So, yeah. Maybe I’m crazy.

too much stuff

Why? Well, because I’m getting rid of almost all my stuff.

What? I’m liquidating nearly all my possessions.

Oh, that’s nice…wait, what?

Yup, it’s true. I’m getting rid of it all. For as far back as I can remember, I’ve had a lot of stuff. I find stuff. I collect stuff. I keep stuff. I hoard stuff. I can’t pack light because I always bring a lot of stuff. You get the picture.

So, why in the world would I get rid of everything? Well, there are a few reasons.

1. Peace of Mind – help myself, then help others

For over a year now, I have read about how my cousins (@RowdyKittens and @Loganenator) have been simplifying their lives. At first I didn’t know how anyone could do that and truly be happy. But over time, I started to see that it was the real deal. They were happy. They were enjoying life. They were helping others. And it really made me start to question my life and the decisions I made on a daily basis. They are also very giving people and I was able to experience that first hand when they made a way for me come to California last month. They truly live and give. That’s the kind of life I want to live. (You can read about their simplifying adventures at RowdyKittens.)

2. Refocus and Rediscover – back to the essentials

I have a wide variety of interests, so I have a wide variety of stuff. I love to read, so I have a ton of books. I love music, so I have a ton of gear…guitars, amps, recording stuff. I love computers and tech stuff, so I have a ton of old computers/gadgets laying around. I love photography, so I have a ton of camera gear around. The list goes on and on. Basically, all this leads to clutter and then makes me feel “pressured” to try to do everything…and of course that’s just not possible.  It kills my creativity. So, I want to get back to the essentials, refocus and rediscover my true passions and giftings.

3. Sacrifice and Humility – some things are just worth it

In the Bible, there is the story about a Rich Young Ruler (check out Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30). Basically this guy comes to Jesus to learn what others “rules” he need to follow to be a good religious person (gag me). Jesus goes through a few things and the Young guy says he has kept all the rules. So then Jesus gives him the biggest challenge, but also the greatest opportunity of a lifetime.  Jesus tells him to sell everything he had, give it to the poor and then follow him and become a disciple. What did the guy do? He walked away. Why? Because he had a lot of stuff and he valued that more then the opportunity he’d just been given. He didn’t want to sacrifice his stuff, or his status. Ouch. Honestly, I feel like I’ve been like this Rich Young Ruler for most of my life. Not giving up stuff for the greater good. And that is something I want to change. Starting now.

There is one more reason. Actually, I see this as more of a catalyst to do it now. I have an amazing opportunity to be a part of an 18 month training/missions program at my church. The only problem I’m facing right now? The program costs money ($2,250 to be exact – I need $750 by Sept 1st), and after almost 5 months of unemployment I have no savings left over. In fact, just paying my bills has been hard. Now…I tell you this not to complain, but to say I believe I’m supposed to be a part of the program and it’s more important then my “stuff.” So, I’m also selling things to raise money to pay for the program. Whatever it takes.

So, if you’re in the market for an awesome 25.5″ Samsung monitor/tv, looking for a Fender Blues Junior amp, a big baby Taylor guitar and many more things, I’m your girl. I’ll publish a complete list of things for sale soon. I want to help people out as well, so I’m willing to negotiate on pricing. If you need something I have, I want to get it to you. Also, if you’d like to donate, I have a PayPal donate button on the right side of the blog. Feel free to give to the cause.

One final note. There are a few things that I am keeping. Here’s the list. Computer, camera, phone, Bible, journal, pen, a bag,  bike, one guitar, one bass, a handful of books and a few clothes (edit: and my Jeep).

So, yeah. Maybe I’m crazy. But you only live once and I believe somethings are worth it.

I’m not a morning person. Not even by a long shot. 7:30am is early. Very early. Yet that’s when I received a phone call this morning.

I’ll admit it…at first I sent the unknown,  interrupter of my beauty sleep to voice mail. Even when they called back, I tried to do the same thing…except I accidentally pressed the wrong part of my iPhone screen and answered it. I could hear someone on the other end saying, “hello…helloooo…?” Oops. Then while trying to hang up real quick, I couldn’t quite comprehend what was going on. (Have I mentioned that I’m not a morning person…and am almost completely incoherent when I wake up?) So, while trying to sound wide awake, said “helllooo?”

