Thank you so much for watching!!! Here are a few links mentioned in the video! My T-Shirt: cli.re/40-T Donate to Dorothy's Ministry: www.mncfreshstart.org/ Video on Motivation Myth: ruclips.net/video/c4n1BOmvlC0/видео.html I continue to be SO grateful for you, thank you for ALL of your love and support!!! - Dawn
I would sing Happy Birthday to the two of you but I don't want you to get sick or anything (it would NOT be a pretty sound) so I will just tell you - - Happy Birthday to Dawn and Diana!!
First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN AND DIANN!🎂🎉🎶 At 75, I wake up everyday and say, thank you God for this day. When I was in my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s life as a single parent, supporting my family alone, was difficult, but I always was grateful for every day. I would always say, God will take care of me. He always did. When I was 50, my youngest daughter passed away leaving me with another baby to raise. I was a single working mom for 50 years. God took care of me everyday. We never starved, we always had a roof, we entertained ourselves. We were happy. The words of wisdom that I always lived by are, don’t worry, God will take care of me.
@@catherineross7776 Yes, but the opposite sentiment holds true here: God helps those who help themselves. Linda didn’t just pray, she worked at it. Her attitude of gratitude helped her get through the tough times, but she did her part! ❤❤
You’ve lived a terrible life but thats what you get when you reproduce thoughtlessly. There’s nothing left for you to do except cope and seethe at how you ruined your life.
God has blessed you because of your trust!! He is so good. When I had my first child, my husband and I trusted God to help us when I quit to be an at home mom. He has been with us every step of the way. Been 30 years this year since we took that step. God has been so fatihful! It hasn't always been easy, but we've gone through it through His grace.
Back in college, I was going through a particular health issue. I didn't realize it, but I was treating my friends poorly because I was so emotionally raw. One of my friends pulled me aside and said, "I know you don't have control over your health right now, but you can always control how your treat people." That little sentence was and still is a game changer.
We ALWAYS have control over our health. The body is self-healing. It is a genius, it always knows what to do. We simply have to give it the nutrients and rest it needs, and eliminate toxic food, unnecessary drugs, and unhealthy emotional situations (toxic relationships or work environments)…and it heals on its own. That people have been conditioned to believe the “chronic illness” lie, or “defective genes”…etc is a tragedy.
@@TheSwissChalet - i’m not even sure where to start with your comment. Who is the last loved one in your immediate family who died - your parent, sibling, child? Does it make you feel better to blame that person for their own death? There are diseases that will kill you, no matter how healthily you eat and treat your body. By your estimation, people can live forever?
In our family, we say ‘didn’t have any peanut butter’. Years ago, someone asked my husband’s grandmother why she wasn’t at church, and she replied “we were out of peanut butter”. The person was very confused and she explained that one excuse was as good as the next🤷♀️🤣
I have two things I often tell myself and my adult children. 1. You can't control the actions of others but your reactions/actions are 100% within your control. 2. If you want your life to change, then you must change your life. Both are simultaneously easy and hard.
Two more rules: do your best at whatever you’re doing. You don’t have to be perfect, but do your best. Number 2: be as kind & compassionate to yourself as you would be to your most precious friend
Dawn, we don't know each other but I am so very proud of you. I love your kindness, your passion for helping others, the way you encourage others to be kind, and of course, your insights on decluttering are always appreciated. Please tell your mom and dad that they did an absolutely incredible job in raising their children. They should be very, very proud. I hope you have a great day too! Take care!
Dawn, I am a work at home mom. I run a home daycare, and it gets very lonely here taking care of 7 toddlers by myself. Thank you for being the friend I can interact with during naptime while I eat my lunch. I've been pursuing minimalism for 7 years now and your videos are always so encouraging and inspiring! Happy birthday!
“This too shall pass” is a favorite saying of mine because it is so true. When I get stressed about an issue I try to remember whatever is happening now won’t be happening forever.
Most of the time when I get on RUclips, I end up feeling discouraged and discontent because of whatever I think that person has or is doing telling me to do. But when I watch your videos, I always feel so encouraged and grateful for what I have and hopeful for the future. Thank you for the content you make!
We tend to become the sum of the people we spend the most time with so… Spend time on the RUclips channels that are the change that you want to be. And this is a delightful channel.
This is beautiful. I was debating whether or not to go back to school to get my master’s degree in school counseling. It was a 3 year program. 3 years felt like an eternity. My friend said, “3 years will pass no matter if you do it or not.” She was right! I finished my program and I’ve been a school counselor for 2 years! 💜💜
This! Thank you for writing your comment-it’s inspiring and strengthens my resolve. I’m currently getting my masters in biblical counseling, taking one class at a time as it’s all my schedule can handle. I’ve been at this for two years. I just sat down with an advisor, and we mapped out the next three years. Three years! 😮 My pastors wife ridiculed me for this recently, which really made me stop and wonder if I should keep going. But, yes! I will. It’s the path God has put in front of me, and it has nothing to do with her. The time WILL pass and in “only” three years I will be glad I didn’t quit.
Same scenario for me about going to seminary knowing I'd be 50 when done. A Reader's Digest quote leapt out at me.... How old will you be if you don't?? Truly a God moment for me.... Thanks for your work, Dawn and Happy Birthday to you and Diann.
@@katiebellejohnson2688 I am reading your comment a year later and I pray you are still on your journey to get your degree! I love that you decided it was for you and even if you decided you needed a different path I hope it was because you were being true to you. May the words that pastors wife spoke over you fall away and be washed out of your mind and heart. May the Holy Spirits words be the only ones that really stick to your precious and awesome heart! And I hope that lady gets her own heart filled up so she can in turn fill up instead of tear down. Hugs to you from a year later and from afar.
I wanted to take the time to say thank you to you Dawn. One year ago I was a hot mess mum, overwhelmed and struggling with anxiety. I came upon your channel by chance and it just clicked in my brain, and I have been decluttering ever since. Feeling so much less anxious now and that there is a little bit of 'space' in my days. The surprising benefit of decluttering was I could suddenly see my kids behaviour eg. Dropping/leaving stuff everywhere, it didn't all get lost in the general mess, so I'm holding them a lot more accountable AND I am able to ask them to do a lot more as it's not too overwhelming. You've changed so much in our household Dawn, you are truly making a difference and I thank you 💕
0:35 If it were easy, everyone would do it. 2:34 The time will pass anyway. 3:25 To take more than you need is greed. 4:20 It’s probably not a secret or miracle product. 5:29 Real meaning comes from helping others. 7:43 Five minutes matters!! 8:46 Any excuse will do. 9:49 Seek nature when we need an escape (not social media). 10:38 Control what you can control. 11:05 Say THANK YOU whenever possible.
Thank you for your insight. As a project enthusiast and a procrastinator I frequently recall this saying: Genius begins great work, labor alone finishes it...
00 Happy 40th Birthday. My hubby & I are celebrating 40 years of marriage this November and one "rule for life" I've always relied on is "You'll always FIND what you LOOK FOR!" We all (spouses, kids, in-laws, friends) have strengths AND weaknesses. Train yourself to always try to find the good in others, the negatives are all too obvious. Hunt for hidden treasure in others, you may have to look deep at times, but you'll usually find it. Make it a habit, kind of like speaking gratitude out loud. I love that. Great post, Dawn! Thank you.
I find value in many of your "rules" & live by several of them. One that I heard early in my life came from my grandfather. He would always comment, "Well, you can't plan the weather." He would immediately head out in the rain for a day of fishing or whatever else he had planned. Several years ago, I traveled to Iceland and heard a similar comment that's used by lots of Scandinavians, "There's no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing."
