Found this in another forum....
Living the Simple Life
by: Arleen M. Kaptur
The trend of today for many people is to live the "simple life."
However, what exactly is the simple life? There are as
many answers to this question as there are
individuals looking to find the peace and
contentment that seems so evasive. Yet,
in their hearts there is a void, an empty spot
that modern consumption just cannot fill.
So, people sit there pondering what they
can do to live the simple life, while the
television's volume is on high and the voice
mail fills up with messages. After all this
thinking, hunger comes into play. A quick
trip to McDonald's or Burger King and
then back home to an evening of station-
broadcast news and opinions, and then the
comedies of late-night shows. You know,
the no-holds-barred laughter at everything
and anything, and nothing is beyond being
the butt of jokes.
The Simple Life is right there in your heart
and in your home. It just needs a little
dusting off, or perhaps you can move some
of your possessions to the side to make
room for Simple Life to breathe some fresh
air and come into play in your life. Whoa!
how can a person have the simple life right
there when real simple life is living in the
woods with the bears and the deer and
hunting and fishing for your food. Yes, there
are some that find this type of life very
satisfying, and then there are those that do
not. Who is correct? Both are indeed correct.
The Simple Life is not letting your possessions
control you, it is living within your means and
not worrying about mounting debt, and it is
laughter, quiet, and learning and evaluating all
that goes around you. It is not accepting what
you see on television or the internet as written
in stone; for in fact, it is someone's opinion or
view of a situation and it may or may not be
yours. It is not joining every group, committee,
or cause, so that there is no time for family,
friends, and individualism. In a few words, it
is getting the most from your particular life, by
doing away with what is not necessary and
concentrating on what is important and life-
sustaining. Life - whether physical, spiritual,
or social - it is having the time for those you
love and for those you would like to know and
love. It is stepping outside to a sky filled with
stars and to find peace in the patter of rain-
drops on your window. It is taking a deep breath
and clearing your mind, and it is the aroma of
a good meal, the sound of children laughing, and
the touch of a person who loves you.
The Simple Life - you can live in the woods or on
an island, you can fish all day or garden, you can
read and learn, or write a song. It is enjoying
every minute of every day in the way that brings
peace and tranquility into your life, keeps you
out of debt, and that old belief of "keeping up
with the neighbors" is put to rest. It is being
yourself but more importantly, being true to
yourself. It is having the peace of mind to open
your mind and it is setting no limits or boundaries
to what you can imagine and also to what you can
accomplish. It is having the joy of a morning sun-
rise and the tranquility of a sunset. It is knowing
that Nature cannot be ravaged but must be kept for
future generations to enjoy and it is having the
wisdom that money does not buy friends or
happiness but good will does.
Living the Simple Life
by: Arleen M. Kaptur
The trend of today for many people is to live the "simple life."
However, what exactly is the simple life? There are as
many answers to this question as there are
individuals looking to find the peace and
contentment that seems so evasive. Yet,
in their hearts there is a void, an empty spot
that modern consumption just cannot fill.
So, people sit there pondering what they
can do to live the simple life, while the
television's volume is on high and the voice
mail fills up with messages. After all this
thinking, hunger comes into play. A quick
trip to McDonald's or Burger King and
then back home to an evening of station-
broadcast news and opinions, and then the
comedies of late-night shows. You know,
the no-holds-barred laughter at everything
and anything, and nothing is beyond being
the butt of jokes.
The Simple Life is right there in your heart
and in your home. It just needs a little
dusting off, or perhaps you can move some
of your possessions to the side to make
room for Simple Life to breathe some fresh
air and come into play in your life. Whoa!
how can a person have the simple life right
there when real simple life is living in the
woods with the bears and the deer and
hunting and fishing for your food. Yes, there
are some that find this type of life very
satisfying, and then there are those that do
not. Who is correct? Both are indeed correct.
The Simple Life is not letting your possessions
control you, it is living within your means and
not worrying about mounting debt, and it is
laughter, quiet, and learning and evaluating all
that goes around you. It is not accepting what
you see on television or the internet as written
in stone; for in fact, it is someone's opinion or
view of a situation and it may or may not be
yours. It is not joining every group, committee,
or cause, so that there is no time for family,
friends, and individualism. In a few words, it
is getting the most from your particular life, by
doing away with what is not necessary and
concentrating on what is important and life-
sustaining. Life - whether physical, spiritual,
or social - it is having the time for those you
love and for those you would like to know and
love. It is stepping outside to a sky filled with
stars and to find peace in the patter of rain-
drops on your window. It is taking a deep breath
and clearing your mind, and it is the aroma of
a good meal, the sound of children laughing, and
the touch of a person who loves you.
The Simple Life - you can live in the woods or on
an island, you can fish all day or garden, you can
read and learn, or write a song. It is enjoying
every minute of every day in the way that brings
peace and tranquility into your life, keeps you
out of debt, and that old belief of "keeping up
with the neighbors" is put to rest. It is being
yourself but more importantly, being true to
yourself. It is having the peace of mind to open
your mind and it is setting no limits or boundaries
to what you can imagine and also to what you can
accomplish. It is having the joy of a morning sun-
rise and the tranquility of a sunset. It is knowing
that Nature cannot be ravaged but must be kept for
future generations to enjoy and it is having the
wisdom that money does not buy friends or
happiness but good will does.
