Living Simply - No Beginning or End so Jump Right In

I've been thinking about how each of us can live a more simple and sane life. It isn't easy. We have our reasons why we have to do or buy this, that or the other thing. We are able to explain and justify why, for the time being, we're sticking with the status quo. We assure ourselves that one day, when the credit card is paid off, the kids are grown, or once we get organized, we will embark on our journey to a simple life.

Choosing to live simply isn't an all or nothing venture. There doesn't need to be a starting line because there isn't a finish line. It isn't a race. Most of us are running too many races as it is. We run sprints when someone hits the panic button and marathons the rest of the time. Many of us are so busy multi-marathoning that we are running in circles looking for the darn finish line.

If we accept that there isn't really a finish line to be crossed, maybe we can also accept that we can allow ourselves to change our pace, our goal and our name-brand sneakers. Maybe we can even stop right here, right now in the middle of the track and watch as other runners pass us by. What if we decided to walk the rest of the course?

What if, after having slowed down, we noticed a path leading away from the crowd of runners and chose to follow it just to see where it leads to. Would you feel as though you missed out on something? Or would you feel thankful that you were able to experience something that the sprinters and marathoners missed?

Maybe you're not ready to hang up your running shoes altogether, that's fine. For today you can jog instead of run or walk instead of jog. Here are some ideas that I love to get you off the fast track and choosing a more simple path.

Visit your library - Libraries are quiet. You can borrow books and magazines for free. This is a fun family or couple's outing.  (Its also a great way to temporarily escape a chaotic household.)

Turn off the radio in the car - listen to an audio book during your commute or just enjoy the solitude or better yet - car pool.

Walk the dog - What? You don't have a dog? Visit my favourite animal rescue Eat, Play, Love Animal Rescue they have oodles of puppies and adult dogs looking for a foster home or their forever family.

Bake cookies or cupcakes for a neighbour - Attach a note "Just thinking of you"

Make your own Christmas or birthday cards

Make a simple meal from scratch

Use cloth serviettes rather than paper

Avoid shopping as a form of “entertainment".

Make a "retreat corner" in your home - a chair with a little side table, a candle, a pretty journal.

Read my post On Being


Before you fall asleep each night - think of one thing about the day to be genuinely thankful for.

Small steps that allow us to live more slowly and simply help us to appreciate the individual moments that  make up our lives and  remind us that we don't have to run our lives as a race. 


Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Have a simply wonderful day,

Sandra