No, I don’t need a smaller home or fewer books in order to live simply. To live more simply, I need only to live more simply.
To live intentionally, I must think about how I want to live and then commit to living the life I want everyday.
To me living more simply means saying “no” more.
It means guarding my time and choosing not to fill up holes in the calendar just because they are there.
It means placing as much importance on leisure as I do work, if not more.
Simplicity means letting go of the pursuit of perfection, bit by bit, every day.
It means spending more time in nature and less time in front of a computer.
It’s savoring simple pleasures like ice cream on a perfect summer day or hot tea in front of the fireplace.
Simplicity means making time to meditate.
It means making do with less to enjoy life more.
It’s a shift in priorities that means my wardrobe is comprised of the same basic pieces year after year and that my mom cuts my hair on her back patio.
More than anything, living simply means trusting the rhythm and pace of life that feels good, whether or not the busy culture around me wishes to join me in slowing down.
You probably won’t ever find me giving away all my books or moving into a repurposed school bus. But with any luck, I can continue my commitment to simplicity and, bit by bit, live a joyful life with intention right where I am.
Megan Stonelake is a therapist and parent coach who teaches parents all over the world how to become more peaceful. She has written extensively on peaceful parenting for Parent.co, Hey Sigmund, and The Huffington Post among others. You can follow her blog or schedule a session at her website. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
