Shhh. Can you hear that?
The lull of the crickets now that it’s evening. Their call is often relegated to background noise, but when all other noise ceases, it’s the call of the cricket that sounds most enticing.
Quiet. One sound. Solitary. Just.
I’ve never been a crowd-follower.
Don’t like the mentality that goes along with that. Maybe it comes from my mother always telling me to “think for yourself” when I was growing up. She always emphasized figuring things out using MY brain, not someone else’s.
Like when my kids were getting ready to make their First Communions, and we could choose to be a part of a group or they could go it alone, by coming to a Mass where there may or may not be a few other participants. Afterwards, I would hear from other mothers who once they found out I had gone the “loner” route, said they wished they had done the same. Because whoever was running the group-show, turned out to be obnoxiously full of themselves.
We all know people like that.
They want to take the bull (or the task) by the horns and shape it, bend it, mold it, into THEIR version of reality. It usually isn’t mine. 🙁
And, their actions only complicate MY life.
Doesn’t it seem as if EVERYTHING is this way? You can have your cake simple or overly-frosted. It’s your call. So, what’s it gonna be?
We ALL crave a simple life, I think.
We all dream of having that home unlike our friends, or the job that is the best-paying, most envied position anyone could want. Or, how about that luxury car or SUV? Vacations in the tropics? Season tickets to your favorite sporting events? Shopping in the mall every weekend? Signing your kids up for every after-school activity and then some?
I’ve got news for you.
NONE of those things are your ticket to the Simple Life.
Once upon a time maybe you did have a much simpler life. Perhaps you were on your own with only yourself to think about. Then you got married and there were the two of you. Then, along came baby #1. Then #2, and maybe more. Then a dog or cats.
You may have started out in a condo. Now, you’re thinking about that 5,000 square foot house development they’re building in town. You could afford it; or at least you think you can. And just think of what everyone will say!
Perhaps you didn’t mind tooling around town in that used clunker of a car you used to own. Now, you LEASE two high-end vehicles that have all the bells, whistles and On-Star loveliness that you can no longer live without. But, those monthly payments are a killer. Don’t they look so nice parked in the driveway, though?
Let’s begin by saying what the Simple Life is NOT.
You can be looking to simplify, and find it’s all so overwhelming. Now, how did THAT happen? So, here’s what the Simple Life is NOT.
It’s NOT cramming so many things into your life, there’s no more room for anything else.
It’s NOT being as noisy as possible; to make it “appear” as if you’ve got it all.
It’s NOT taking on every request, no matter if you don’t have the time for another.
It’s NOT making a victim out of yourself.
It’s NOT wasting time. It’s taking the time to do things well.
And yes, I know, how important you are. To your family, your spouse, your kids, your job, your pets, even. We are ALL important somewhere. We ALL fit in somewhere, doing something, for someone.
Only by this time, we’ve dragged along all of our past baggage with us. Everything we own or have, or can’t throw away. Everything we crave or think we do or can’t leave off. It comes with us, everyplace we go! Like it’s attached to us. To our ankle. Like a great big, heavy ball and chain.
That’s when it comes to us that this isn’t right!
This ISN’T the way it’s supposed to be.
This isn’t simple, this is VERY complicated!
You know, most people lead very chaotic lives. They crave being healthier, loving what they do, yet, they NEVER seem to find the elusive path. There are REAL ways to living a simple life.
You don’t need to do all of them. You don’t have to incorporate every one into your life right now. But, there are things to think about.
What direction is your life going in now? Do you want it there? Is it time for a turn in another direction? You can do one thing now, and one thing next week or next month. YOU are in charge of your life; you set the tone and the pace.
7 Fulfilling Steps to a Simpler Life
1-Just BE. You don’t need to give a reason for things you do. No one can do it all. Don’t even try. Sometimes, it’s just nice to go out and sit on your porch and DO NOTHING! Just BE.
2-What is Happiness To You? Deep down where all of your passions and desires live, you know what happiness means to you. It’s different for everyone, that’s the beauty of it. Let happiness call you by name. You’ll know it when you hear it!
3-DON’T Spend Money Today. Any money. For anything. That’s in a store and online, too! Some people will find this difficult, others may find it’s a welcome relief. Either way, don’t spend any money for just one day. You can do it!
4-Stop Trying to Please People. Just be YOU. You will never be all things to all people. Stop trying. There are people right now in your life, who you are not pleasing, and won’t please tomorrow, and haven’t pleased yet, so just let it go. They aren’t worth it! But you are!
5-If You Need Help, Ask For It! Sometimes, the hardest thing is to just ask. We all want to be SO independent, so in charge. Occasionally, things catch up with us, money runs short, life just happens. Don’t let it overwhelm you; it’s the only life you have. Ask for help.
6-Get Into Some Simplifying Tasks. For instance, start unsubscribing from emails. Stop subscribing to new ones. Don’t always believe that the next best thing is waiting around the corner for you, and it will only cost $17.00 today to have it. It’s a “come-on”. Don’t buy into everything. And while you’re at it, delete some emails that have been cluttering up your inbox for months. Are you really going to use them? Nah!
7-Start Organizing Your Life by Organizing Your Home. Now, I plan on devoting a LOT more time and posts to this very issue, but for now know that it is VERY achievable, and not hard at all. All you need to do right now is go to that junk drawer in your kitchen (and I know we ALL have a kitchen junk drawer) and clean it out. Take everything out of it and put back one quarter of the stuff. ONLY the things you will use is what goes in there. Throw away the rest. Don’t recycle it somewhere else, don’t save it in another drawer, just throw it away. It’s no good to anybody else and it’s no good to you, either.
And, for now, that is all. 🙂
But, to give you a REALLY good start click on over to Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul
Simple. Gratifying. Complete.
Get a little more organized every day, say “no” and mean it, slow your pace down, and stop thinking that MONEY will buy you happiness or give you the good life. It can, but it won’t be the only solution.
Be sure to go BACK to my homepage and scroll down to the bottom where you can enter your email address and receive my “100 Simple Ways to Enjoy Your Life!” completely FREE! As it should be.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci
It doesn’t say shiny cars, mega-mansions, or wads of money. Just simplicity. As in “clear-mindedness”. Which leads to a single-mindedness, that leads the way to a better life.
A simple life. The Simple Life.
Which will lead you to “homekeeping solutions for crafting your best life!”
