This was so good and full of truth! Simple doesn’t mean easy and hard doesn’t mean bad. There’s so much joy that can be found in the effort of living a simple life. 💗
Absolutely agree! I don’t know where it was ever advertised that paring things back means a promise of ease. On the contrary, you have to work really hard- in more ways than one- to live simply. Sometimes that looks like physical labor, sometimes it looks like saying no to material things or to outsourcing, even when those things and their attractive veneer tempt us.
“It becomes more visible. And that visibility can feel confronting in a world that has grown accustomed to hiding effort behind systems and services.” Couldn’t have said it better! We have been homesteading since 2016 and it is such a nuanced concept for so many in our lives we just stopped explaining the joy of the simpler life.
Right on the head, EXACTLY what I've been struggling within society. I feel so accomplished when I do things with my hands, wether it's forming a pie crust, to mend a shirt, to sew on a button, to tend the garden. This. Gives. Me. Gratitude. Very well written, chapeau.
Thank you for all of your support, Emily!! I'm SO behind on reading, I need the weather to calm down and give me a moment to relax and breathe! I'll get there :)
So good!! I think we've moved away from simple things by racing towards convenience in everything. Making coffee, fixing supper, orange juice at breakfast, connecting to others, being healthy. What's that zen saying - before enlightenment chop wood carry water. after enlightenment chop wood carry water. It's in the doing - that's where the magic is.
We were once told by family that we spend way too much time cooking (we were gluten-free at the time for health reasons and that was the easiest way to avoid it), and it bothered them immensely! Your statement is absolutely true for most modern people, "We may spend less time at the stove, but far more time thinking about what to eat, when to eat, and how to make it work." For the most part, we grew what we cooked, or foraged locally for it, which probably took us less time on average than going shopping in the city by bus, which takes about 6-7 hours out of a day. Plus, we saved money by eating from the garden. Well worth the effort, or "hard work" in our opinion.
I remember having a conversation with my mom many years ago when she looked at all of the animals we were raising, all of the cost and work involved and told me, "You'll never get out of it what you put in". And I could not have disagreed more. Financially, maybe. It's not an inexpensive way of doing things. But if financial motive is all you have, then you've missed the point.
This essay felt like air to me. So well written. I don’t homestead, not even close. But I do focus on simplicity, which is no easy feat in our current culture. Simplicity does not equate to easy. But it gives you the space to feel and experience the wonderful things still existing in this world.
This was so good and full of truth! Simple doesn’t mean easy and hard doesn’t mean bad. There’s so much joy that can be found in the effort of living a simple life. 💗
Absolutely agree! I don’t know where it was ever advertised that paring things back means a promise of ease. On the contrary, you have to work really hard- in more ways than one- to live simply. Sometimes that looks like physical labor, sometimes it looks like saying no to material things or to outsourcing, even when those things and their attractive veneer tempt us.
“It becomes more visible. And that visibility can feel confronting in a world that has grown accustomed to hiding effort behind systems and services.” Couldn’t have said it better! We have been homesteading since 2016 and it is such a nuanced concept for so many in our lives we just stopped explaining the joy of the simpler life.
I agree. It's something you just have to try on your own to ever understand. Keep up the good work!
Right on the head, EXACTLY what I've been struggling within society. I feel so accomplished when I do things with my hands, wether it's forming a pie crust, to mend a shirt, to sew on a button, to tend the garden. This. Gives. Me. Gratitude. Very well written, chapeau.
It brings me great relief to know there are others out there who feel as you do, as I do. Thank you for sharing!
This whole post was so gorgeous. Thank you for putting it into the perfect words.
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)
Lovely read as always, thank you for sharing!
Thank you for all of your support, Emily!! I'm SO behind on reading, I need the weather to calm down and give me a moment to relax and breathe! I'll get there :)
So good!! I think we've moved away from simple things by racing towards convenience in everything. Making coffee, fixing supper, orange juice at breakfast, connecting to others, being healthy. What's that zen saying - before enlightenment chop wood carry water. after enlightenment chop wood carry water. It's in the doing - that's where the magic is.
I love that saying- never heard it before. Thanks for sharing and you are so right!
Perhaps a simple life should be more accurately called a humble life.
I think that would be fitting.
We were once told by family that we spend way too much time cooking (we were gluten-free at the time for health reasons and that was the easiest way to avoid it), and it bothered them immensely! Your statement is absolutely true for most modern people, "We may spend less time at the stove, but far more time thinking about what to eat, when to eat, and how to make it work." For the most part, we grew what we cooked, or foraged locally for it, which probably took us less time on average than going shopping in the city by bus, which takes about 6-7 hours out of a day. Plus, we saved money by eating from the garden. Well worth the effort, or "hard work" in our opinion.
I remember having a conversation with my mom many years ago when she looked at all of the animals we were raising, all of the cost and work involved and told me, "You'll never get out of it what you put in". And I could not have disagreed more. Financially, maybe. It's not an inexpensive way of doing things. But if financial motive is all you have, then you've missed the point.
Keep up your own good, hard work.
Amen, Erin. Amen!!
Simple is anything but easy
Agreed.
This essay felt like air to me. So well written. I don’t homestead, not even close. But I do focus on simplicity, which is no easy feat in our current culture. Simplicity does not equate to easy. But it gives you the space to feel and experience the wonderful things still existing in this world.
Beautifully written and meaningful post Erin. Thank you