The Simple Life

Recently, we have been going through the process of selling my late in-law’s house in the Hill Country.  Although the time has come to move on, it is a process that speaks volumes of where we are in our lives.  Any time we drive the hour outside of Austin, I feel a sense of calm and relief to be out of the hustle and bustle of the big city.  When we arrive at the house that we have visited countless times over the years for family gatherings, I feel disconnected to what my life is in Austin and enjoy the quiet and calm that it allows.  I am sad that we are closing this chapter in our lives that has had such an impact and impression on our family, but realize that selling the house and acreage is part of the process of moving on.  Even though we are selling the house, I have been on the hunt for something to come close to the way I feel when we arrived at my in-laws’ house for our family to have a weekend getaway place. It is what I deem a simpler way of living that would allow us to slow down and be present to the people we are engaging with and in our surroundings.  It is a difficult feeling to capture when I am at home in the frantic way of our life as I imagine it to be. But, what if we could capture that same feeling of SLOWING DOWN and enjoying our own surroundings instead of feeling like it is “OUT THERE” somewhere waiting for us? 

Years ago, I had a family friend, who I think of as my Yoda, tell me, “Whatever it is you are trying to change or get to isn’t ‘out there’, but inside you.”  I didn’t understand that until I had moved, and realized that all I was doing was living the same life in a different place, playing the same role. It was an interesting thing to discover.

Recently I have been searching for an Utopia to cure my ails, whatever that may be at the time.  While there are certainly many beautiful and peaceful Hill Country locales where the pace of life slows down and the concept of stress seems nonexistent, in reality, I know there is no magical Shangri-La to serve as a panacea for all one’s ails. 

So, until I do reach those proverbial golden years, and ride off into the Hill Country sunset, I try and find calm and solace right here at home.   Just spending a half hour outside on our back deck listening to the birds and watching the squirrels, I can decompress and let all the stress and tensions of the day drift away.

I think we are all so caught up in what we consider the next big thing we forget to be thankful for what we have and all that we are accomplishing along the way. Authenticity is what counts, and once you slow down within your own current environment, and are grateful with the fruits of your labor instead of wanting more, it is an awesome place to be.  

There is a lot of joy in each day; you just need to look for it. A few simple ways to find joy are to appreciate the small things, laugh more, and surround yourself with positive people. 

I remember my dad telling me years ago, it is more important to be content than to strive for happiness because happiness is fleeting.  So, instead of looking outward trying to find the perfect place to relax and feel at ease, I intend to work on feeling relaxed and at ease in the current environment I have worked hard to achieve.  At some point you need to be able to rest on your laurels!

Try for a moment of two to slow down, make some space, and see how your day becomes more simple.