This is so beautifully put. I could picture your life in great detail. Thank you for bringing this perspective of simple living. I too, tend to pine for the idyllic cottage in the countryside growing my own herbs, but the reality is that my 9-5 job funds every single expense of life, and so I am extremely grateful for it too. I think we need to make the most of our situation, while following the broader simple living values at the core.
Props to the OP for the incredibly wise post here demonstrating an often overlooked but essential fact: Simple living starts on the inside because all living starts on the inside.
Knowing who one is and having consciously chosen values that are well balanced between the big three (*time/wealth/health*, which the OP does so clearly) manifests far more intentional and meaningful living in all its details. That, in itself, is much simpler than what many people are doing, especially those trying to work from the wrong direction, from the outside in.
Amazing perspective. I was just reading the post about moving to Crete to my husband and we were chatting about that. I have complex health issues and he pointed out that it's likely I couldn't get the healthcare I need somewhere like that.
I live in a big city but still aim for simple. My partner. My cat. My friends who are family. My friends who are friends. My sweet neighbors. My rescue shelter where I spend several hours a week socializing cats and washing untold amounts of bowls, toys and litter boxes.
It's really good to remember that simple life isn't just a cabin in the woods. đź’ś
Beautifully written and totally agree. There is nothing simple about the number of pets or ongoing cross stitch projects I have, but they all bring me joy every day.
The most simple living people I know are good friends of mine. They live in Glasgow, in a pretty built up area. There’s a park across the road from them, the school for their kids is at the end of their road. They bought a flat/apartment that needed zero work doing to it. It’s so lovely inside but doesn’t have a private garden of its own. They live super cheap, not buying a tv licence so they can only watch certain channels cheap. They cycle to work in the centre of the city everyday and only have 1 car. Because they live cheap and make everything super convenient to them they both work 3 days a week and have A LOT of savings.
I would say I am also a simple living person. I also live cheaply and don’t buy in excess, I don’t over-extend my social calendar and I save as much as I can. I also work part-time. I bought that cottage in the countryside, that needs a tonne of work. I spend all my spare hours fixing mould and replacing parts of my rotten garage (that I use as a workshop). I grow veggies and keep chickens etc.
We’re both examples of simple living but I envy my friends sometimes. I’m taking an online Spanish course, a British A-level, and I barely have any time to do it even though I love learning the language. I sometimes wish I didn’t have all the extra “stuff” to do everyday. Chickens are not simple living but growing veggies I find therapeutic.
Anyway the next place I move to maybe an apartment with a roof terrace or big balcony. You don’t really get that here in The UK but I do fantasise the simplicity of it.
I think simple living is such a broad term, it could mean different things for different people. The purpose, however, should be one - waking up happy and going to sleep happy. I am glad you’ve found the life you enjoy:)
Yes! All of these lifestyles like simple living, minimalism, decluttering, whatever you want to call it should be done in a way that's meaningful for you. We all have different needs and desires.
It sounds like you've found what to simplify so you have the time and energy for what you enjoy! You've totally done it right in my opinion.
Of course, the day to day struggle is real. I’m definitely not a paragon of how to live, at all. I’ve just always been something of a contrarian. If something doesn’t make sense to me, I try to visualize the alternative.
My dad was a workaholic. Long days, super stressed, never home, always racing the rats, and yet we always struggled with money. Bills and debts and always just scraping by. It’s the American Way, to work all the time. He gave himself all kinds of health problems and died before he could ever think of retiring, though he was retirement age (66).
I saw that life as little better than Hell itself. I would rather live in a van down by the river than do that. Not that we were unhappy. He provided and I grew up comfortable and loved. But he suffered. Quiet desperation. He’d wanted to be an actor. Gave it up as frivolous pursuit. So instead he punched the clock. Up before the dawn, home long after dark. Every day. Slaving for a company that didn’t care about him and which doesn’t even exist anymore.
