comment
xx
I was at the beach for your birthday, so how about Happy Birthday month to you. I love the way you look at is another new beginning.
Looking forward to hearing more from you (slow deliberate change is just my speed).
Happy Birthday! Great post, I am going to follow your examples
It’s not my birthday, but I want more:
Sunshine (it was rainy in my homeland England!)
Mountain Exploring (I live in the French Alps)
Words – writing writing writing!
Parties in the woods and fun with my friends!
I am in the process of minimalising – my favourites tips would be:
Get a harddrive & laptop
Get a kindle
Digital camera
Smaller living space!
Katie. xxx