About Roger

My name is Roger and I welcome you to my blog – Mist in the Garden!

I am a writer of  fiction and non-fiction (technical manuals), owner of a computer courseware company,  and wedding officiant. I intend this blog to be a place do discuss things that are important to me – mainly simple, minimalist, deliberate living.

Almost 20 years ago, I embarked what I then called “My Quest for Self”.  I was working 70-80 hours a week in a high-stress corporate environment and pretty much hated what I was doing.  One day I thought, “there has to be more than this” and thus begin my journey for a simpler, more meaningful life.

Since then, I quit my job, started my own business (I work from home), written a couple of novels and tried to live a creative, productive, and authentic life – one where I follow my heart in pursuit of happiness while always being conscious and aware of the environment and people around me.

Goals of the Blog

At my last job, I was having a conversation with a coworker and had mentioned that at least once a week, I ride my bicycle to the lake front to watch the sunrise.  This was one of many conversations we have had about stopping to “smell the roses”.  On this particular occasion, she turned to me and said, “You really need to teach a class about life.  It would help so many people.”

Well, I never did end up teaching that class – I decided to start a blog instead, not only to talk about my writing projects but to share what I have learned throughout my life journey from personal experiences and from others.

This blog will be about more than voluntary simplicity and  de-cluttering  (although these topics will most certainly be discussed).   This blog is really about creativity, productivity, organization and entrepreneurship – things that can make us happy and fulfilled.   It is about achieving goals, staying healthy and keeping out of debt – basically, implementing positive habits and making the best life we possibly can.  But most importantly, it’s about stepping back from corporate culture and discovering what’s truly important.

Minimalism

Another one of the key focuses of this blog will be minimalism.  A friend once walked into my apartment, took a look around and exclaimed “You don’t have anything!”.  Well, it’s not like I don’t have anything – but in comparison to many other people, my living conditions are a tad sparse.  To me, minimalism is a lifestyle – a  way of moving through life without excess baggage and stepping back from consumer culture.  I try to only own things that add definite value to my life – and things that do not tie me down.  I have found throughout the years that the less crap I have lying around, the more I enjoy life.  Once I stepped back from the more, bigger, better mentality, it was then I felt that I truly started living.

So if you find yourself dissatisfied with the consumer culture and feel that there has to be more than shopping until you drop, you are not alone!

So what are my qualifications?

I do have a Master’s degree but it is in Foreign Language and Literature – not in marketing, finance, lifestyle design or politics.  I am not an expert, a psychologist, psychiatrist or a life coach.  I’m just a regular guy who has accomplished quite a bit over the past 50 years and who has learned a bit about a great many things.  But I am by no means perfect – I am a continuous work in progress; I mess up constantly but hopefully learn from my mistakes.

Hope you enjoy the journey with me!