Welcome to My Chosen Few

I’ve been mulling over this whole blogging “thing” for a while – there are a few blogs I follow/read regularly and I never cease to be impressed by the quality and variety of content. As a child and teenager I was an avid diary-writer, documenting my adolescent insecurities in green biro on pages and pages of steno pads. When I started to downsize my belongings a year or so ago, I came across a box of these spiral-bound notebooks, each page covered with my rounded scrawl. Re-reading these diaries did not bring me much joy; far from being inspired by my youthful ramblings, I laughed and I cringed at my entries about various crushes, arguments I’d had with friends and the inevitable drama associated with living in a blended family. However, I realized that I have always loved to write and I am thrilled to be beginning a new journey into the wonderful world of blogging.

I am a British citizen living and working in a small town in South Carolina. I originally came to SC on my gap year (year out between high school and university) and was surprised and delighted to fall in love with a charming southern gentleman. I had to go back to the UK for uni, but we kept up a very long-distance relationship for three years, eventually settling and marrying in SC a few months after my university graduation.

For the past couple of years I have been pursuing a new adventure: reading and ruminating more on the concepts of minimalism and intentional living. I am drawn to the idea of living a less consumption-driven life, instead focusing on the relationships that encourage and inspire me the most, and on the passions or pastimes that bring meaning and purpose to my life. I believe that we only have enough time and energy to maintain a small number of intimate relationships and a small number of passions, regardless of our level of extroversion and community involvement. I am intentionally seeking to slow down, to appreciate and invest in the relationships and the passions that matter the most to me, to rest more and be less “busy”. Because being “busy” is nothing but an excuse for failing to live up to a commitment.

I’ll be writing about “my chosen few” in a variety of areas: people who inspire me, mentors who shaped me, passions that I pursue, exercises I love, recipes that are simple, healthy and family friendly, favorite financial tips from experts, books that I return to again and again and leadership concepts that can be implemented at work, at home and in community groups.

My Chosen Few will not be your chosen few, but I hope to provide some inspiration for your life journey: I am frequently reminded that our lives on this Earth are short, but our legacy can have a much more lasting impact. Enjoy every day, and make every interaction intentional.

Much love,

Amy