“Excuse rather than accuse” has helped me at times to remember I don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors or inside someone’s head. It brings peace to give people the benefit of the doubt.
I remember a few years ago you shared the second quote " The time is going to pass anyway" in a video. Well it was that quote that I heard on your channel that helped me through finishing my undergrad at age 45 with 3 kids. I just kept saying that to myself through the very tough late nights and here I am with my degree :) So thank you so much for that wisdom!
Congratulations! That helped me go forward with nursing school in my mid twenties. I thought about how I want my life to be four years ahead. No regrets !
Happy Birthday! I enjoy your channel a lot and try to watch them all. Between you and Cas I have slowly started decluttering my parents' home. I moved in a while back to take care of my dad. Mom did everything (the man never wrote out a check and they were married 63 years when mom passed). He was lost and I was trying to do everything for him and keep my own house in order. I finally gave in to his pleas to move in. Well, the two-car garage was up the ceiling, and we were parking outside. We both park our cars in the garage now. All the kitchen drawers have been done and a couple of the closets. I need to go do those again. I have gotten rid of 4 racks of clothing in the basement, and tons of boxes- there is a lot more to do down there. I have bought a bunch of large PVC shelving units ion marketplace and gotten a lot of stuff organized and up off the floor. I tore out all the giant ugly bushes out front and planted butterfly bushes, azaleas and box bushes in large mulch beds. I am working on it. I have a veteran's pick up next week scheduled to donate more stuff. I am slowly chipping away at it. I am almost 67 with RA and fibro so every day, I do something in the right direction. Days I hurt they are small and others they are bigger. Thank you, your sister, Tom, and the kids for letting us into your life.
My dad always said "Never pass up an opportunity to be kind." That really stuck with me and I think it envelopes a number of the things that you mentioned. Happy Birthday!! Thanks for all that you do to help us, Dawn.
I'm completely and permanently disabled. I have a somewhat rare condition called disautonomia. It's where your autonomic system doesn't work properly and pretty much does what it wants when it wants (i.e. breathing, digestion, sleeping, heart rate, mobility, basically all bodily functions). I never know what each day, hour, or minute will bring so I just strap in and try to enjoy the ride and know that something else will happen soon enough. Life is an adventure and no one is guaranteed anything so you might as well enjoy it. And most importantly that EVERYONE has their OWN burdens and one's isn't greater than another's. We are all just trying to live and hopefully make the best of our own situations. Just be kind to others because you don't know or understand their burdens. God bless all of you and I hope that you find love and joy in your lives no matter how small it may seem!
I am so grateful for you! One of my mottos is something a wise woman once said “Don’t give up what you really want for what you want right now.” (I have lost 71 pounds)😊
Happy birthday, Dawn! You shared your “The time will pass anyway” quote in a video a couple of years ago, and I took that to heart and decided to get my Master’s…so here I am with the first in my family. Thank you for all that you do!!
I’m always telling my girls “Practice makes better!” I used to say practice makes perfect but honestly I can practice forever and still not get it perfect. Also in our house we go with “you can be right in what you say but wrong with how you say it”, a hug solves most world problems, and always smile at people that walk by because your smile could make their whole day.
A rule I learned from Celebrate Recovery --- When I am wrong I PROMPTLY admit it, apologize and ask for forgiveness. People aren't used to it and it has deepened a lot of my relationships.
"Stories are long" This helps me relax, breathe and remember that sometimes things in life take many years to come to a happier chapter. What I'm experiencing today is just one tiny part of a much, much larger story.
One rule that has helped me a lot lately is: it doesn't matter what people think but what God thinks, and another (as i have been feeling my age) : Take care of me, or I'll never be able to help another. Thanks for all you do. You don't preach, you share with a smile and a laugh, and that means everything!
When I started watching you during the pandemic, I thought the idea of anything being ‘life changing “ was a bit much. I now understand. Decluttering and being more mindful has made a big change. It has creeped into my whole life and made it better. Thanks for the motivation. I’m 74 and am happy to be helped by a 40 year old.
Happy birthday Dawn and Diana. I am a grateful and happy person by nature, I always say "thankyou, so much" to everything and everyone no matter how small the matter! How funny when I was told that I sounded "fake" when I say it, because it is ridiculous to thank everyone. It's such a shame the person that said it, is unhappy in their life. But my main moto that I live my life by and have taught my two daughters is - don't ever be jealous of anyone, no matter what. It is a poisonous and destructive emotion. Be happy for whatever people have or get in their lives. "Thank you so much to both of you for being in my life". Love from Jo in Australia xxxx
My father in law use to say "Life is a teamwork. Thank you for having me on your team!" whenever we feel guilty for asking about his help in different matter. I really love that. It can be used on neighbours, friends and collegues when they ask for help (and apologize for it) and it makes it a lot easier to ask for help oneself - without apologizing. Most people really want to help, just as you say in your video. It brings meaning and makes us a part of the community called human kind (both significations ;) ) .
Hi Dawn, this doesn’t have anything to do with Minimalism, but one of my many mantras with my kids when they were growing up and even still today as adults is, “A lie is worse than any truth you can possibly tell”. I wanted them to know that they could come to me with anything and we’d get through it together, but a lie just makes everything worse. And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! 🎂🎁🎊
I love the saying, "we tend to overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a year." Thanks for your channel, you are the only RUclipsr I watch with any regularity. Keep it up.
Dear Dawn, happy birthday from Germany! I've been watching your videos for years and I think it's great the love of life you present your life with. Just amazing! You are a great inspiration! Many Thanks. And with this video you gave me another idea - I'm taking care of an elderly aunt with dementia who has no children. She lives in an apartment that we own and I try to be with her 3-4 times a week. Also, I have three very, very nice ladies who take care of her, tidying up, talking to her, going for walks, singing, dancing… so that she still enjoys her life. And I will now write personal letters to these three and buy each of them beautiful flowers to thank them in the name of my lovely aunt who can’t do this of her own. You are so right - to be able to say thank you is a gift one should be grateful about. It makes everything so much brighter for myself and the others around. Thank you for this reminder! Please go on with these helpful films, dear Dawn!
Can I please add to rule 3, more than you need is greed. When I take advantage of sales, clearance or special offers and buy in bulk it never pays off. Typically my family’s portion control goes right out the window. Or, we become far more wasteful knowing we have plenty available to us on the cupboard or pantry already paid for. Instead of forgetting about the items like Dawn, it’s the opposite for us…. We’re greedy and flippant! And the savings I made vanish! These days I make a lot of effort to only buy what we need, and tell myself “the store/shop/supermarket IS my pantry, I don’t need to take it all home”. Thanks Dawn for another great video.
Brene brown taught me that everyone is doing the best they can. Whenever I am upset by someone or something I try to remind myself. Happy birthday dawn ❤ you are an awesome human!
Expressing our gratitude out loud in the moment is really important. My best friend got a terminal cancer diagnosis, and started receiving messages from everyone she knew about all the things they loved and appreciated about her. And while she was touched, she also said, "Why did they wait until I was dying to tell me?" Thereafter, when people asked her if there was anything they could do for her, my friend asked them to PLEASE go and tell their friends and family all of the things they loved about them NOW, and keep telling them. It was a lovely legacy for people to carry on in her memory.
"You will never regret making the right choice but will always regret making the wrong choice". This can be tailored to any choice, whether it be making a choice what to eat, choosing to let something go to bless someone else, to getting to your car and realizing you left something in your shopping cart that you didn't pay for - we face choices everyday and sometimes we do the right thing, while other times we blow it off and do the wrong thing. Almost 100% of the time I do the right thing if I say that to myself first.
