As I sit out on my little patio, in my backyard with the wind blowing through my hair, watching my sweet little girl play, I become so absorbed in the moment. Such a peace washes over me and I'm so thankful that I'm here, present and engulfed, in this very moment. Watching my little mismatched, ponytail girl as she shovels dirt in her bucket and carefully dumps it back out. She's all dirty, with sweat glistening off her little pug nose. Concentrating so hard to do her job. So into her play. So content. I soak up the moment, milk it for every second I can before I'm distracted.
As this moment in time plays out, my mind starts wandering and I think about how less is more.
Days fly by, babies grow up, the world keeps on spinning--but how fast? When you have less, it seems that you have a little more time on your hands.
Remember back before we all had cell phones...Facebook and Twitter? We had more time. Instead of scrolling through to see what everyone else was up to, we were busy living our own lives. There was no one except those closest to us to share it with either. It wasn't "oh I'm going to visit insert the cool place you're going!!" Before you even get there, you're tweeting it. When you arrive, you're so busy snapping pics to post on Instagram that you don't even take it all in.
Time is precious. Time is of the essence.
You've heard the age old saying "There isn't enough time in the day." ? I'm realizing that there can be. It's not that there isn't enough time in the day. How much time you get out of a day all depends on how you spend it. People have so many vices, so many obligations, (that we mostly put on ourselves) so many activities to get kids to, so much competition, so much pressure--we don't just live our own lives. We're too worried about chasing what everyone else has, and sharing it with everyone when we get "there." You know, there, to that place where others have been before you and you wanted to be.
I've been"there" and it wasn't all I thought it would be. For years, I dreamed of a nice big house, nicer vehicles, being able to afford more of the better things in life. I got a little taste of it, and it was nice...but it cost my precious time.
We've recently downsized and moved to a much smaller house in a nice quiet little neighborhood.
In our other house, we had a lot more room, a huge yard, land to roam. We lived in the country so we had more pets. Everything there, was more. Bigger. Probably "better" in some people's eyes. But what is better really?
The move has taught me something on a small scale in the big scheme of things. Less house means less time I spend cleaning and more time I spend with my family. Less animals means my trusty old Luna dog gets loads of attention and is much happier. Less yard to be mowed and animals to be cared for means I get more time with my husband. Less stuff, means less stress.
I'd be a liar if I said I didn't miss the bigger house. I miss looking out across the open field where you could see for miles. I loved gazing out across the open scape of land and watching the birds fly. Nearly every day I lived there, I'd watch the sun rise in the morning and go down at night, the stars as they appeared. It was beautiful. My view isn't nearly as nice now. I see the tops of houses and power lines. I miss my pets that I had to part with, I worry every day if they're happy in their new homes. But although I miss all that, I am experiencing something different now. Less.
And less is a bit intoxicating. I have just what I need. I have more time, more energy, and more spunk. I'm not so bogged down trying to keep life running smoothly. I'm able to stop and take a breath and breathe in living.
There's nothing wrong with bettering your life. But sometimes, I have to force myself to slow down and see what's already there.
If we're not careful, we can miss out on the experience of life itself while trying to attain more. A Greek philosopher once said, "The only constant in life is change." What a true quote that is. There will always be more to strive for. More money to be made. More things that we want. But what about that constant? Change. Everything around you is continually changing. Not just finances and stuff and status. Children grow, people's views and interests change, the holidays come and go, seasons change and where are you? Have you been living and experiencing, embracing life? Have you noticed nature? Have you sat and studied your baby's face.... have you relearned your spouse lately? Or have you been chasing life. Chasing the more.
Chasing the more can lead you down a path where you become lost. You fill in the gaps and ruts with more stuff. Not more living. I chased the rabbit down the hole for a bit, and now, after the fact, I realize that I was missing out on life. I was losing time. Time with my kids, time with my husband, time with myself. Time to talk to Jesus. Time to enjoy a good book and cup of coffee, time to take walks and notice God's beautiful creation, time to stop and listen. I was so tied down to what the world's definition of success is, that I was failing to see just how successful I was by my own measure. My own heart's desires. I was depriving myself of being present and in the moment. I have a beautiful family. I have a roof over my head. I have a vehicle to get me where I need to go. I'm free, and have a mind that is full of dreams and ideas. I love who I am. I love who my family is. I love us.
