I’m doing something new today and I have made an episode for the whole family. So you don’t have to listen to this in your earbuds. You can push “play” while you’re riding in the car and listen because this is all about thanksgiving and how we can practice gratitude.

Melody Beattie said: 

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.”

That is what we’re talking about today.

This episode is all about my summer of less.

Do you know what I don’t talk about enough? My Contentment Challenge. It has become a regular part of my life every year now, but it continues to be one of the best things that I do. Today, I’m going to share eleven benefits that I experience every single time I do the contentment challenge and my unique approach to it this year.

Okay guys, get ready for part 2 of my conversation with Barbara. If you missed last week’s episode, you’re going to want to go back and listen to it. She is so full of wisdom, so gracious, she loves the Lord, and she’s teaching us all about how to maintain our homes, get rid of clutter, and set up systems in our life that will help us do the work that we’re meant to do and live the life we’re meant to live. Loved these conversations so much. Can’t wait for you to hear part 2!

Today's episode is so special! We have Barbara Hemphill chatting with us about how to manage all of the stuff and clutter in our lives. Guys, she has been doing this for over 40 years! She is THE pioneer to the decluttering industry. Before minimalism was a thing, she was out there helping people declutter their homes. She has so many systems and so much wisdom. I feel like I could talk to her for hours and never get tired of it. It's such a great conversation - so valuable and helpful. I plan to go back and re-listen to it and take notes. I'm so excited! It was so good that we're splitting it across two episodes so you'll get to hear from Barbara this week and next week. Get excited because it's a good one.

The longer I live, the more I realize our journey with our money and our finances is not a straight line. There are different seasons of our life, different incomes that we will have, different life experiences and family members will add to our family. Life is ever changing and so are our finances. So today's episode is all about 5 tools that I am using right now that have helped me to take a financial reset.

I'm back. It's 2024. I'm so excited to be here for my beloved State of the Podcast episode. I hope you enjoy listening to Work and Play with Nancy Ray episode 221.

Just a few months from now, in the start of 2023, that will mark 10 years since I did my first Contentment Challenge, where I give up shopping for three months straight to pursue a more content life and a closer walk with the Lord.

Everyone right now is telling us that we should be buying more, that we should have more, that we should be dressing in cuter clothes and decorating more perfectly. And today, I just want to be a voice that says: You don't.

Today, I'm going to share with you the value of doing this, the value of giving up something in your life that's easy and convenient and even good, to challenge yourself; and specifically the value of the Contentment Challenge this year and what I learned this time around.

My friend Reagan has a heart of gold—you'll see in our conversation, just how amazing she is. And the whole reason I interviewed her is because she took the Contentment Challenge to another level. She and her husband, Jeremy gave up shopping—get this—for the entire year of 2020 to pursue a greater life of contentment and eliminate debt. I think their story and how it all turned out is going to inspire you like crazy.