My mom throughout the years always said, "Don't think about it, Just Do It!" And that has stuck with me to this day. When I think about doing a task, I don't want to do it. But if I just knuckle down and get it done it doesn't really take that long. Thank you for all the content; your tokens of wisdom have truly blessed me!
My mother's favorite quote (she even had it put on her checks!): "Every form of refuge has its price." It was a short way of saying that no solution is perfect, every one has pros and cons; you have to decide what you are willing to pay for and what you're willing to lose. One of my favorites is "No matter where you go, there you are."
One of my mottos that I’m trying to teach my students is “do hard things first” don’t wait, get it out of the way. Then you’ll be able to enjoy your free time and it will be like a reward that will train you not to procrastinate in the future
My dad always said, "Why worry... The time will pass & you'll realize you worried yourself for nothing". I Love that advice... I never worry now. Why, "Every thing comes to pass". 🥰
My mom's motto was "Well, it could be worse." So I try to live with that too. Another one I got from a counselor regarding worry: "Is it happening now? Then set that worry aside."
I got through my MLIS back in the 90's with the saying "If you can't do everything, at least do something." And Happy 40th Birthday! I felt so old on mine but not to worry I feel young again as I approach my 70th!
What springs to mind is : 'What does it matter in the light of eternity' was something my Mum used to say that helps put things into perspective - especially when things have gone wrong.
One of my big beliefs is that if you are thinking something positive (big or small) SAY IT!!! I practice this every day to family, friends and strangers and it is amazing the impact it has on people, not to mention how much it helps me!!! Happy birthday Dawn, you are amazing!
Happy belated birthday, Dawn! One of my favorite sayings, which my mom always used to say, is “Strike while the iron is hot!” This saying has helped me so much in my decluttering journey. If I feel like decluttering, I do it instead of doing something else I could more easily do. It keeps me going to finish a task, even if it’s only a portion of a larger task. In fact, it’s been behind my recent decluttering and organizing of 10 areas in my home - five drawers, two kitchen cabinets (one large and one small), two kitchen countertops and one fridge shelf. In the spirit of “Strike while the iron is hot!” I’m off to continue to deal with basement boxes from a move back home after a tour overseas as a Department of the Army civilian with my four children. Fortunately, one of my (adult) children gave me carte blanche to donate, recycle and discard her extra belongings! Thank you so much for being such an understanding woman and such a source of motivation.
Happy Birthday! I’m turning 40 this week, too! I just had a baby (my first, a boy) in July so it’s been a nice distraction. Finding your channel early this year has helped me a lot while nesting. So thanks! My favorite little bit of wisdom that I heard somewhere is, “Worrying is a misuse of your imagination”.
Thank you ever so much again and again dear Minimal Mom! You really are a beautiful Soul! Rule number 9 is my favorite as 'My attitude is gratitude' from waking up to going to sleep. I wish you and your family all the Blessings and even more success in inspiring the world!
Happy birthday! Thanks for sharing these. The rule that has recently resonated with me is “Be a servant, not a savior”. It reminds me not to always try to fix something for others when they are sharing an issue but instead to just be of service to them or be present with them. Being seen and validated is what we most crave.
"It's better to be patient than to be a patient." I can't count the number of times I've said this to my kids and myself. It puts things in perspective.
Dawn, I love you. You have helped me more than I can express. One of my favorite mottos was shared at a marriage enrichment retreat. It is, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
Years ago when our son started playing football, every time he made a mistake, he grabbed his helmet and down went his head, his shoulders slumping forward. He was so upset, he couldn’t even process what the coach was telling him. “Don’t be a helmet grabber” became a family mantra then. I even used it with my Kindergarten students when we were preparing a chapel presentation for the school. It means that when you make a mistake, don’t react with negative emotion and call attention to it. Instead pause and take a deep breath. Listen to your coach or teacher to learn what to do the next time. Life is not about perfection. It’s about learning and every mistake is an opportunity to learn!
Happy birthday to you and your sis!! 🎂🥳 Love your content. My mom was a stickler about always saying "please" & "thank you". She said it may actually get you farther than your money, your education, etc. I have found that to be the case in my 50+ years.
My motto is, “Every day is a new adventure!” That puts me in the mindset of thinking of any challenges a day brings forth as an adventure instead of something negative. As a mother of college-aged triplet girls, that has been my motto since they were babies. 😁 Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” So, when I am having an “adventure,” God shows me what to do! Happy 40th birthday, Dawn! May God richly bless you!
that helps me too. I now have many adventures - and the pleasant excitement of how it will happen, watching God & Christ in action in my life and others.
The time is going to pass anyway is a wonderful motto to go by when you are thinking about a career/life change and worrying about how long it will take to get re-skilled/to the new stage in life or established in that career. Someone earlier in my life also told me something similar - it was - you are going to be X age anyway (whatever age you are worried you'd be when you make the transition). And true enough I made a major career change from being a medical librarian to high-tech marketing in my 30s. So now I try to apply that motto to anything that I think is going to take "too long" to master.
I just sat down to listen to your 10 rules and then ended up going to get a pad of paper to write them down (total old school) and love them! The first one, "If it were easy, everyone would do it" , I made a card and taped to my bathroom mirror to spur on my goals for health. Thank you so much for being you and sooooo real! Love you!
I'm so grateful for your encouragement and practical wisdom. 🥰 One thing I try to remember is something I learned from Brené Brown (though I think she tells a story of who shared it with her and I have forgotten). When you have those moments that you are in a difficult conversation with someone - she says "Don't puff up. Don't shrink. Stand your sacred ground." It reminds me to center myself in my values and respond with openness and curiosity rather than fear or defensiveness or anger.
Happy Birthday to you and Diana! I just found you this summer. It’s taken me a while to get on board. I will turn 60 on Sunday, and I DO NOT want to go into my retirement years dreading the “overstock” of inventory in my home. Thank you for your constant encouragement and for continually finding ways to encourage and motivate us. I look for your posts everyday, and am working my way through all the previous posts. I can’t leave Tom out ! He is a true Workhorse! I’m always amazed at his willingness (most of the time), to take on new projects and adventures. You two are an amazing , unstoppable team. What a wonderful example y’all are setting for not only your own children, but for so many young couples in the world today. Marriage is Always a compromise, and you both seem to be willing to find a way to work it out. I pray the Lord blesses you more than you can imagine.❤️🙏🏻
I'm so grateful I found your site. My house is overwhelming my life and causing me so much stress. Thanks to you, I have started decluttering, and I'm actually feeling more at peace and hopeful for the future. My only regret is I didn't find you sooner. Bless you and your message.
Congratulations and many happy returns. My Dad’s piece of wisdom to me was “Honesty is not the best policy, it’s the only policy.” Thank you Dawn for your loving support and encouragement, your words of wisdom will stick with me ❤
After this really difficult week i needed to hear these Dawn. You have encouraged me in so many ways big and small. I always look forward to your videos. Its like having a big sister there to cheer me on!! ♡ one motto i love when i worked in the health dept was "make time for your wellness or you will be forced to make time time for your illness!" Its definitley encouraged me to enjoy things at a slower pace. Thank you for being a ray of sunshine and all that you do. I have been watching your channel for many years and decluttered so much of my house and still find things daily to let go of. My family says my house looks empty and i am okay with that. I am okay with an empty house that is full of love ❤️ God bless you this birthday my sweet friend and sister. May you continue to flourish and grow into the wonderful woman you are called to be. Thank you 😊
Dawn, you brighten my day every time I watch you. You are the friend I want to be to everyone. I LOVE that you tell us, “I love you” at the end of each video. This world needs more love. Thank you for being you! I wish we lived next door to each other! I’d totally bring you pumpkin spice lattes and make Bundt cakes with you. ❤
Thank you Dawn! my mom shared your videos with me and they are so helpful and motivating! I actually cleaned out and organized my kitchen junk drawer yesterday while watching one. You are awesome and adn inspiration!