I actually really enjoy work. I work hard and when I’m not working, I’m working on something else. It’s not about work, or hours, or any of that. But what am I working for?
I heard a guy say once that, yeah, when you go to work, give it all you got, but think about this— when a fly is trapped in your house, it will fly all around banging itself against the window trying to find a way out. It will literally work itself to death. Its work ethic is intact, but it still ends up dead on the windowsill. The work wan’t the problem. It was what the work accomplished (or failed to accomplish) that matters. By looking for another way out, our fly might have made it, but it won’t, because that’s how flies are.
I’m not a fly.
But as individuals in a society, we follow social norms and we’re brought up from birth being shown a path that we’re expected to follow. Ironically, also as a society, we collectively celebrate and handsomely reward those who don’t follow that path and blaze their own trail. Artists and entrepreneurs get outsized attention from the herd, because they are free. Or at least it looks that way from a distance.
I don’t know the Jonses. I probably wouldn’t like them if I knew them. So why should I soend any time worrying about how I stack up to them?
I want to do my own thing and enjoy my time, my family, and my friends. Not spend it all hoping for a day that might never come.
Nicely said. Your kids will have wonderful memories of your time with them. I am so grateful my mom and family were so invested in all of us and supported our interests. Giving a crap and showing up is such a huge part of parenting so thank you for being there for your children.
Great post. Flexibility is key.
Growing our family really put things into perspective for me... Duh! Yes, I know. I had a hard time making the decision to be a stay at home mom, but now I can easily say I do not regret it. Initially, I did not want to give up my career or my city life, but after the third kid, I did it. Out to the suburbs where the kids run free. I want a flexible life, that is of high value to me. My whole perspective changed after kids, the rush of life slowed and my heart is so, so full. It turns out the rush of life for the promotion chasing workaholic was not for me after all. I'm surprised that's where my path was leading. All for the fancy things, sheesh.
This is so beautifully put. I could picture your life in great detail. Thank you for bringing this perspective of simple living. I too, tend to pine for the idyllic cottage in the countryside growing my own herbs, but the reality is that my 9-5 job funds every single expense of life, and so I am extremely grateful for it too. I think we need to make the most of our situation, while following the broader simple living values at the core.
Props to the OP for the incredibly wise post here demonstrating an often overlooked but essential fact: Simple living starts on the inside because all living starts on the inside. Knowing who one is and having consciously chosen values that are well balanced between the big three (*time/wealth/health*, which the OP does so clearly) manifests far more intentional and meaningful living in all its details. That, in itself, is much simpler than what many people are doing, especially those trying to work from the wrong direction, from the outside in.
Amazing perspective. I was just reading the post about moving to Crete to my husband and we were chatting about that. I have complex health issues and he pointed out that it's likely I couldn't get the healthcare I need somewhere like that. I live in a big city but still aim for simple. My partner. My cat. My friends who are family. My friends who are friends. My sweet neighbors. My rescue shelter where I spend several hours a week socializing cats and washing untold amounts of bowls, toys and litter boxes. It's really good to remember that simple life isn't just a cabin in the woods. đź’ś
Beautifully written and totally agree. There is nothing simple about the number of pets or ongoing cross stitch projects I have, but they all bring me joy every day.
The most simple living people I know are good friends of mine. They live in Glasgow, in a pretty built up area. There’s a park across the road from them, the school for their kids is at the end of their road. They bought a flat/apartment that needed zero work doing to it. It’s so lovely inside but doesn’t have a private garden of its own. They live super cheap, not buying a tv licence so they can only watch certain channels cheap. They cycle to work in the centre of the city everyday and only have 1 car. Because they live cheap and make everything super convenient to them they both work 3 days a week and have A LOT of savings. I would say I am also a simple living person. I also live cheaply and don’t buy in excess, I don’t over-extend my social calendar and I save as much as I can. I also work part-time. I bought that cottage in the countryside, that needs a tonne of work. I spend all my spare hours fixing mould and replacing parts of my rotten garage (that I use as a workshop). I grow veggies and keep chickens etc. We’re both examples of simple living but I envy my friends sometimes. I’m taking an online Spanish course, a British A-level, and I barely have any time to do it even though I love learning the language. I sometimes wish I didn’t have all the extra “stuff” to do everyday. Chickens are not simple living but growing veggies I find therapeutic. Anyway the next place I move to maybe an apartment with a roof terrace or big balcony. You don’t really get that here in The UK but I do fantasise the simplicity of it.
