Last year I began a journey that proved more difficult than I had imagined.  I wanted to step off of the consumerism highway.  I wanted to explore new and untraveled paths.  I wanted to reduce our footprint on this planet.  Alas, my journey was not successful.  And now, months later, I look around me and see that I am not happier.  If anything, I feel more bogged down, more cluttered, and more stressed than ever.

I am returning to the journey.  I am beginning again.  I am so tired of being weighed down by "stuff".  I am tired of my stuff owing me.  I am also returning to compacting.

But you know, I've actually been on the journey all along.  I'm not where I'd hoped to be by this time.  But I've learned and grown and now it is time to simply keep moving.  Return to the goals that I had, maybe form some new ones.  Make new friends, learn new things. Relax and continue to grow.

I'm committing myself to blog regularly.  That will help to keep me focused on where I am going.  I also commit to helping others who are on this journey with me, even if it is only with a supportive note or a helpful tip here and there.  I will not look down on those who are moving "too slowly" on this path.  Perhaps that is the biggest lesson of all from this time I've been absent from the blog.  I am not better or more enlightened than other people.  I need help and I need to help others.  We're all in this together.