Is Simple Better?
This is a question I ask myself frequently. I'm not questioning whether or not I should chuck the pair of shoes (or 20) I never wear, gathering cobwebs on my shelf. But rather, in terms of LIFE. Life in general. Do I really even want the distractions of life in the big city? As a young 20 something, I always dreamed of living in downtown New York City. You could hear, feel, smell and taste the city calling you at all hours. I loved the constant and alluring buzz of the Big Apple. I craved the stimulation, and have consequently lived in various large cities since I left my teens. I'm conveniently forgetting the time spent in hick town USA (Logan, UT) for my first few years of college. It was cheap, I was young, I was stuck. Don't hate.
I digress... I finished up college for the last 3 years (after an extra year repeating classes that didn't transfer) in Las Vegas. From Sin City, I headed to South America, I mean, Miami... I get them confused sometimes.... I lasted (barely) for about 3 years, and I currently live in Phoenix (which I love). Each city beckons you with their international culture, adventurous cuisine, non- stop action, and great people watching. And traffic. And smog. And road rage. And violence. And soaring real estate prices....You get my point.
Sometimes I want to trade it all in for this picture above. (p.s. It was taken by my amazingly talented father) I want to pick the brain of someone who has been a city addict their whole lives, and unhooked the morphine drip. Made the transition to country life, or even borderline country life.... I don't know that I could go cold turkey on my city addiction here.... I still do require a grocery store that carries more than Iceburg lettuce and potatoes. Ya know, farmer grub. I'm a girl, and I like spinach and shrimp. Maybe an occasional grilled Portobello mushroom. And I don't want to drive more than 20 minutes for my girl friendly grocery store. Am I wanting to have my cake and eat it too?
Comments
I remember reading the book "Voluntary Simplicity" some years ago. As a matter of fact, this book triggered a whole simplicity movement back then. My friends thought that I was becoming a Marxist. Anyway, many years later and after much pondering over what simplicity really means, I still must say that I struggle with the simplicity-materialism tug-of-war. Though I'm not where I'd like to be (simplicity speaking), I'm convinced that to get to a simpler way of life it's most important to have quiet in one's life...the quieter the better. This is the first requirement of simplifying life...quiet and solitude. Even if it's for only a short time each day, it's necessary. From here one can evolve to a more simple lifestyle...doing with less clothes, eating more simply and less often, finding simplicity in entertainment...good reading and music. Most important...find a creative outlet...paint, write, photograph, compose, etc. Avoid anything toxic to the brain...things like reading or viewing anything and everything having to do with the lives of imbecilic celebrities, mounting up debts for things not really needed (debt is very toxic to the soul), spending time in big box stores or anyplace where mass consumption is the mindset. Read poetry. Learn to meditate. I'm gonna start my simplicity crash course tomorrow...but I've gotta buy just one more camera lens...then I'll start...with gusto!
Dad