A Simple Life

 Life can so easily become a convoluted mess. We worry ourselves without end about everything from the dishes to be done to the growing discord in the world. We constantly occupy ourselves with dull forms of entertainment that simply distract us from our own anxieties. We find moments of bliss, but all too often we are rushed through as life's concerns push us forward.

I myself am as guilty as anyone in living an unnecessarily complicated life filled with worries and distractions. I feel the need to always be occupied by something, struggling to take moments of calm and reflection. I too easily compare myself to other people and feel the need to be more than I am. It is as if I have to prove to those around me that I really have value.

Maybe this is something that resonates with you. Maybe your life, like mine has become too complicated and you find yourself yearning for greater peace. I do not have a guaranteed solution to the challenges of life -- no one does -- but I have felt again and again that there is a better way to face those challenges. It can be best summarized in the statement 'A Simple Life.'

A lemon from my grandma's garden

A simple life is one in which we are content with that which we have been given. We express gratitude for the blessing of a family, friends, a roof over our head, or a strong body. We will always be lacking in something, but we must learn to not let that diminish the good things we do have. We learn that we do not need a large home, a new car, or the latest fashion trends to be happy. Through the practice of gratitude we become content with that which we have, as simple as it may be. 

A simple life is one that rejects hustle culture. Hustle culture is a trend in our society to work constantly in the pursuit of our goals. I am all for hard work, and in fact find it pivotal to our happiness, but hustle culture entails something more than hard work. It requires us to work more than we should, often neglecting time for relationships, relaxation, and the simple pleasures of life. Hustle culture encourages us to go, go, go. Sometimes, however, what we really need to do is slow, slow, slow. 

A flower from my grandma's garden

A simple life is one in which we understand our priorities and do not feel a need to prove ourselves to others. For myself, it would involve a focus on my relationships with God, family members, and friends. It would involve honest work, adequate rest, exercise, and service. These things would be most important to me and everything else would simply fall away. I would not live to prove to those around me that I am worthy of their attention or that I have value. My value would come from within and from my closest relationships. 

A simple life is one in which we take time to breathe and to be mindful. We may notice the simple beauties of a garden, the way the breeze feels on our skin, or the sound of birds in the morning. We take time to slow down and pay attention to both our surroundings and the things we are feeling on the inside. We no longer run away from our anxieties or feel the need to distract ourselves with lifeless forms of entertainment. We find ourselves content to be still and at peace. 

To summarize, a simple life will look different for everyone, but it will likely include some form of gratitude, acceptance, focus on relationships, slowing down, and mindfulness. These are things that I am going to try and apply in my life moving forward, as is my invitation to anyone who happens to be reading this.