Time is precious. Time is of the essence. Time is real and never stops. Time is what I want more of, so therefore-- less, gives me more of that.
And we lived happily ever after
The End :)
As this moment in time plays out, my mind starts wandering and I think about how less is more.
Days fly by, babies grow up, the world keeps on spinning--but how fast? When you have less, it seems that you have a little more time on your hands.
Remember back before we all had cell phones...Facebook and Twitter? We had more time. Instead of scrolling through to see what everyone else was up to, we were busy living our own lives. There was no one except those closest to us to share it with either. It wasn't "oh I'm going to visit insert the cool place you're going!!" Before you even get there, you're tweeting it. When you arrive, you're so busy snapping pics to post on Instagram that you don't even take it all in.
Time is precious. Time is of the essence.
You've heard the age old saying "There isn't enough time in the day." ? I'm realizing that there can be. It's not that there isn't enough time in the day. How much time you get out of a day all depends on how you spend it. People have so many vices, so many obligations, (that we mostly put on ourselves) so many activities to get kids to, so much competition, so much pressure--we don't just live our own lives. We're too worried about chasing what everyone else has, and sharing it with everyone when we get "there." You know, there, to that place where others have been before you and you wanted to be.
I've been"there" and it wasn't all I thought it would be. For years, I dreamed of a nice big house, nicer vehicles, being able to afford more of the better things in life. I got a little taste of it, and it was nice...but it cost my precious time.
We've recently downsized and moved to a much smaller house in a nice quiet little neighborhood.
In our other house, we had a lot more room, a huge yard, land to roam. We lived in the country so we had more pets. Everything there, was more. Bigger. Probably "better" in some people's eyes. But what is better really?
The move has taught me something on a small scale in the big scheme of things. Less house means less time I spend cleaning and more time I spend with my family. Less animals means my trusty old Luna dog gets loads of attention and is much happier. Less yard to be mowed and animals to be cared for means I get more time with my husband. Less stuff, means less stress.
I'd be a liar if I said I didn't miss the bigger house. I miss looking out across the open field where you could see for miles. I loved gazing out across the open scape of land and watching the birds fly. Nearly every day I lived there, I'd watch the sun rise in the morning and go down at night, the stars as they appeared. It was beautiful. My view isn't nearly as nice now. I see the tops of houses and power lines. I miss my pets that I had to part with, I worry every day if they're happy in their new homes. But although I miss all that, I am experiencing something different now. Less.
And less is a bit intoxicating. I have just what I need. I have more time, more energy, and more spunk. I'm not so bogged down trying to keep life running smoothly. I'm able to stop and take a breath and breathe in living.
There's nothing wrong with bettering your life. But sometimes, I have to force myself to slow down and see what's already there.
If we're not careful, we can miss out on the experience of life itself while trying to attain more. A Greek philosopher once said, "The only constant in life is change." What a true quote that is. There will always be more to strive for. More money to be made. More things that we want. But what about that constant? Change. Everything around you is continually changing. Not just finances and stuff and status. Children grow, people's views and interests change, the holidays come and go, seasons change and where are you? Have you been living and experiencing, embracing life? Have you noticed nature? Have you sat and studied your baby's face.... have you relearned your spouse lately? Or have you been chasing life. Chasing the more.
Chasing the more can lead you down a path where you become lost. You fill in the gaps and ruts with more stuff. Not more living. I chased the rabbit down the hole for a bit, and now, after the fact, I realize that I was missing out on life. I was losing time. Time with my kids, time with my husband, time with myself. Time to talk to Jesus. Time to enjoy a good book and cup of coffee, time to take walks and notice God's beautiful creation, time to stop and listen. I was so tied down to what the world's definition of success is, that I was failing to see just how successful I was by my own measure. My own heart's desires. I was depriving myself of being present and in the moment. I have a beautiful family. I have a roof over my head. I have a vehicle to get me where I need to go. I'm free, and have a mind that is full of dreams and ideas. I love who I am. I love who my family is. I love us.
Time is precious. Time is of the essence. Time is real and never stops. Time is what I want more of, so therefore-- less, gives me more of that.
And we lived happily ever after
The End :)
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