The Simple Life is the Better Life
The Simple Life is the Better Life
Probably for you and me both
I'm movin' to the country, I'm gonna eat a lot of peaches
I'm movin' to the country, I'm gonna eat me a lot of peaches
- The Presidents of the United States
Sometimes I think I live in a dream. Wake up, let the Dogs Out, do a workout, eat breakfast, and tend to the garden with my wife and daughter.
Then I head to work which is a short commute downstairs to my computer.
Having a family and property comes with its challenges but I've never been in a better headspace than I am now. Why? I believe it’s ‘cause I'm focused on things that naturally give me a sense of fulfillment and lead to a better life for my immediate family and friends …instead of being caught up in whatever is “going on” in the world.
I’ll elaborate.
While in college I started spending more time online. First for schoolwork, then for ACTUAL work. 8 hours PLUS each day stuck to a computer. Then as friends had less time to spend time together and life got busier, even socializing was online. via social media. This led to getting sucked into self-development gurus and business videos and blogs which eventually lead to conspiracy theories about why the world works the way it does.
After a few years, I realized that MOST of that stuff doesn’t matter. Tony Robbins is a scam and I don’t care who went to Epstein’s island.
All this time spent absorbed by screens and social media eventually led to a distortion of reality.
Artificial positivity from watching a CRINGE motivational video before a sales jobs.
Artificial Stress from listening to a podcast about the Clintons murdering people.
Then I realized SO MANY PEOPLE OPERATE THIS WAY…in a distorted reality from something they watched, read, and listened to online…and they take those beliefs and emotions into the real world.
I think many people go through phases in an attempt to improve themselves and educate themselves and undoubtedly found themselves in deep dark rabbit holes. I did it during graduation, during a huge career shift, and while preparing for our daughter to enter the world. Certain changes in your life make you reevaluate and ask questions and do your own research, which has it’s benefits. But it can also cause stress.
Here are few things have helped me convert to the simple life.
Build your Reality
Get busy with your own life. Hobbies and Chores. Get some hobbies that you want to get good at. In my opinion, hobbies should do 4 things:
Get you to Socialize with other like-minded people
Keep you in shape
Help you be creative
In some cases, make money.
Gardening and Homesteading have helped me do these.
Take a Calculated risk. We bought a fixer-upper house in 2020, got married, rescued a puppy from the woods, and had a baby AND switched careers. Worth it.
Get to know your Neighbors. If you want to save the world start with your own backyard. Get involved in your family, your church, your neighborhood.
Minding My Own Business
It really is hard for me not to watch videos that agitate me. Whether it’s a clip of Blackrock CEO talking about digital currency or Russell Brand talking about the end of the world (again). It’s in our nature to CLICK on that stuff.
But it’s not reality.
If Everyone Focused on Improving their own families, neighborhoods and communities, the world would be a better place. Not everyone needs to save the world and most that claim to be doing so are lying anyway.