Does the idea of leaving it all and moving to a small
village in Europe, a lakeside cabin, or a Caribbean island appeal to you? That’s my fantasy. I dream of a simple
life in a simple part of the world. Waking to the sounds of nature, a whole undiscovered day ahead of me with
plenty of time to read, think, cook, walk, and breathe. No traffic jams, one day sales, or deadlines. Not in my fantasy life.
My day would end as it begun, gently reversing the process.
I’d have a simple, healthy dinner, a glass of wine or two, read and slip under
crisp sheets while a gentle breeze blows through the curtains as I drift off to
sleep.
That’s what vacations are for. They remind us how to slow down, unplug and relax. I just got back from one at the shore. I’m lucky to have a place I can
escape to once in a while, but why can’t we have that lifestyle all year round?
I want that relaxing vacation feel in my everyday life. Is that possible?
As I write this at 2 AM, my mind already a buzz with my long
list of things that need to be done today, I yearn for this simplicity. The dog
having to go out in the middle of the night, should not set off a chain
reaction in my mind of all the things that need my attention. Why can’t I go
back to sleep? Too much to do and the thoughts start firing through my brain.
This wouldn’t happen in my fantasy life. There would be no
pressing issues to deal with or long to do list. My most pressing problem would be what book to read next or
what to make for dinner. There would actually be a dinner, freshly prepared,
and not eaten out just because it was easier, quicker, and less stressful.
There would no need to have the latest fashions or fancy things. No reason to
keep up with the neighbors or have the most current model of anything. FOMO or
fear of missing out would not occur in my fantasy.
Every decade of my life, I think this is the time things in
my life will get simpler because, fill in the blank here…the kids can feed
themselves… the kids are all in school… the kids can drive themselves… the kids
are going to college… I’m an empty nester, etc., etc. Yet time marches on and
my fantasy remains the same. I want a less stressful, simpler life with more
time to do what moves my heart. When one thing changes and frees up some time
in my life, there are plenty of other things to fill that space. So I never do get
that extra time. Our lives are like a closet, you can always fit more things in
there. Stuff them in and fill up space. And that’s what happens, consciously or
unconsciously.
So I am going to implement a few steps to make my life
simpler. Step by step, I am going to chip away at the layer of stuff taking up
space in my home, laptop, mailbox and mind. I’m going to get that breathing
room, that simpler life. But it will take some time.
First step: I am
unsubscribing from the myriad of daily web site emails that I get because I am
afraid to miss out on something.
These emails pile up because I haven’t had
time to read them. They really do stress me out. I don’t need the shoe of the day, groupon deal
of the day, travel deal of the day.
I’ll keep the wine of the day emails. I
will need that in my fantasy life.
More steps to come.....
Thought for the day:
Much may be done in those little shreds and
patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.
~ Charles
Caleb Colton
