The Swell Living Rule of Life: How to Build a Joyful, Simple Life You Love

The Swell Living Rule of Life: How to Build a Joyful, Simple Life You Love

✨ The Swell Living Rule of Life: How to Build a Joyful, Simple Life You Love

by Genika “GG” Simon — Miss Thriftwoman

Hey there, friend — I’m Genika “GG” Simon, also known as Miss Thriftwoman.
Artist. Writer. Speaker. Host. Homemaker. Shopkeep. Wellness Leader. Mental Health Thriver.

That’s a mouthful, I know — but honestly, I’ve lived a few lifetimes in one.

I’ve known seasons of having everything and seasons of having to rebuild from nothing but faith, duct tape, and determination. And through it all — the highs, lows, therapy sessions, and thrift store finds — I learned something sacred:

✨ Our home, style, mental health, holistic wellness, and community are the cornerstones of healing and thriving.

That’s what I call Swell Living — and it’s more than a cute phrase. It’s my Rule of Life.

💛 What Is the “Swell Living Rule of Life”?

The Swell Living Rule of Life is my wholehearted belief that we heal best when we live with rhythm, purpose, humor, and hope.

It’s not a strict set of rules — more like a gentle compass. It guides how I build my days, decorate my home, nurture my mind, and connect with others.

It’s about:

  • Creating a home that feels like peace, not pressure.

  • Dressing in a way that lifts your spirit, not your anxiety.

  • Tending your mental health like a garden, not a project.

  • Nourishing your body with food, rest, and movement — not guilt.

  • Building community rooted in grace, laughter, and realness.

You don’t have to be perfect to live well — you just have to be present.

🕊 The 5 Pillars of Swell Living

Over time, I’ve come to see that Swell Living has five main pillars — my anchors for a grounded, meaningful life.

1. Home: The Heartbeat of Healing

Your home doesn’t have to look like Pinterest to feel holy. Whether you live in a cottage, apartment, or camper van, your home can be a sanctuary.

Tidy a corner, light a candle, simmer a pot of orange peels and cinnamon — and suddenly, the air shifts. Home is where you practice peace.

2. Style: The Art of Showing Up as Yourself

Forget trends. Real style is how your soul says, “Hi, I’m here.”

It’s wearing your grandmother’s apron while baking banana bread, or rocking thrifted jeans and lipstick because it makes you feel alive.

Style, to me, is storytelling — and every outfit, room, or table setting tells the truth about who you are and how far you’ve come.

3. Mental Health: The Courage to Keep Blooming

Let’s be real — life is not all chamomile tea and sunshine.
I’ve faced depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief. And I learned that healing isn’t linear — it’s cyclical, like seasons.

There are winters where rest is the bravest thing you can do.
And there are springs when you start to bloom again, even if your petals are a little lopsided.

Swell Living means honoring your mental health with compassion — therapy, journaling, prayer, laughter, and naps all count as sacred work.

4. Holistic Wellness: Living Well in Every Sense

I’m not a kale preacher. I believe in wellness that includes both kombucha and cake.

Holistic wellness is simple: tending to your body, mind, and spirit with curiosity, not control.
That means stretching, sipping, sleeping, and smiling more — not chasing perfection, but finding balance.

5. Community: The Sisterhood of Shared Strength

We’re not meant to do this alone. Healing happens in community — in shared laughter, potluck dinners, group walks, and honest conversations.

That’s why I built Swell Living and Swell Acres — a place where women can gather, grow, and glow together. Through my shop, events, classes, and retreats, I want women to rediscover joy, creativity, and confidence in their own rhythm.

Because when women heal, families heal. And when families heal, communities thrive.

🌸 The Swell Life in Practice

Swell Living isn’t about overhauling your life. It’s about infusing your everyday with intention and delight.

It’s hanging laundry on the line and feeling the sun on your face.
It’s lighting a candle before dinner just because you deserve ambience.
It’s sitting with your coffee and saying, “Thank you, Lord, for this new day — and this new chance.”

It’s finding your groove, flow, and what I call your Swell Niche — that sweet spot where your routines, rhythms, and recovery align to support your well-being and purpose.

💌 Why I’m Sharing This

Because I know what it’s like to feel broken, burnt out, and unsure where to begin again.
And I know the joy of rebuilding — with humor, grace, and a little thrifted flair.

Through my blog, books, printables, courses, videos, and speaking, I share my real journey — the mess and the magic — to remind other women that it’s never too late to rise again.

Whether you visit my shop, join a class, read Swell News, or come to a retreat, I want you to leave feeling refreshed, inspired, and worthy of the beautiful life God’s given you.

☕ Final Thought: Your Rule of Life

You don’t have to follow mine — but I encourage you to write your own.
Ask yourself:

What values do I want my life to flow from?
What rhythms help me feel alive and peaceful?
How can I build a life that supports who I’m becoming?

Write it down. Frame it. Live it.
Because a gentle, joyful, purpose-filled life isn’t a fantasy — it’s possible.
And it starts right where you are, with what you already have.

Welcome to Swell Living.
Welcome home. 🌿

 

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