Dawn, you are a blessing! I wish the very best birthday ever for you and Diana. I have a few quotes that mean a lot to me. "The price of anything is the amount of life we exchange for it" Henry David Thoreau. "We all have two lives. The second one starts when we realize we only have one." Tom Huddleston. "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy". Nightbirde on America's Got Talent (Jane Marczewski). May God continue to bless your journey. I am so grateful for you.
Happy birthday. Every day is a gift. As I grow older and lose loved ones (including ones younger than myself), I realize how true this is. I recall when I turned 40 asking my dad if he minded turning 40. He said no, but he kind of minded his kid turning 40 😂. Well, next year his kid (me) turns 60, and I am grateful to still have a healthy dad in his 80’s.
Happy birthday! I’ve been following you for about a year and while I always thought I was good at decluttering, things never felt quite “right” . Over the last year I have almost every room in my house “5 minutes from clean” as a mom of 5 kids ages 18, 15, 12,7 and 2 this has been a huge sanity saver. I realized there was another “layer” I was avoiding. Thank you for all you do. I look forward to your videos every week!
The mantra my therapist and I came up with is “nothing changes if nothing changes”. A decade later and I still live by it! I know I annoy my family with it when they just want to complain about things, but they’ve been complaining about the same things for years. You gotta do something!!
One of my favorites is if you have the ability to help someone then you need to do it. Sometimes people are put in our path for a reason. Thank you for all these ideas!
Dawn, I loved this video! I was a healthy energetic mom and wife who could get all the things done. Ten years ago I got very sick. I’m much better than I was which I am so thankful for but I’m now chronically ill. It has changed my life and it wasn’t my plan at all. But, God has been so very good and faithful! 😊 I love your advice of just 5 minutes because literally some days that’s all I can do. Usually I’m amazed at what I can tidy or get done in that time and sometimes I can keep going and get a closet cleaned out! It usually takes days but it gets done! I appreciate your thankful heart too! It reminds me to be thankful for all the many blessings and to have joy in my heart! I appreciate you! 💕-Joanna
Dawn, you look amazing!! Love your outfit and whole vibe in this video. Thank you for sharing what you’ve learned. Finding you (and Diana!) has changed my house and life. Thank you for all you share!❤️
Happy birthday dear girls!!! 40's are incredible and I pray you find enjoyment, fulfillment and divine health in this new decade. One thing that I live by... When decision making, I asking myself.. will I regret not doing this in 5 years from now? That has made a lot of difference for me. It's pushed me out of my comfort zone and really empowered me. And that actually started in my 40s. Thank you again for all the encouragement that you both give so lovingly. You both have brought me personally, not just motivation, but joy and some really rough days. Please know you make a difference. God bless you and happy birthday!
Dawn, a belated happy birthday 🎉 I know you will make your 40s a great decade. You're 10 rules to live by are timeless. I do have a a few decades on you so I would like to add number 11 "put it away when you're done with it" and #12 " always leave it better than you found it." Probably not so eloquent are a couple that I raise my own children with : shut up is for dogs (meaning we don't say shut up to each other), "no name calling," and "attack the problem not the person." Thanks to you, Tom and your Diana for always having content that can be shared with people of any age.
Happy Birthday!! So grateful I found you...or the algorithm put you in front of me!! One of my rules or mantras is "CELEBRATE the Victories no matter how small!" (because small victories add up and become BIG VICTORIES!)
Wow ! What wisdom you have at 40 years old ! You are on the right path toward shaping your life to help others! One thing I have learned is that the what seems like a small thing now can seem like a big thing later. I applaud you for cooking with Adeline. Some of my best memories of my mom are cooking with her in the kitchen . I didn’t know how precious it was at the time but it is huge now. You are wise to simply your life now for time with your beautiful family .❤
Love your channel and your cheery way of teaching what you've learned! Happy birthday! One thing I've learned over the years is to do things before you need to, as far ahead as you possibly can. Save money before you're broke, clean before someone shows up, workout and eat healthy before a doctor tells you to, do your taxes way before the deadline...etc. I set my deadlines as early as I can. I can't tell you how many times this has kept me out of chaos. I'd rather do the work early and have no (or minimum) stress than procrastinate and live on the edge. Then when I do make mistakes or something happens (and something always happens, let's face it) I'm still on time. This last year, this has carried me through some pretty large events (husband's cancer, new job, other job, general busyness including racing 100 miles) without life turning into the Lord of the Flies. It's had its challenges for sure, but I feel much better equipped to deal with them when I'm not racing from one overdue chore to the next.
I have a couple. My daddy told me repeatedly, “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” The key to this rule is understanding that it’s ALL small stuff! Finally, another rule (or philosophy) that I live by is understanding, no matter what the outcome is in any scenario, it’s ALWAYS “the perfect end result!” We choose how we look at our situations & it’s our own perspective that ultimately defines our emotional state. If I truly believe it’s ALWAYS the perfect end result, I will live life from a place of gratitude and positivity. It is 1000% better than the alternative!!! Happy birthday Dawn!!!
Thank you so much for watching!!! Here are a few links mentioned in the video! My T-Shirt: cli.re/40-T
Donate to Dorothy's Ministry: www.mncfreshstart.org/
Video on Motivation Myth: ruclips.net/video/c4n1BOmvlC0/видео.html
I continue to be SO grateful for you, thank you for ALL of your love and support!!! - Dawn
Dorothy project is amazing and touches deep my heart, amazing project in fact,
I would sing Happy Birthday to the two of you but I don't want you to get sick or anything (it would NOT be a pretty sound) so I will just tell you - - Happy Birthday to Dawn and Diana!!
Someone is spamming all of these comments and using your picture.
Which video mentions Dorothy’s ministry? I’ve watched many, but I must have missed that one! 😀
@@esthertuzicka7607 In fact, I notice it too, I receive weird message too
First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN AND DIANN!🎂🎉🎶 At 75, I wake up everyday and say, thank you God for this day. When I was in my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s life as a single parent, supporting my family alone, was difficult, but I always was grateful for every day. I would always say, God will take care of me. He always did. When I was 50, my youngest daughter passed away leaving me with another baby to raise. I was a single working mom for 50 years. God took care of me everyday. We never starved, we always had a roof, we entertained ourselves. We were happy. The words of wisdom that I always lived by are, don’t worry, God will take care of me.
Linda, I heard a similar phrase, "Let go and let God". 🌼
Amen🙏
@@catherineross7776 Yes, but the opposite sentiment holds true here: God helps those who help themselves. Linda didn’t just pray, she worked at it. Her attitude of gratitude helped her get through the tough times, but she did her part! ❤❤
You’ve lived a terrible life but thats what you get when you reproduce thoughtlessly. There’s nothing left for you to do except cope and seethe at how you ruined your life.
God has blessed you because of your trust!! He is so good. When I had my first child, my husband and I trusted God to help us when I quit to be an at home mom. He has been with us every step of the way. Been 30 years this year since we took that step. God has been so fatihful! It hasn't always been easy, but we've gone through it through His grace.
Back in college, I was going through a particular health issue. I didn't realize it, but I was treating my friends poorly because I was so emotionally raw. One of my friends pulled me aside and said, "I know you don't have control over your health right now, but you can always control how your treat people." That little sentence was and still is a game changer.
Thanks for sharing this. How true!
We ALWAYS have control over our health. The body is self-healing. It is a genius, it always knows what to do. We simply have to give it the nutrients and rest it needs, and eliminate toxic food, unnecessary drugs, and unhealthy emotional situations (toxic relationships or work environments)…and it heals on its own. That people have been conditioned to believe the “chronic illness” lie, or “defective genes”…etc is a tragedy.
