If honest, most people would probably admit that they are eager to live lives that are less complicated, less stressful , less hurried and less demanding.
Most of the people live under some degree of constant stress concerning careers, finances, parenting or relational issues. Often the daily stress we experience is a direct natural consequence of our own choices .... overspending, over committing, maintaining a facade of a picture of perfection and success.
I'm sure my kids tired of hearing me say throughout their growing up years:
" Choose the behavior, choose the consequence"
One day living in the sunshine, the next staring into a deep black hole of "now what". No income, no health insurance, living on reserves, all future financial security hanging in the balance, savings dwindling at lightning speed. A situation that forced me to take inventory of personal priorities, do some serious soul searching, take life it to its simplest form and make some hard decisions.
Life today looks nothing like that prior life..... as humbling as the journey has been, my perspective is sharper, clearer and simpler. I have learned to:
- Be satisfied with only what I need and live well within my present means
- Find beauty, value, and worth in everything and everyone around me
- Remain positive ... make excellence of character the personal standard
- Not try to be more or less than God intended for me
- Be kind and loving even when I don't feel like it
- Live a lifestyle that is simple to care for
- Keep an 'big picture' perspective
Simple is not always easy and it often remains very complicated. Sometimes it is hard not to long for the past. Often it feels like I am a shadow of who I once was and the dreams of long ago have evaporated. But, life goes on and I count my blessings in a fresh way every morning.
Yielding all I know about me to all I know about Him.
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