From the other end came this cheery, loud morning wake up song. (Don’t ask me what it was…I totally can’t remember.) I struggled through the song and tried to figure out what was going on. Then finally the voice said something I could understand. “Aubrey, get up…I have an amazing opportunity for you.” (one eye opens up) “Do you want to come to Curb Studio in Nashville and shoot some photos.” (other eye opens up) “So-and-so (famous music producer) should be there and we’ll also introduce you to so-and-so (famous) and so-and-so (super famous).” By now I’m sitting up in bed. I didn’t need to hear anything else. “I’ll be there!”

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that although living in Nashville for almost 2 years, I don’t know my way around music row. I passed the recording studio 4 times before finally getting in touch with the beauty sleep interrupter and getting directions. Once inside…I was like a kid in a candy store. Eyes and mouth wide open. Pure awesomeness! (Have I mentioned that I’m a musician too?) The music equiptment was amazing and the recording equiptment was straight out of my dreams. I think I might have even drooled a little bit.

Everyone there was super nice. I find that I’m always more creative when I feel comfortable in an environment. They sure provided that. The only problem? I realized very quickly the limitations of the equiptment I have. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great camera, but I learned that recording studios can be dark. It’s hard to take pictures in the dark with no flash. Especially when the subjects are moving around really fast. So…I didn’t get very many good, usable pictures today. Thankfully, I have a few more days to research and find the best way of making due with what I have. Awesome!

As I think back over the day, I can’t help but laugh. When I went to bed last night (ok, it was this morning at 3:30am), I had nothing on my schedule. I was going to sleep in late and enjoy a day of nothing. The phone call came first. Then someone twittered me about lunch. Next came an email for a tea time talk. Followed by a text asking about dinner. And finally an after dinner photo editing time with a friend.

What a day! But you know what? I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m so thankful and fortunate to have this amazing opportunity of life. Time for friends. Conversations with strangers. Crazy, busy “unscheduled” days. A chance to learn and grow…day by day. What can I say? This is awesome! Who knows what tomorrow may bring? Life is such a precious gift.

I had an amazing opportunity this weekend. I was interview by a LA Times reporter.

Now let me start about by saying…never in my WILDEST dreams did I think anything like that would happen to me. I mean, seriously. I’m just a small town Florida beach girl living in Tennessee. So, saying that I was shocked when she contacted me, is an understatement. I actually thought it was a joke. So naturally, I went online to check out her credentials. Sure enough, she was legit.

So…how did she find me? Through Twitter. Yup, that’s right. The very thing that so many of my friends (irl) make fun of me for. I am a passionate evangelist for Twitter, and now this only makes my case stronger. It’s a powerful networking tool. Period.

Ok, enough of all that. Why did she contact me? Well…she’s doing a story on people who are unemployed and making the most of it. In some of my tweets (Twitter “posts” for all you non-twitterers) I made reference to finally having time for  friends and family. Being free to have coffee and great conversations with friends. Learning new things. Instead of calling it unemployment, I called it “funemployment.” And that’s what caught her attention.

Funemployment

(Gotta say…thanks Natalie Dee for this image and idea)

While chatting with her, she told me I’m not alone in the many things that I am experiencing. Such as learning to live with less, feeling like I have more freedom, my health improving due to less stress and actually wanting to be intentional about helping those less fortunate then myself. Also, placing greater value on my relationships. My friends and family are way more important then a job.

More then anything, I felt the interview motivated me. It caused me to reflect on how my perspective has changed in this relatively short time (almost 2 months). What are my priorities? What do I want to do? What do I want to be known for? What can I do to help those around me? I can choose to be positive or negative. I can choose to see opportunity or failure. I can choose help or hurt. It’s my choice. My future is laid out…one choice at a time.

I have realized how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family (both immediate and extended -to me it’s all the same). I have a wonderful Church family. A big eye opener to me, has been my friends who I have met online. They have been there for me with words of encouragement, prayer and a listening ear. They take time to check in on me, even if it’s just a quick message. I don’t care what anyone says…online community can be more real then those we encounter in our daily lives. For that, I am truly thankful.

