Simplicity

I really connected with the article “Simplicity,” from wisdomcommon.org.  While I was reading the article all I could think about was how I am forced to simplify my personal time each day by not getting “lost in a clutter of distractions.”  

For instance, for as long as I can remember my parents have made me be responsible for getting myself up and ready for school each morning. I like to sleep as late as possible, but I know I have to accomplish several tasks before I need to be out the door and in the car heading for school.  So over the years I have learned the hard way to let go of things like hitting the snooze button, watching cartoons and playing with my dog.  All of these things are distractions that steal time from my routine.  The last thing I want to hear all the way to school is my mom nagging about what I could have done to be ready on time.  My mom would agree with the author, Matthieu Ricard “Simplicity helps us to maintain clarity of mind and purpose.”  So, I would say my mom is one of my incentives for simplifying. The other bonus is that if I do maintain my focus, which is difficult, (and doesn’t happen every day), I get done early and then do something fun with that extra time.

The same thing happens when I come home from school.  I feel like time is my opponent.  The clock is ticking away and I have to fit in homework, dinner and chores before I can relax and go to bed.  So I am forced to simplify.  As the author says,”…with an attitude of simplicity we strive to keep ourselves focused on the essential core…”  When I think about simplifying, I think of my priorities and then everything falls into place.  As I’ve gotten older and have gotten more homework and more responsibilities, usually time wins.  So I would agree with Jim Horning when he said, “Nothing is as simple as we hope it will be.”