Simplifying - What Does it Mean to You?

 Hello all.  Glad to be here this morning and hoping you are all doing well. 

It is a muggily morning!  Waiting for the cool down to hit!! We had a rain shower yesterday afternoon, that seemed to pop up from nowhere.  It may rain some today as well.  The cool front should be moving in after today, which will be refreshing.  I am tired of 90*+.

I want to talk a little about simplifying today.  I have watched some videos and been reading a little about people who have gone really drastic in their lives - going off grid, and kind of disconnecting with societal norms.  It has been interesting.

Simplifying your life does not mean EASY.  Not by any means.  Think back to the stories from our ancestors - and life was anything but easy - but it sure was a lot simpler than life today!  At least in my book.

Many have said they have been criticized, because of their lifestyle.  They are accused of not helping with the infrastructure of the area, by being off grid.  Not helping the economy.  Not being aware of what society 'expects'.

WOW!

In my view society has a LOT of things wrong.  I love the idea of kind of unplugging from the normal stuff and just living a basic life. 

You don't have to go completely off grid - but being wise with our utility is smart.  You don't have to heat with wood or pellets but turn down the thermostat a few degrees.

You don't have to have a huge garden, but growing a little and eating natural has a lot benefits.

It means using simple ingredients and cooking (even if basic) at home.

Unplugging from social media, would be huge!  It is called peace.

You don't have to have the newest and the greatest - look for different ways to use what you have.

It means recycle, reduce and re-imagine.

MY OPINION on a simple life is a smaller home, that I can more easily maintain.  Growing and eating a lot of my produce and buying other things as they are in season.  It means spending less money on stuff.  I mean wanting and needing are so different - and how much do we really need?

It means utilizing what I have in new ways.  It means thinking outside the box.  It means being wise with my usage of utilities. 

It means have a connection with others who think similarly.

I do not need the biggest, the shiniest, the fanciest new do-dad.  I just need enough.

To me, it kind of means living a life that my parents lived - a few decades ago.  Yeah, that is me.

Having less stuff in my home.  I want to have the things I love, but all the rest is so distracting.  I figure much of it may bless someone else.

I know everyone doesn't even remotely think this way.  I guess there has to be a balance.  But I will stay on the older ways route.

I truly do admire those that live off grid.  You have to have a lot of grit to do that.  It isn't easy at all - it is a lot of work.  Growing, hunting, chopping, building, gleaning, gathering, etc.  It isn't for sissies!

But living that way, is living with nature a lot more.  Utilizing all that this good earth has and puts out there for us.  Using our minds and figuring a way.  

Living is a simpler life is about basics.  It isn't fancy.  It is about being smart with what you have.  It is about letting go of some of the 'easy' ways.  It is about having peace.  It is about freedom from societal norms.

It isn't always easy at all!

What is simplifying to you?  What do you do to live a simpler lifestyle?

Does it mean peace to you?  It sure does to me.  It is just a calming way to live and THRIVE.  

Look forward to your ideas and opinions.

Have a wonderful day and stay safe.