Is a Simple Life a Happy Life

SimpleLife/HappyLife

I have been thinking a lot this year about A Simple Life. Perhaps due to the pandemic or being post 60 years young, or just becoming tired. What does that even mean? Being one to define myself and my value from this or that work project, maybe I am finally hearing in my head all those books I have read, poems written and sages speaking of The Now, Be, Just Be. “No one ever worried about the office on their deathbed” strikes me as we have lost a couple close family members and friends this year. Death is so sudden, so permanent. I had a fellow friend, and worker say to me 35 years ago, You Know, The difference between us is this, I work to live, You live to work. Although I laughed it off, the picture in the rearview mirror isn’t funny, or even all that interesting. It’s All Behind Me, It’s All; Just Memories.

What Defines a HappyLife

SimpleLife/HappyLife sounds easy enough, but is it really a HappyLife? Is it as easy as hanging out with Bertie, My Bull Terrier, You know, The Target Dog? I am certainly pretty happy when Bertie is around, but are those fleeting moments enough to string together a HappyLife? Simple isn’t always Happy, nor is Happy always Simple. Maybe because we don’t always see what’s there, We don’t always see What Is. It seems as though we each have our own Truth. And that Truth is just another piece to our Life Puzzle. And the HappyLife thing has a trail of connotation laced to it,………………

Then How We Feel seems to have a big play in this. The Thought Leader Gurus suggest, When feeling gloomy, Just Pivot to a Better Feeling Thought, which leads to a Better Feeling Thought? As it turns out, our addictions overshadow our choices. This is an observation, not an excuse.

What Defines a SimpleLife

Enjoying the Stillness this Friday Night, Listening to the WindChimes Sing, Sing, Sing as this warm Indian Summer Day slides away. In a snap, its’ gone, Enjoy the Ride Friends, Take in the Views from Where You Are. Nothing needs to change, We Have All We Need. Or, maybe it does need to change, then Do That. As days get shorter and the nights longer, there seems to be more time. Time alone, with my thoughts. As the darkness of night falls upon us, and summer fades, Now What?

Be Still. Be Stillness. Be Grateful, Be Gratitude,………..

Simple Life Is Hard, or Not

I live in Royal Oak MI, just outside Detroit. It’s a lovely place during the week, and the weekends too, but many Michiganders scurry UpNorth at the end of those long weeks. I have a small Quonset Hut Cabin, a single room 20x20 space with a loft, deep into the woods. Deep enough that dark is dark, like you can’t see dark, completely OffGrid. No cell coverage, Just Nature. I have an on off love affair with OffGrid, and Sustainability. It’s cool, but hard work, always. Chop wood to stay warm, carry water, yada yada. This is a very simple life, and can be a fun life. I am only a weekend warrior OffGrider, but I fantasize about doing it full time. I would miss the City Life, I think. It’s pretty slow UpNorth. But I do admire those brave souls who sell everything and retreat to the wilderness to Live the Simple Life.

When Life Becomes Non-Life

It was 3:50AM Wednesday night. I found myself thinking about a High School chum who passed that day,…..When Life Becomes Non-Life. There have been a plethora of passings this year, 2020. Some are pretty close to my heart, and it causes much pause. All we have really, is the Stillness, and Memories. And,

Yes, Yes Indeed, We can string together enough fleeting moments to create a Happy Life, that is Simple.