That is a really good friend. And you are too that she could tell you that :)
"If you must be obsessed with something, be obsessed with how you treat other people."
@@TheSwissChalet - i’m not even sure where to start with your comment. Who is the last loved one in your immediate family who died - your parent, sibling, child? Does it make you feel better to blame that person for their own death? There are diseases that will kill you, no matter how healthily you eat and treat your body. By your estimation, people can live forever?
"When you feel overwhelmed, just do the next thing." That saying came from Elisabeth Elliott, and has helped me many times.
Elisabeth Elliott changed my life. She was amazingly wise!
@@beckyharris347 She was my radio mentor when I was a young mother. ❤️
My late mom used to tell me that
Oh, yeah, her missionary husband died in a plane crash. She took up his mission ministry.
In our family, we say ‘didn’t have any peanut butter’. Years ago, someone asked my husband’s grandmother why she wasn’t at church, and she replied “we were out of peanut butter”. The person was very confused and she explained that one excuse was as good as the next🤷♀️🤣
I have two things I often tell myself and my adult children. 1. You can't control the actions of others but your reactions/actions are 100% within your control. 2. If you want your life to change, then you must change your life. Both are simultaneously easy and hard.
Two more rules: do your best at whatever you’re doing. You don’t have to be perfect, but do your best. Number 2: be as kind & compassionate to yourself as you would be to your most precious friend
Gosh I really love your 2nd one. That resonated so much with me. I'm horribly hard on myself and that puts it into perspective.
Dawn, we don't know each other but I am so very proud of you. I love your kindness, your passion for helping others, the way you encourage others to be kind, and of course, your insights on decluttering are always appreciated. Please tell your mom and dad that they did an absolutely incredible job in raising their children. They should be very, very proud. I hope you have a great day too! Take care!
You're so kind, thank you so much Jessi!!!
100% well said!
Jessi Mandes ° DITTO!!! 🤍🤍🤍
Yes yes yes ❤
Wholeheartedly second this!!
Dawn, I am a work at home mom. I run a home daycare, and it gets very lonely here taking care of 7 toddlers by myself. Thank you for being the friend I can interact with during naptime while I eat my lunch. I've been pursuing minimalism for 7 years now and your videos are always so encouraging and inspiring! Happy birthday!
That must be so hard! Wish we were neighbours, I would pop by for coffee and a chat while they nap ❤️
@@martinascopes5274 that would be nice!
You are Saint! Running a home daycare is a heroism! Thank you for what you do! ❤🌻🌷
What you are doing for the littles is important. I hope you feel uplifted today!
One of my favorite mottos is “If you think you can or you can’t, you are right.”
I love that one too ‼️
“This too shall pass” is a favorite saying of mine because it is so true. When I get stressed about an issue I try to remember whatever is happening now won’t be happening forever.
Yes! So true! My mother once said that to me, and it has stuck!
“A body in motion stays in motion” - how I motivate myself to not sit down in the evening before doing some tidying. Thanks for sharing!
Yes!!!
Most of the time when I get on RUclips, I end up feeling discouraged and discontent because of whatever I think that person has or is doing telling me to do. But when I watch your videos, I always feel so encouraged and grateful for what I have and hopeful for the future. Thank you for the content you make!
Same!! 🤗🤗
Agree!!
I feel the same too! Thank you Dawn ❤
We tend to become the sum of the people we spend the most time with so… Spend time on the RUclips channels that are the change that you want to be. And this is a delightful channel.
Yes! I am so grateful for her gift for uplifting encouragement and positivity!❤
This is beautiful. I was debating whether or not to go back to school to get my master’s degree in school counseling. It was a 3 year program. 3 years felt like an eternity. My friend said, “3 years will pass no matter if you do it or not.” She was right! I finished my program and I’ve been a school counselor for 2 years! 💜💜
❤
Yes:)
This! Thank you for writing your comment-it’s inspiring and strengthens my resolve. I’m currently getting my masters in biblical counseling, taking one class at a time as it’s all my schedule can handle. I’ve been at this for two years. I just sat down with an advisor, and we mapped out the next three years. Three years! 😮 My pastors wife ridiculed me for this recently, which really made me stop and wonder if I should keep going. But, yes! I will. It’s the path God has put in front of me, and it has nothing to do with her. The time WILL pass and in “only” three years I will be glad I didn’t quit.
Same scenario for me about going to seminary knowing I'd be 50 when done. A Reader's Digest quote leapt out at me.... How old will you be if you don't??
Truly a God moment for me.... Thanks for your work, Dawn and Happy Birthday to you and Diann.
@@katiebellejohnson2688 I am reading your comment a year later and I pray you are still on your journey to get your degree! I love that you decided it was for you and even if you decided you needed a different path I hope it was because you were being true to you. May the words that pastors wife spoke over you fall away and be washed out of your mind and heart. May the Holy Spirits words be the only ones that really stick to your precious and awesome heart! And I hope that lady gets her own heart filled up so she can in turn fill up instead of tear down. Hugs to you from a year later and from afar.
I wanted to take the time to say thank you to you Dawn. One year ago I was a hot mess mum, overwhelmed and struggling with anxiety. I came upon your channel by chance and it just clicked in my brain, and I have been decluttering ever since. Feeling so much less anxious now and that there is a little bit of 'space' in my days. The surprising benefit of decluttering was I could suddenly see my kids behaviour eg. Dropping/leaving stuff everywhere, it didn't all get lost in the general mess, so I'm holding them a lot more accountable AND I am able to ask them to do a lot more as it's not too overwhelming. You've changed so much in our household Dawn, you are truly making a difference and I thank you 💕
0:35 If it were easy, everyone would do it.
2:34 The time will pass anyway.
3:25 To take more than you need is greed.
4:20 It’s probably not a secret or miracle product.
5:29 Real meaning comes from helping others.
7:43 Five minutes matters!!
8:46 Any excuse will do.
9:49 Seek nature when we need an escape (not social media).
10:38 Control what you can control.
11:05 Say THANK YOU whenever possible.
Thank you 😊
Two things I try to remember is "The best things in life aren't things" and "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything" 👍
"The best things in life aren't things!" SO true, but I've never heard that saying. I love it!
Thank you for your insight. As a project enthusiast and a procrastinator I frequently recall this saying:
Genius begins great work, labor alone finishes it...
I just heard this today and I thought it was very profound.
"Asking for help is a sign of strength"
00
Happy 40th Birthday. My hubby & I are celebrating 40 years of marriage this November and one "rule for life" I've always relied on is "You'll always FIND what you LOOK FOR!" We all (spouses, kids, in-laws, friends) have strengths AND weaknesses. Train yourself to always try to find the good in others, the negatives are all too obvious. Hunt for hidden treasure in others, you may have to look deep at times, but you'll usually find it. Make it a habit, kind of like speaking gratitude out loud. I love that. Great post, Dawn! Thank you.
this!!!!!!! Thank you for writing this.
I find value in many of your "rules" & live by several of them. One that I heard early in my life came from my grandfather. He would always comment, "Well, you can't plan the weather." He would immediately head out in the rain for a day of fishing or whatever else he had planned. Several years ago, I traveled to Iceland and heard a similar comment that's used by lots of Scandinavians, "There's no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing."
“Excuse rather than accuse” has helped me at times to remember I don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors or inside someone’s head. It brings peace to give people the benefit of the doubt.
I remember a few years ago you shared the second quote " The time is going to pass anyway" in a video. Well it was that quote that I heard on your channel that helped me through finishing my undergrad at age 45 with 3 kids. I just kept saying that to myself through the very tough late nights and here I am with my degree :) So thank you so much for that wisdom!