I’ll keep you all updated and let you know when the story runs.

Enough about me. What about you? What opportunities have you had lately?

Yesterday, I jumped in on a challenge issued by Josh White (twitter @joshuawhite )to take 100 pictures on my cell phone. I didn’t realize how hard it would be, but I had a ton of fun. The freedom to just take random pictures was amazing! Even though I didn’t make it to 100 pictures (only 50), I still feel like I accomplished something.

Here’s a little slide show of the results.

P.S. Make sure you check out Josh’s photography. The boy is stinkin amazing!

The Noticer

“Sometimes all a person needs is a little perspective”

I was excited when I received an email from Thomas Nelson promoting a new book by Andy Andrews called “The Noticer.” I was even more excited when I saw there was an opportunity for the first 300 bloggers to get a copy early to review. So of course, I responded immediately to sign up. I had heard many great things about Andy Andrews, but had never read any of his books for myself. Here was my chance.

The day before I received this book in the mail, I was laid off from my job. When I looked at the cover of the book it had the quote “Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.” At that time, I was in some serious need of perspective. Without delay, I open the cover and dove in.

The story is actually like many stories in one. It reveals the inner thoughts of a man struggling with being alone and homeless, a couple in a rocky marriage, a depressed salesman and many more. These people each have an encounter with a man named Jones. He’s an old drifter who claimed that his gift is “noticing” things that people often overlook.

Each chapter holds a new lesson and great insight. It was never clear if this is fiction or not, but it didn’t matter to me. It’s inspirational. The book made me question my current position in my life. Are there things I’m overlooking? What am I thankful for? How can I be a better person?

Here’s a quote from the first chapter that absolutely captivated me. “My contention is that you are right where you are supposed to be. This may look like barren sand to you, but nothing could be further from the truth. I say to you that as you lay your head down tonight, you are sleeping on fertile ground. Think, learn, pray, dream. For soon….you will become.”

I’ve read that some people think the author should have gone “deeper” with some of his points or even with character’s stories, but I don’t look at it that way. I believe this book is a great tool to cause you to be challenged and inspired all at the same time. This is a book I highly recommend to anyone. It’s an easy read at 156 pages. It’s worth a look.

April 6th, I was laid off.

I was the manager of a locally owned tea shop. The news was sudden. No warning. I was shocked. As I left the shop, my emotions went all over the place. I thank God for amazing friends and family who were there for me. They took the time to talk me through things and assure me that everything would be alright.

A few weeks before the news, I had a feeling that there was change coming. I didn’t know what kind of change only that I felt it. Now it all makes sense. You see, I’m a person that tends to resist major change. I want to cling to security…even if it makes me miserable. This characteristic, I believe, is what has held me back from pursuing my dreams. I’m a person who dreams big. I want to change the world. One person at a time. Helping those in need whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual need. I desire to travel the world, bring attention to needs within (and outside) of our country and raise support to eliminate the need.

Mother Teresa gave her life to helping others. She was an advocate for the poor and helpless. Her life was lived simply, yet she impacted the world. Material extravagance was something she did not know, but she did love extravagantly. Her life inspires me. One person can change the world. One person at a time.

Now, I don’t believe that I have to sell all my possesions and move to India to make a difference. I can start right where I’m at. Here in Nashville. Even though losing my job was not in my “plan,” I belive that I have been given a gift. The gift of time, freedom and clarity.

I don’t have everything figured out. I don’t know how I’m going to make money or pay bills. I don’t know how I’m going to travel or when. BUT…I have peace. I have a feeling that it will all be ok.

I have hope…and that is what I cling to.

Validation. We all want it. In one way or another we all seek to get it.

My question today is, what if we all started giving it?

To anyone and everyone we come into contact with? No discrimination. What would the world look like? How would our society change?

I first came across this video last week through twitter. Michael Hyatt posted this along with a great post he wrote. This is so inspirational that I just had to share. It’s 16 minutes long, but worth it.

Enjoy!