Inner simplicity - learning to live in the present

**homesteadmamma** · 10-05-2002, 12:34 PM

This is a journey I'm still on and some day want to be as Henry David Thoreau was. And thats that when I come to the end of this journey, I will have learnt how to live in the present.

When I begin this journey after reading Frugal Luxuries and The Simple Living Guide, it was a constant struggle. I was a worry wart - I worried about yesterday, I worried about today, I worried about tomorrow and I worried about the future. I then picked up a simple little book by Richard Carlson titled "Don't sweat the small stuff, its all Small Stuff" and read a profound 2 pages in his book that totally changed my life. And that is "90% of what we worry about NEVER happens and the other 10% take care of themselves".

As a worrier, it was hard to begin to let things go but I chose to do so. I still have to make a conscience effort to do so, but each day I work at it. There is so much we CAN'T control that we try doing. Most of it is futile. Its much easier for me now to live in the present, to enjoy each day as it comes along, and to enjoy it to the fullest.

Some ways to do this:

- take long walks and enjoy nature. Too soon, your age will dictate that you can't do this as you use to. So enjoy the present NOW.

- take time to smell the roses. Too soon, you won't be able to bend down to do so because when you do you won't get up.

Take the time now and you'll find you'll begin to enjoy a profound sense of peace.

- take time to declutter. This too can become a time of enjoying. When decluttering, I always think of joy that I can bring to others by something that I've enjoyed but its time to let go of. I'm thankful that article or item was in my life and I give thanks for that. Then I think of who can enjoy it and give it to them. At times, I can't do that. It has to go to goodwill but I'm glad that I can share even with them, so that others might have something they can enjoy at little cost.

- take time to be grateful. This doesn't take much and we have so very much to be thankful for. We live in countries that are free and we have a world of wealth at our fingertips. Be thankful for small things also.

- take time to be still. Learn to sit quietly and just enjoy the present and silence. Let it reach deep within our soul. (This is the hardest one for me but I'm now at 30 minutes.) When I first started I couldn't do 1 minute without a thousand thoughts running through my mind.

- take time to pray.

Take it in baby steps but once you start, you'll never want to go back. Once you can thoroughly enjoy the present you'll wonder why you haven't done this all your life.

btw - this will mean major changes in your life. It will mean learning to say "NO", it will mean slowing down and not running here and there at a very fast pace, it will mean getting rid of things - but the rewards far outweigh the changes that we will have to make.

**Patchworkgirl** · 10-05-2002, 02:16 PM

Cj....I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes- you have put in words exactly what I want for my life. I am now in the exact spot you were in- I worry about everything. I want so much to let this go and to really enjoy every day that I am given- and to somehow make a small positive impact on my family and friends lives. I am going to print this out and read it every day. Thanks Cj, for being such a good friend- you have helped me more than you know.

**KathiS** · 10-06-2002, 04:48 AM

I'm having a big problem with letting go of material things. I just have too much stuff but, can't seem to let go of any of it. I think I have gotten much more mellow as I have aged. I do try to live for today. I am happy with my progress in so many ways however, I sure wish I could let go of some of my stuff.

**homesteadmamma** · 10-06-2002, 12:16 PM

KathiS - this was a toughie for me too. I had a hard time letting go but then my dad passed away 5 years ago this month and my mom had so much stuff of his that she had to get rid of. The stress alone almost put her in the hospital and did put her on blood pressure pills. It took her months to get rid of his stuff and my heart broke for her because I was so far away I couldn't help her. My dad had things he probably didn't even remember he had. Although it was very stressful for my mom, she gave away his things so that others could have joy from them!!

After she did that, she began to declutter many of her things. She has paired down to such a simple lifestyle, she is an example to me.

It hit me!! I'm 53, why am I keeping all this "stuff". Do I want my family or others to enjoy some of this now while I can see their enjoyment, or do I want others to struggle and probably fight over my things. Then I begin to think of my great grandmother and what she had, not much. Yet her home was the place I treasured visiting most and always wanted to be there.

So I started in "small baby steps" and soon it became second hand for me. If I wasn't using it or felt someone else could enjoy it, I gave it away. I kept some of my china cups and saucers, but most of them I gave to my oldest dd. She was thrilled. I kept my china doll collection because it still brings me joy. I gave away many of my quilting books just recently to friends on the internet who quilt because I no longer used them and wanted them to enjoy them. BUT IT WAS ALL IN BABY STEPS!!! I'm still a work in process!!

**QuilterMom** · 10-25-2004, 02:36 PM

Great suggestions CJ!

**Guest1** · 10-25-2004, 03:28 PM

Wonderful bump Kim....

CJ - you just never cease to amaze me - thank you for writing this to me today even though you penned it more than two years ago.....