Simplify
Over this past week I've been flipping through some home decor magazines, dreaming of my someday house, and I noticed something. There's a big trend to hang or paint words on the wall, and a big one is "Simplify". However, in these magazines this word hangs in houses of people who can't possibly even know the meaning of simplicity. They have 5000 sqaure foot homes for 4 people. They have "command centers" where they can operate any piece of electricial equipment from their living room. They have a computer built in to their refridgerator that is hooked to the internet so they can download recipes and send their grocery list to the cyber grocery. It's hard for me to imagine that people can afford all of that and be living a simple life.
I don't even think that I live a simple life and I've only got 1600 square feet for my family of 5. We have 1 television, 1 computer, and 1 telephone. My 3 children are currently involved in a total of 0 activites, and my DH and I both work part-time to keep them out of daycare. Our vehicles are all more than 10 years old and are either on the brink of or past the 150K mark. My children spend almost every day at home being told to use their imaginations and go find something to do. But it still doesn't feel simple.
I guess it's because any life that involves relationships with people you love can't possibly by simple. Every day we have to make choices we don't want to make, do chores we don't want to do, and love people who are acting unlovable. If simplifying and making life easier means getting rid of those people, I think I'll take the complex life today.
I don't even think that I live a simple life and I've only got 1600 square feet for my family of 5. We have 1 television, 1 computer, and 1 telephone. My 3 children are currently involved in a total of 0 activites, and my DH and I both work part-time to keep them out of daycare. Our vehicles are all more than 10 years old and are either on the brink of or past the 150K mark. My children spend almost every day at home being told to use their imaginations and go find something to do. But it still doesn't feel simple.
I guess it's because any life that involves relationships with people you love can't possibly by simple. Every day we have to make choices we don't want to make, do chores we don't want to do, and love people who are acting unlovable. If simplifying and making life easier means getting rid of those people, I think I'll take the complex life today.
posted by jacqui at 8:20 AM
2 Comments:
jacqui, you are doing the right thing. Your kids will be much better off with the quality of time, not money, spent!
I am learning to simplify myself and it's very hard to do. After my recent divorce my daughter and I are learning to decide what is more important in life. I'm trying to teach her that name brands, and having the newest and the best of everything are not what makes a person happy, but at the same time I don't want her to be made fun of about her clothes like I was when I was growing up. Money just isn't there like it has been in the pat. Don't get me wrong - we have food, we have clothes, etc so we are way better than others. Hang in there!
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