LIfestyle Design - Balanced, Clean, Calm, Natural... - The Four Basics of Balanced Living

When my daughter was 8, she asked me why there was a birdhouse on my business card. I told her that it represented how simple life can really be. By creating Campfires and embracing the Four Basics of Balanced Living, living well comes naturally. When you stop and think about it, what really is a birdhouse?

- a sheltered place to
rest,

- a place for belongings,

- an entrance (and exit),

- a view to the outside,

- a place to sit,

- and a comfortable place
for visitors.

For me, this birdhouse is a campfire, a center of positive energy that encourages meaningful experiences. If we take focus a bit of time and thought in the right direction, we can create the experiences of life, instead of the appearance of life.

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The 4 Basics of a More Balanced Lifestyle

“We shape our dwellings, and afterwards, our dwellings shape us.”

- Sir Winston Churchill

There are 4 Basics that go into creating Campfires, centers of energy that draw you in for positive experiences. Each has the power to re-energize life and make balanced living within easy reach.

1. Discovering Your Treasures - What Really Matters

Some favorite family photographs of special moments.
A pair of Adirondack chairs that echo childhood memories.
Some stones and shells gathered from shorelines.

For some, these might be treasures, for others mere objects. Discover what feeds your soul - as well as what creates a burden. Each person’s passions, interest and tastes are personal and ever-changing. There is no right or wrong. The key is to become more aware of your /treasures so they can play a greater role in day-to-day living.

2. Making Your Treasures Talk

Those same favorite photographs on a digital picture frame or computer screen saver.
An avid reader might have a cozy armchair by a window with a lamp and some books nearby.
A grouping of mementos that recalls and illustrious career.

Give a voice to your treasures by intentionally making them a key player in your physical surroundings and daily routines. When they become part of Campfires, their message becomes a vital part of the dialogue of each day.

3. Creating Pathways for Ease

For the busy family, a dinner table that is ready for an evening meal.
For the nature-lover, a bedroom with a doorway to the outdoors, instead of just a window.
For anyone, a walkway to the front door with pathway lights or plantings to lead the way.

By creating fluid transitions through your life and surroundings, the stresses of living are reduced. With the focus on function, the layout of a room, and details like the location of your placemats and napkins or phone and i-pod charging area, can create easier access to what matters.

4. Making Room for Nature

A vase of flowers on a desktop or by a bathroom sink.
A bowl of fresh fruit on a kitchen counter.
A room with windows open w-i-d-e to fresh air and outdoor influences.

In today’s technology-laden times, it is critical to give nature a prominent role in daily life. From natural light, flowers and plants to textures, sounds and breezes, nature can rejuvenate and energize. Something as simple as a flower in a vase can make all the difference.

With these 4 Basics you can empower yourself to infuse your home with well-being, comfort and community.

For more on Lifestyle Design Campfires, go to the Campfires page