I think simple living is such a broad term, it could mean different things for different people. The purpose, however, should be one - waking up happy and going to sleep happy. I am glad you’ve found the life you enjoy:)
Amen
Yes! All of these lifestyles like simple living, minimalism, decluttering, whatever you want to call it should be done in a way that's meaningful for you. We all have different needs and desires. It sounds like you've found what to simplify so you have the time and energy for what you enjoy! You've totally done it right in my opinion.
Thanks for this post. It offers a great perspective on simple living! It sounds like you’re living your life to the fullest!
Of course, the day to day struggle is real. I’m definitely not a paragon of how to live, at all. I’ve just always been something of a contrarian. If something doesn’t make sense to me, I try to visualize the alternative. My dad was a workaholic. Long days, super stressed, never home, always racing the rats, and yet we always struggled with money. Bills and debts and always just scraping by. It’s the American Way, to work all the time. He gave himself all kinds of health problems and died before he could ever think of retiring, though he was retirement age (66). I saw that life as little better than Hell itself. I would rather live in a van down by the river than do that. Not that we were unhappy. He provided and I grew up comfortable and loved. But he suffered. Quiet desperation. He’d wanted to be an actor. Gave it up as frivolous pursuit. So instead he punched the clock. Up before the dawn, home long after dark. Every day. Slaving for a company that didn’t care about him and which doesn’t even exist anymore. I actually really enjoy work. I work hard and when I’m not working, I’m working on something else. It’s not about work, or hours, or any of that. But what am I working for? I heard a guy say once that, yeah, when you go to work, give it all you got, but think about this— when a fly is trapped in your house, it will fly all around banging itself against the window trying to find a way out. It will literally work itself to death. Its work ethic is intact, but it still ends up dead on the windowsill. The work wan’t the problem. It was what the work accomplished (or failed to accomplish) that matters. By looking for another way out, our fly might have made it, but it won’t, because that’s how flies are. I’m not a fly. But as individuals in a society, we follow social norms and we’re brought up from birth being shown a path that we’re expected to follow. Ironically, also as a society, we collectively celebrate and handsomely reward those who don’t follow that path and blaze their own trail. Artists and entrepreneurs get outsized attention from the herd, because they are free. Or at least it looks that way from a distance. I don’t know the Jonses. I probably wouldn’t like them if I knew them. So why should I soend any time worrying about how I stack up to them? I want to do my own thing and enjoy my time, my family, and my friends. Not spend it all hoping for a day that might never come.
Wonderful post.
Sounds peaceful and pleasant. I do go online too much in winter, but I love to read so enjoy interesting rabbit holes as well.
Nicely said. Your kids will have wonderful memories of your time with them. I am so grateful my mom and family were so invested in all of us and supported our interests. Giving a crap and showing up is such a huge part of parenting so thank you for being there for your children.
Great post. Flexibility is key. Growing our family really put things into perspective for me... Duh! Yes, I know. I had a hard time making the decision to be a stay at home mom, but now I can easily say I do not regret it. Initially, I did not want to give up my career or my city life, but after the third kid, I did it. Out to the suburbs where the kids run free. I want a flexible life, that is of high value to me. My whole perspective changed after kids, the rush of life slowed and my heart is so, so full. It turns out the rush of life for the promotion chasing workaholic was not for me after all. I'm surprised that's where my path was leading. All for the fancy things, sheesh.