Simplifying

One thing that is certain in life is "change!" A lot of change has happened in the past 2 years, and the time had come to simplify my life... a smaller and more manageable home and garden. A place where I can live for many, many years . . . grow old and still be able to manage my home and yard. So, a small lot was purchased, home plans drawn up and 5 months of construction ensued. 

Before I moved from my previous home which was located on 6 acres, I potted up 125 plus plants for use in the new garden. These potted plants were temporarily located at my mother's and sister's homes while my new home was built. My mother kept saying, "I don't know where you're going to put all these plants in your new yard." Sometimes I had doubts about that, too. But I have this vision in my mind. You know. The kind of visions that gardeners have when they're dreaming up their new garden.

The only problem is every time I would walk around my new home being built, I noticed that those visions weren't matching up with the reality of "the small garden" that would soon be mine. If they don't all fit... no problem, I'll share them with other gardeners. But, I'm going to do my best to get all my favorites in my garden. Now, all I need to do is finish unpacking all the boxes so I can get my garden going.

The Paradox of Simplifying Your Life

Is the pursuit of simplicity a dubious dream in this fast-paced world?

Ask any number of people what a "simple life" means to them, and your bound to get a different answer each time. For me it means spending time with family and a few close friends, treading lightly on this earth by consuming fewer resources, creating comfort and beauty in my home and garden in an environmentally-friendly way, owning fewer possessions, enjoying meaningful work, indulging my love for books, savoring nature, and making the most of my life as it unfolds each and every day.

When I think about simplifying, life gets complicated. To tread lightly means (for me) that I need to be more aware of the products I purchase, and buy only what I truly need. I need to recycle as many items as possible, which means I may have to make numerous trips to different locations to dispose of my recyclable items. I have to make tough choices on which of my stuff to keep, and which to eliminate. Are you beginning to see my dilemma? Living a simple life is not as simple as it may seem!

What is your vision of a "simple life?"