The posts on this blog are copied from my private blog: "At The Rose Cottage". If you are interested in viewing The Rose Cottage, which has more personal family posts and pictures, email me at stewcrew9 at gmail.com.
Jenny



Friday, January 1, 2010

The Beauty of Simplicity

I reprinted this from my private blog, as I thought it was of general interest.
I love simplicity, though I don't adhere to it naturally. I am a recovering perfectionist and simplicity didn't fit in with my overdone, magnifying-glass approach to life. It was my dear husband who led me into simplicity.
He has always had a "travel light through life" philosophy, and it is has served us well. I have learned to love the sweetness of simplicity - there is no part of life that his not enhanced by the beauty of simplicity.

In Phil Callaway's book, Making Life Rich Without Any Money, he writes:

"Late in life, an anonymous friar in a Nebraska monastery wrote the following words. I can't help grinning as I read them.

If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time.

I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been on this trip.

I know of very few things I would take seriously.

I would take more trips. I would be crazier.

I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets.

I would do more walking and looking.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who lives life...sensibly hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them.

In fact, I'd try to have nothing else, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute.

If I had it to do all over again, I would go places, do things, and travel lighter than I have.

If I had my live to live over, I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.

I would play hooky more.

I wouldn't make such good grades, except by accident.

I would ride on more merry-go-rounds.

I'd pick more daisies."

He goes on to write some great things about what simplicity has meant to him... but you'll have to buy the book if you want to keep reading (it is very entertaining).

I am in the throes of my seasonal "simplify life" campaign. I am going through the whole house de-cluttering and throwing out anything that I can possibly feel free to. It feels good!
This time, I have a special reason to be very thorough. We are not moving (at least not to my knowledge), but we are getting new flooring (YEA, YEA, YEA!!!). It is going to be as much work as moving, though. I will gladly do the work as it will be WONDERFUL when it is finished! So, I am trying to get rid of as much stuff as I can to make the job simpler. I will post some before after pics once we get to that stage.

I wish all of my dear readers:
-a blessed New Year
-a deeper understanding and relationship with the Lord Jesus
-simplicity... which will free you up to enjoy the little things in life.

Jenny

2 comments:

Unknown said...

"Recovering perfectionist"!! I'm loving that!!!

Nice post to read... I enjoyed the excerpts from the book as well!

DONNA said...

Hi Jenny I just happened to come across your blog like yesterday I think or the day before.
Anyway I did enjoy reading this post it is very interesting.
I too have been working on simplifying my life now for a while.
It does make things and life better.
Donna