Simple, simply, simplify, these are words I’ve heard a lot of talk about over the past couple of years. Minimalistic living, downsizing, capsule wardrobes are all current trends. Why? When it comes right down to it, I have come to the conclusion we have made life complicated. We have added so many possibilities over the past two or three decades that we are completely overwhelmed with choices. According to Google Map there are over 50,000 fast food restaurants and over 100,000 clothing stores in the United States alone. My home has shelves full of books and more offered to me daily through the internet. The internet has brought access of magazines, news, books right to your lap. How many channels can you receive on your television? It is overwhelming. The number of people complaining of trouble sleeping has risen over the past decade to astounding numbers, many of them depending on medications to help them sleep. Our minds are too full. It makes it hard to think clearly at times. What are we to do? This is life in our world today, right? We are missing out…on something if we are not aware of and consider all these choice, about everything, all the time.
I’m suggesting that we have brought this overwhelmed-ness on ourselves as a society and personally. Basically we have caused our own stress. I can can’t always choose the circumstances around me but I can choose what I allow in my life. We all have a void in our spirit that we need to fill. I choose not to fill it with the stress of always wanting more, being in constant motion and truthfully, worrying that I made the “right” choice. I can choose to live simply. Our mind and body were created to function best when used in a rhythm. As in any good song,that rhythm needs to include space, rest, quiet times. We need breaks from our fast-paced life. These breaks are not just a once a year vacation (if you take one). Our lives need rhythm on a daily basis. Without this rhythm, we wear ourselves out. This stress on our mind and body decreases our immune system making us more susceptible to illness, allergies and anxiety/depression. I am a working nurse. I not only read the stats that tell us these things. I deal with people on a daily basis who are miserable and just can’t figure out why their pills aren’t curing them of their ailments. I am suggesting that we literally have too much on our minds.
This year my daughter and I have agreed to work together to continue to simply life so we can enjoy it thoroughly. We have decided to share our journey in hopes that we can help others thoroughly enjoy their lives too. Sometimes it just helps to know others are experiencing the same thing you are. Sometimes hearing how others are handling it gives you just the bit of courage you need to make a change. If you would like to come along on our journey you can follow this blog, her blog A Simple Fit Life, and/or sign up for our once monthly e-newsletter here, A Year of Simple Changes sign up. Each month we will have new topics with very simple suggestions of how to implement some health and peace into your life. This month we were thinking about sleep and water intake for example. These suggestions will venture into every aspect of life, the physical, mental, and spiritual with very applicable possibilites for enriching your life. Join us on our journey of enjoying life! Join the discussion by commenting on the areas of most stress or concern in your life.
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