"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness."
-Henry David Thoreau
I have found myself reflecting on various relationships that have drastically changed over the couple of years. I find myself mourning what once was. I have struggled to understand why friendships I thought had substance and would stand the test of time have altered as to become unrecognizable.
I am a thinker.
I want to understand.
I am an introvert.
I mourn the loss of that deep relationship greatly.
I wonder how life is suppose to look when it changes so drastically.
Today, I had a realization. Some relationships are forged from our circumstances. Some of my fondest memories have been formed when money was not in abundance and creativity was required. I find I miss the relationships that developed in that forced simplicity.
As I think about it, I believe that in times where we do not have the money or capacity to live in material abundance we are given a gift. A gift which we often fail to recognize when we have it. We long for the day we have more. We convince ourselves we will use the more for good. To better the lives of those around us, but so often if we are not careful the more ends up controlling us. It allows us to assume more debt which demands repayment and interest. It allows us to add more and more to our calendars which adds stress to our lives as we run from one commitment to another.
When we are in the moment of not having as much as we would like, we often refer to it as hard. The reality that I'm discovering is that to choose simplicity is hard. Simplicity does not come easily. It requires intentionally saying no when you want so badly to say yes. It requires looking at simplicity systemically.
For simplicity to be truly effective it must permeate our lives. It means clearing our houses of clutter. Getting rid of what we no longer use or does not bring us joy. It involves an overhaul of our schedules and a focus on our core values as individuals and families. It means clearing our emotional baggage so that we can engage with others from a place of health.
Often we look to the Amish or a previous era for our definition of simplicity. While there are things to glean from others, we ourselves must create simplicity on our own.
It seems appropriate that as I think of this my word for 2016 comes to mind....
Exhale
To engage in genuine simplicity, the exhale becomes essential. For myself, I have to let go of those relationships that have changed. To recognize that they no longer help me move toward the life God is leading me toward. In exhaling, I then have the capacity to inhale and move into the relationships that are at a similar place in life. To engage with those who are searching for simplicity themselves.
My truth, this move to simplicity is extremely difficult. It means asking myself the hard questions and being willing to hear truth from those I trust to help me grow. Simplicity means following God where it is not comfortable sometimes because I want to make the easy choice. It means saying to to things that seem good for the things that are better. And sometimes it means stopping CPR on the life I am not meant to live and embracing the life I am intended for.
-Henry David Thoreau
I have found myself reflecting on various relationships that have drastically changed over the couple of years. I find myself mourning what once was. I have struggled to understand why friendships I thought had substance and would stand the test of time have altered as to become unrecognizable.
I am a thinker.
I want to understand.
I am an introvert.
I mourn the loss of that deep relationship greatly.
I wonder how life is suppose to look when it changes so drastically.
Today, I had a realization. Some relationships are forged from our circumstances. Some of my fondest memories have been formed when money was not in abundance and creativity was required. I find I miss the relationships that developed in that forced simplicity.
As I think about it, I believe that in times where we do not have the money or capacity to live in material abundance we are given a gift. A gift which we often fail to recognize when we have it. We long for the day we have more. We convince ourselves we will use the more for good. To better the lives of those around us, but so often if we are not careful the more ends up controlling us. It allows us to assume more debt which demands repayment and interest. It allows us to add more and more to our calendars which adds stress to our lives as we run from one commitment to another.
When we are in the moment of not having as much as we would like, we often refer to it as hard. The reality that I'm discovering is that to choose simplicity is hard. Simplicity does not come easily. It requires intentionally saying no when you want so badly to say yes. It requires looking at simplicity systemically.
For simplicity to be truly effective it must permeate our lives. It means clearing our houses of clutter. Getting rid of what we no longer use or does not bring us joy. It involves an overhaul of our schedules and a focus on our core values as individuals and families. It means clearing our emotional baggage so that we can engage with others from a place of health.
Often we look to the Amish or a previous era for our definition of simplicity. While there are things to glean from others, we ourselves must create simplicity on our own.
It seems appropriate that as I think of this my word for 2016 comes to mind....
Exhale
To engage in genuine simplicity, the exhale becomes essential. For myself, I have to let go of those relationships that have changed. To recognize that they no longer help me move toward the life God is leading me toward. In exhaling, I then have the capacity to inhale and move into the relationships that are at a similar place in life. To engage with those who are searching for simplicity themselves.
My truth, this move to simplicity is extremely difficult. It means asking myself the hard questions and being willing to hear truth from those I trust to help me grow. Simplicity means following God where it is not comfortable sometimes because I want to make the easy choice. It means saying to to things that seem good for the things that are better. And sometimes it means stopping CPR on the life I am not meant to live and embracing the life I am intended for.
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