WOW Lauren!! This gave me goosebumps...I'm so proud of you!!!!!
Congrats, Lauren!
Congratulations!!!
Thank you!!
Congratulations! That helped me go forward with nursing school in my mid twenties. I thought about how I want my life to be four years ahead. No regrets !
Happy Birthday! I enjoy your channel a lot and try to watch them all. Between you and Cas I have slowly started decluttering my parents' home. I moved in a while back to take care of my dad. Mom did everything (the man never wrote out a check and they were married 63 years when mom passed). He was lost and I was trying to do everything for him and keep my own house in order. I finally gave in to his pleas to move in. Well, the two-car garage was up the ceiling, and we were parking outside. We both park our cars in the garage now. All the kitchen drawers have been done and a couple of the closets. I need to go do those again. I have gotten rid of 4 racks of clothing in the basement, and tons of boxes- there is a lot more to do down there. I have bought a bunch of large PVC shelving units ion marketplace and gotten a lot of stuff organized and up off the floor. I tore out all the giant ugly bushes out front and planted butterfly bushes, azaleas and box bushes in large mulch beds. I am working on it. I have a veteran's pick up next week scheduled to donate more stuff. I am slowly chipping away at it. I am almost 67 with RA and fibro so every day, I do something in the right direction. Days I hurt they are small and others they are bigger. Thank you, your sister, Tom, and the kids for letting us into your life.
My dad always said "Never pass up an opportunity to be kind." That really stuck with me and I think it envelopes a number of the things that you mentioned. Happy Birthday!! Thanks for all that you do to help us, Dawn.
I'm completely and permanently disabled. I have a somewhat rare condition called disautonomia. It's where your autonomic system doesn't work properly and pretty much does what it wants when it wants (i.e. breathing, digestion, sleeping, heart rate, mobility, basically all bodily functions). I never know what each day, hour, or minute will bring so I just strap in and try to enjoy the ride and know that something else will happen soon enough. Life is an adventure and no one is guaranteed anything so you might as well enjoy it. And most importantly that EVERYONE has their OWN burdens and one's isn't greater than another's. We are all just trying to live and hopefully make the best of our own situations. Just be kind to others because you don't know or understand their burdens. God bless all of you and I hope that you find love and joy in your lives no matter how small it may seem!
I am so grateful for you! One of my mottos is something a wise woman once said “Don’t give up what you really want for what you want right now.” (I have lost 71 pounds)😊
Happy birthday, Dawn! You shared your “The time will pass anyway” quote in a video a couple of years ago, and I took that to heart and decided to get my Master’s…so here I am with the first in my family. Thank you for all that you do!!
Woohoo!
Big congratulations!!!
Congratulations !!!! I am a middle aged person about to comlete my first BA degree.
“It’s easier to fix a small problem than a big problem”, meaning deal with an issue before grows into something gnarly.
My motto by Alice Morse Earle: Everyday may not be good but there is something good in every day
I’m always telling my girls “Practice makes better!” I used to say practice makes perfect but honestly I can practice forever and still not get it perfect. Also in our house we go with “you can be right in what you say but wrong with how you say it”, a hug solves most world problems, and always smile at people that walk by because your smile could make their whole day.
Love all of these. Especially the one about tone! I’ll repeat that to my kids tomorrow! Thanks! And, in our house, we say Practice make Progress.
Practice makes it habit. Habit makes it done.
so great, beautiful ! thank you for sharing.
A rule I learned from Celebrate Recovery --- When I am wrong I PROMPTLY admit it, apologize and ask for forgiveness. People aren't used to it and it has deepened a lot of my relationships.
Happy Birthday to Dawn and Diana!!!
Thank you for all that you do.
I'm a quilter, my favorite rule is Finished is better than perfect!
"Stories are long" This helps me relax, breathe and remember that sometimes things in life take many years to come to a happier chapter. What I'm experiencing today is just one tiny part of a much, much larger story.
One rule that has helped me a lot lately is: it doesn't matter what people think but what God thinks, and another (as i have been feeling my age) : Take care of me, or I'll never be able to help another. Thanks for all you do. You don't preach, you share with a smile and a laugh, and that means everything!
When I started watching you during the pandemic, I thought the idea of anything being ‘life changing “ was a bit much. I now understand. Decluttering and being more mindful has made a big change. It has creeped into my whole life and made it better. Thanks for the motivation. I’m 74 and am happy to be helped by a 40 year old.
Happy birthday Dawn and Diana. I am a grateful and happy person by nature, I always say "thankyou, so much" to everything and everyone no matter how small the matter! How funny when I was told that I sounded "fake" when I say it, because it is ridiculous to thank everyone. It's such a shame the person that said it, is unhappy in their life. But my main moto that I live my life by and have taught my two daughters is - don't ever be jealous of anyone, no matter what. It is a poisonous and destructive emotion. Be happy for whatever people have or get in their lives. "Thank you so much to both of you for being in my life". Love from Jo in Australia xxxx
My father in law use to say "Life is a teamwork. Thank you for having me on your team!" whenever we feel guilty for asking about his help in different matter. I really love that. It can be used on neighbours, friends and collegues when they ask for help (and apologize for it) and it makes it a lot easier to ask for help oneself - without apologizing. Most people really want to help, just as you say in your video. It brings meaning and makes us a part of the community called human kind (both significations ;) ) .
I love this, GREAT MESSAGE, great suggestions. Heartwarming way to connect and support with others. Vielen Dank !!!!
"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity."
My husband's rule for young people starting out. How true.
I have 5 friends watching you and changing their lives alongside me, I share you with anyone who will listen.
Hi Dawn, this doesn’t have anything to do with Minimalism, but one of my many mantras with my kids when they were growing up and even still today as adults is, “A lie is worse than any truth you can possibly tell”. I wanted them to know that they could come to me with anything and we’d get through it together, but a lie just makes everything worse. And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! 🎂🎁🎊
I love the saying, "we tend to overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a year." Thanks for your channel, you are the only RUclipsr I watch with any regularity. Keep it up.
Dear Dawn, happy birthday from Germany! I've been watching your videos for years and I think it's great the love of life you present your life with. Just amazing! You are a great inspiration! Many Thanks. And with this video you gave me another idea - I'm taking care of an elderly aunt with dementia who has no children. She lives in an apartment that we own and I try to be with her 3-4 times a week. Also, I have three very, very nice ladies who take care of her, tidying up, talking to her, going for walks, singing, dancing… so that she still enjoys her life. And I will now write personal letters to these three and buy each of them beautiful flowers to thank them in the name of my lovely aunt who can’t do this of her own. You are so right - to be able to say thank you is a gift one should be grateful about. It makes everything so much brighter for myself and the others around. Thank you for this reminder! Please go on with these helpful films, dear Dawn!
Can I please add to rule 3, more than you need is greed.
When I take advantage of sales, clearance or special offers and buy in bulk it never pays off. Typically my family’s portion control goes right out the window. Or, we become far more wasteful knowing we have plenty available to us on the cupboard or pantry already paid for. Instead of forgetting about the items like Dawn, it’s the opposite for us…. We’re greedy and flippant! And the savings I made vanish!
These days I make a lot of effort to only buy what we need, and tell myself “the store/shop/supermarket IS my pantry, I don’t need to take it all home”.
Thanks Dawn for another great video.
I love Joshua Becker's quote: " Not every possession is a belonging."
Brene brown taught me that everyone is doing the best they can. Whenever I am upset by someone or something I try to remind myself.
Happy birthday dawn ❤ you are an awesome human!
