My 2007 thus far has been a state of constant motion, with lots of little challenges and and very full daily calendars. I typically thrive in times like these – as I say in “The Daily Grind”, “chaos brings me clarity“.
Sometimes however there are days, like yesterday, where the thought of the “Simple Life” pops into my head – a prospect of a life less hectic and more idyllic.
This thought usually has a musical accompaniment, the aptly titled “Simple Life” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin:
And I won’t break and I won’t bend
But someday soon we’ll sail away
To innocence and the bitter end
And I won’t break and I won’t bend
And with the last breath we ever take
We’re gonna get back to the simple life again
Along with the music comes several questions – Does such a Shangri-La really exist? Is untying all the knots of our life really the right thing to do? Was the life we want to go “back” to really that simple? What does simple really mean?
The dictionary doesn’t help – I checked this morning, and the word “simple” has a whopping 29 meanings, many of them derogatory.
I don’t believe I’m the only one a bit confused here – look at reality TV and how they mock the concept by putting “society gals” into supposedly “simple” settings (how dreadful).
Consequently, this morning I find myself in much the same place when I pondered the word “nice” – if a change is really needed, describing it as going to a “simple life” is just way too vague.
I know several people in the blogosphere who can make very good sense with the idea of simplicity – Trevor Gay, Mike Sigers, and Rich G, just to name a few. It’s just in this particular context I believe it doesn’t work, at least for me.
So, next time I feel a bit overwhelmed I’ll think of some other solution catch phrase, and sing another song……….like this one (thanks Steve Winwood):
It used to seem to me
That my life ran on too fast
And I had to take it slowly
Just to make the good parts last
But when you’re born to run
It’s so hard to just slow down
So don’t be surprised to see me
Back in that bright part of town
I’ll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
I’ll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched me once will smile and take me in
And I’ll drink and dance with one hand free
Let the world back into me
And on I’ll be a sight to see
Back in the high life again
Yep, from now on I’m going back to the high life. Takin’ it slowly to make the good parts last, and dancing with one hand free. At least until I find a better place to go back to…… 
Have a great weekend everyone!
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Me – I’m a happy simpleton!
It does tickle my sense of whimsy that there is a multi-billion dollar market in coaching, books, and publications to help us simplify. When all we really need to do is stop and think a bit (and stop spending money on stuff to make our lifes simpler.)
That said, I love the magazine Real Simple. But, I don’t subscribe. I simplified. I read it at the library (no more piles to recycle, subscriptions to pay.)
Hi Mary – sounds like you’ve incorporated “simple” much better than I have! And you’re happy with it, to boot. I guess it wouldn’t surprise you I don’t subscribe to Real Simple either – I read it at the J. Jill clothing store while my wife shops, on something that the workers at the store call the “man chair”. Smart store! All the best.