I loved her book on this topic. I think of it often
Expressing our gratitude out loud in the moment is really important. My best friend got a terminal cancer diagnosis, and started receiving messages from everyone she knew about all the things they loved and appreciated about her. And while she was touched, she also said, "Why did they wait until I was dying to tell me?" Thereafter, when people asked her if there was anything they could do for her, my friend asked them to PLEASE go and tell their friends and family all of the things they loved about them NOW, and keep telling them. It was a lovely legacy for people to carry on in her memory.
Great advice!
Love your hair in this one!
Happiest of birthdays to you and Diana!
Thank you Tanya!!!
Yes!!! Wavy hair is awesome!!!! It makes one feel more relaxed just looking at it. The tips were awesome and so necessary for today!
"You will never regret making the right choice but will always regret making the wrong choice".
This can be tailored to any choice, whether it be making a choice what to eat, choosing to let something go to bless someone else, to getting to your car and realizing you left something in your shopping cart that you didn't pay for - we face choices everyday and sometimes we do the right thing, while other times we blow it off and do the wrong thing.
Almost 100% of the time I do the right thing if I say that to myself first.
Activity creates opportunity - I say this to my kids often ❤
My mom throughout the years always said, "Don't think about it, Just Do It!" And that has stuck with me to this day. When I think about doing a task, I don't want to do it. But if I just knuckle down and get it done it doesn't really take that long. Thank you for all the content; your tokens of wisdom have truly blessed me!
My mother's favorite quote (she even had it put on her checks!): "Every form of refuge has its price." It was a short way of saying that no solution is perfect, every one has pros and cons; you have to decide what you are willing to pay for and what you're willing to lose. One of my favorites is "No matter where you go, there you are."
One of my mottos that I’m trying to teach my students is “do hard things first” don’t wait, get it out of the way. Then you’ll be able to enjoy your free time and it will be like a reward that will train you not to procrastinate in the future
My dad always said, "Why worry... The time will pass & you'll realize you worried yourself for nothing". I Love that advice... I never worry now. Why, "Every thing comes to pass". 🥰
My mom's motto was "Well, it could be worse." So I try to live with that too. Another one I got from a counselor regarding worry: "Is it happening now? Then set that worry aside."
Love your encouraging videos. Your smile is contagious. A mantra I just discovered and love is "Don't lose this moment searching for another".
I got through my MLIS back in the 90's with the saying "If you can't do everything, at least do something." And Happy 40th Birthday! I felt so old on mine but not to worry I feel young again as I approach my 70th!
My Aunt used to say "Don't borrow tomorrow's troubles" so I just try to get through today!
What springs to mind is :
'What does it matter in the light of eternity' was something my Mum used to say that helps put things into perspective - especially when things have gone wrong.
One of my big beliefs is that if you are thinking something positive (big or small) SAY IT!!! I practice this every day to family, friends and strangers and it is amazing the impact it has on people, not to mention how much it helps me!!! Happy birthday Dawn, you are amazing!
Happy belated birthday, Dawn! One of my favorite sayings, which my mom always used to say, is “Strike while the iron is hot!” This saying has helped me so much in my decluttering journey. If I feel like decluttering, I do it instead of doing something else I could more easily do. It keeps me going to finish a task, even if it’s only a portion of a larger task. In fact, it’s been behind my recent decluttering and organizing of 10 areas in my home - five drawers, two kitchen cabinets (one large and one small), two kitchen countertops and one fridge shelf. In the spirit of “Strike while the iron is hot!” I’m off to continue to deal with basement boxes from a move back home after a tour overseas as a Department of the Army civilian with my four children. Fortunately, one of my (adult) children gave me carte blanche to donate, recycle and discard her extra belongings! Thank you so much for being such an understanding woman and such a source of motivation.
Happy Birthday! I’m turning 40 this week, too! I just had a baby (my first, a boy) in July so it’s been a nice distraction. Finding your channel early this year has helped me a lot while nesting. So thanks! My favorite little bit of wisdom that I heard somewhere is, “Worrying is a misuse of your imagination”.
Congratulations!
That’s a really good quote
🎉 congratulations on your sweet new baby !
@@cynthiafisher9907 thank you!
@@Annjulah thank you!
We are living and teaching our children and grandchildren this lesson. A day in the service of others is a day well spent!
Thank you ever so much again and again dear Minimal Mom! You really are a beautiful Soul! Rule number 9 is my favorite as 'My attitude is gratitude' from waking up to going to sleep. I wish you and your family all the Blessings and even more success in inspiring the world!
Happy birthday! Thanks for sharing these. The rule that has recently resonated with me is “Be a servant, not a savior”. It reminds me not to always try to fix something for others when they are sharing an issue but instead to just be of service to them or be present with them. Being seen and validated is what we most crave.
I love this.
Happy birthday! This is one of my favorite quotes, "The perfect is the enemy of the good, so try to recognize the good when you've got it."
An attitude of gratitude. In each day we can find something to be grateful for! 😊
"It's better to be patient than to be a patient." I can't count the number of times I've said this to my kids and myself. It puts things in perspective.
Rule #8: I sat outside today, closed my eyes, and felt the wind. It was wonderful
Dawn, I love you. You have helped me more than I can express. One of my favorite mottos was shared at a marriage enrichment retreat. It is, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
My Dad always said that you will figure out how to get done whatever you NEED. My personal motto has become "Stubborn wins."
Years ago when our son started playing football, every time he made a mistake, he grabbed his helmet and down went his head, his shoulders slumping forward. He was so upset, he couldn’t even process what the coach was telling him. “Don’t be a helmet grabber” became a family mantra then. I even used it with my Kindergarten students when we were preparing a chapel presentation for the school. It means that when you make a mistake, don’t react with negative emotion and call attention to it. Instead pause and take a deep breath. Listen to your coach or teacher to learn what to do the next time. Life is not about perfection. It’s about learning and every mistake is an opportunity to learn!
Happy birthday to you and your sis!! 🎂🥳
Love your content.
My mom was a stickler about always saying "please" & "thank you". She said it may actually get you farther than your money, your education, etc. I have found that to be the case in my 50+ years.
My motto is, “Every day is a new adventure!” That puts me in the mindset of thinking of any challenges a day brings forth as an adventure instead of something negative. As a mother of college-aged triplet girls, that has been my motto since they were babies. 😁 Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” So, when I am having an “adventure,” God shows me what to do!
Happy 40th birthday, Dawn! May God richly bless you!
that helps me too. I now have many adventures - and the pleasant excitement of how it will happen, watching God & Christ in action in my life and others.
Happy Birthday Dawn and Diana!
The time is going to pass anyway is a wonderful motto to go by when you are thinking about a career/life change and worrying about how long it will take to get re-skilled/to the new stage in life or established in that career. Someone earlier in my life also told me something similar - it was - you are going to be X age anyway (whatever age you are worried you'd be when you make the transition). And true enough I made a major career change from being a medical librarian to high-tech marketing in my 30s. So now I try to apply that motto to anything that I think is going to take "too long" to master.
I just sat down to listen to your 10 rules and then ended up going to get a pad of paper to write them down (total old school) and love them! The first one, "If it were easy, everyone would do it" , I made a card and taped to my bathroom mirror to spur on my goals for health. Thank you so much for being you and sooooo real! Love you!
I'm so grateful for your encouragement and practical wisdom. 🥰
One thing I try to remember is something I learned from Brené Brown (though I think she tells a story of who shared it with her and I have forgotten).
When you have those moments that you are in a difficult conversation with someone - she says "Don't puff up. Don't shrink. Stand your sacred ground."
It reminds me to center myself in my values and respond with openness and curiosity rather than fear or defensiveness or anger.
I love this!😊
I love this too, such wisdom 💗
Happy Birthday to you and Diana! I just found you this summer. It’s taken me a while to get on board. I will turn 60 on Sunday, and I DO NOT want to go into my retirement years dreading the “overstock” of inventory in my home. Thank you for your constant encouragement and for continually finding ways to encourage and motivate us. I look for your posts everyday, and am working my way through all the previous posts. I can’t leave Tom out ! He is a true Workhorse! I’m always amazed at his willingness (most of the time), to take on new projects and adventures. You two are an amazing , unstoppable team. What a wonderful example y’all are setting for not only your own children, but for so many young couples in the world today. Marriage is Always a compromise, and you both seem to be willing to find a way to work it out.
I pray the Lord blesses you more than you can imagine.❤️🙏🏻
"There is no wisdom greater than kindness." Something Dawn knows well!❤
I'm so grateful I found your site. My house is overwhelming my life and causing me so much stress. Thanks to you, I have started decluttering, and I'm actually feeling more at peace and hopeful for the future. My only regret is I didn't find you sooner. Bless you and your message.
Congratulations and many happy returns.
My Dad’s piece of wisdom to me was “Honesty is not the best policy, it’s the only policy.”
Thank you Dawn for your loving support and encouragement, your words of wisdom will stick with me ❤
After this really difficult week i needed to hear these Dawn. You have encouraged me in so many ways big and small. I always look forward to your videos. Its like having a big sister there to cheer me on!! ♡
one motto i love when i worked in the health dept was "make time for your wellness or you will be forced to make time time for your illness!" Its definitley encouraged me to enjoy things at a slower pace.
Thank you for being a ray of sunshine and all that you do. I have been watching your channel for many years and decluttered so much of my house and still find things daily to let go of. My family says my house looks empty and i am okay with that. I am okay with an empty house that is full of love ❤️
God bless you this birthday my sweet friend and sister. May you continue to flourish and grow into the wonderful woman you are called to be. Thank you 😊
That is a GREAT motto!
Dawn, you brighten my day every time I watch you. You are the friend I want to be to everyone. I LOVE that you tell us, “I love you” at the end of each video. This world needs more love. Thank you for being you! I wish we lived next door to each other! I’d totally bring you pumpkin spice lattes and make Bundt cakes with you. ❤
Aww Sweet comment!! Ditto all!❤
Me too!
Thank you Dawn! my mom shared your videos with me and they are so helpful and motivating! I actually cleaned out and organized my kitchen junk drawer yesterday while watching one. You are awesome and adn inspiration!
As I was growing up, especially through my teen years, my mom told me " don't be afraid to be different."
Dawn, you are a blessing! I wish the very best birthday ever for you and Diana. I have a few quotes that mean a lot to me. "The price of anything is the amount of life we exchange for it" Henry David Thoreau. "We all have two lives. The second one starts when we realize we only have one." Tom Huddleston. "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy". Nightbirde on America's Got Talent (Jane Marczewski). May God continue to bless your journey. I am so grateful for you.
These are amazing quotes!
Happy birthday. Every day is a gift. As I grow older and lose loved ones (including ones younger than myself), I realize how true this is. I recall when I turned 40 asking my dad if he minded turning 40. He said no, but he kind of minded his kid turning 40 😂. Well, next year his kid (me) turns 60, and I am grateful to still have a healthy dad in his 80’s.
Happy birthday! I’ve been following you for about a year and while I always thought I was good at decluttering, things never felt quite “right” . Over the last year I have almost every room in my house “5 minutes from clean” as a mom of 5 kids ages 18, 15, 12,7 and 2 this has been a huge sanity saver. I realized there was another “layer” I was avoiding. Thank you for all you do. I look forward to your videos every week!
The mantra my therapist and I came up with is “nothing changes if nothing changes”. A decade later and I still live by it! I know I annoy my family with it when they just want to complain about things, but they’ve been complaining about the same things for years. You gotta do something!!
One of my favorites is if you have the ability to help someone then you need to do it. Sometimes people are put in our path for a reason. Thank you for all these ideas!
Dawn, I loved this video! I was a healthy energetic mom and wife who could get all the things done. Ten years ago I got very sick. I’m much better than I was which I am so thankful for but I’m now chronically ill. It has changed my life and it wasn’t my plan at all. But, God has been so very good and faithful! 😊 I love your advice of just 5 minutes because literally some days that’s all I can do. Usually I’m amazed at what I can tidy or get done in that time and sometimes I can keep going and get a closet cleaned out! It usually takes days but it gets done! I appreciate your thankful heart too! It reminds me to be thankful for all the many blessings and to have joy in my heart! I appreciate you! 💕-Joanna
Dawn, you look amazing!! Love your outfit and whole vibe in this video. Thank you for sharing what you’ve learned. Finding you (and Diana!) has changed my house and life. Thank you for all you share!❤️
Happy birthday dear girls!!! 40's are incredible and I pray you find enjoyment, fulfillment and divine health in this new decade. One thing that I live by... When decision making, I asking myself.. will I regret not doing this in 5 years from now? That has made a lot of difference for me. It's pushed me out of my comfort zone and really empowered me. And that actually started in my 40s. Thank you again for all the encouragement that you both give so lovingly. You both have brought me personally, not just motivation, but joy and some really rough days. Please know you make a difference. God bless you and happy birthday!
Dawn, a belated happy birthday 🎉 I know you will make your 40s a great decade. You're 10 rules to live by are timeless. I do have a a few decades on you so I would like to add number 11 "put it away when you're done with it" and #12 " always leave it better than you found it." Probably not so eloquent are a couple that I raise my own children with : shut up is for dogs (meaning we don't say shut up to each other), "no name calling," and "attack the problem not the person." Thanks to you, Tom and your Diana for always having content that can be shared with people of any age.
Happy Birthday!! So grateful I found you...or the algorithm put you in front of me!! One of my rules or mantras is "CELEBRATE the Victories no matter how small!" (because small victories add up and become BIG VICTORIES!)
Wow ! What wisdom you have at 40 years old ! You are on the right path toward shaping your life to help others! One thing I have learned is that the what seems like a small thing now can seem like a big thing later. I applaud you for cooking with Adeline. Some of my best memories of my mom are cooking with her in the kitchen . I didn’t know how precious it was at the time but it is huge now. You are wise to simply your life now for time with your beautiful family .❤
I love you Dawn. Such inner beauty. You can’t believe how much I have done in my home since I started watching you a few months ago.
This is SO awesome to hear Mary!!!
Love your channel and your cheery way of teaching what you've learned! Happy birthday! One thing I've learned over the years is to do things before you need to, as far ahead as you possibly can. Save money before you're broke, clean before someone shows up, workout and eat healthy before a doctor tells you to, do your taxes way before the deadline...etc. I set my deadlines as early as I can. I can't tell you how many times this has kept me out of chaos. I'd rather do the work early and have no (or minimum) stress than procrastinate and live on the edge. Then when I do make mistakes or something happens (and something always happens, let's face it) I'm still on time. This last year, this has carried me through some pretty large events (husband's cancer, new job, other job, general busyness including racing 100 miles) without life turning into the Lord of the Flies. It's had its challenges for sure, but I feel much better equipped to deal with them when I'm not racing from one overdue chore to the next.
I have a couple. My daddy told me repeatedly, “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” The key to this rule is understanding that it’s ALL small stuff! Finally, another rule (or philosophy) that I live by is understanding, no matter what the outcome is in any scenario, it’s ALWAYS “the perfect end result!” We choose how we look at our situations & it’s our own perspective that ultimately defines our emotional state. If I truly believe it’s ALWAYS the perfect end result, I will live life from a place of gratitude and positivity. It is 1000% better than the alternative!!! Happy birthday Dawn!!!