I love simplicity.
Probably because I’m simple.
Less noise. More peace. Less chaos. More calm. Less rushing. More stillness. Less strategy. More instinct. Less synthetic. More organic. Less thinking. More feeling. Less working. More creating. Less business suits. More flannel shirts. Of course. 
Simplicity is what I desire. It’s what makes me happy.
Have you noticed that, sometimes, life in 2010 seems to be unnecessarily complicated? Could it be that, in the midst of all our advances and cleverness, in some ways, we’ve regressed? Maybe, sometimes, more is less, and less is more? Maybe, while we’re chasing more, what we really need is less? Maybe we’ve been duped? Maybe a phone with six million apps in not what’s really missing in our life?
Perhaps we need to step out of our life (or part thereof) for a moment. Perhaps, for a lot of moments. Perhaps, forever.
It’s hard to see something with any clarity or objectivity when we’re in the middle of it. Be that a career, a business, a relationship, a group, a project, a habit, a challenge, a situation or a circumstance. Sometimes, it’s only when we get away from something (or, maybe, someone) that we see things for what they are and begin to understand the impact (good or bad) that a particular thing (or person) might have on us.
Sometimes we need space.
Mental space. Emotional space. Physical space.
From people. From situations. From commitments. From obligations. From Pressure. From expectations. From routine. From habits.
Space to breathe. To slow down. To unlearn. To acknowledge. To let go. To see. To feel. To be.
Today, I’m encouraging you to find some space. 
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Love it!
cheers Kate
Then we better all get off our computers and facebook and go for a walk down the beach.
Be in that since 2003. Makes life more concious in all areas and it is fun to practise.
Love your writing, Craig.
Sounds good, anon (above).
Craig, you so often have a way of bringing peace to my day. I couldn’t agree more and would just like to add two other favourites of mine to your post’s suggestions….solitude and silence.
If we all had more of those 3 in our lives – simplicity, solitude and silence – I think we’d reap the benefits. We’d definetely be closer to our true selves.
A walk along the beach, a trip to the mountains….whatever it takes.
The weekend is coming…so perhaps we should all take some time and experience life as it’s meant to be – uncomplicated.
Hugs all,
Mon ( )
YEAH – Simple is best… Simple = a life worth living:) Kate
me too about the simple things. Just look at how we get when we over think- when our headspace is not simple? Obviously simple is good
Nice post Craig.
It cut through to me so much, I just had to go back and read it two more times!
Your timing is impeccable … as usual.
That third paragraph sums up my thoughts recently … except for the flannel shirts bit.
Lately, on more occassions than I care to admit, I’ve caught myself dreaming of walking the Overland Track (Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair … it takes more than a week). I think the whole getting-out-in-nature thing is a sure-fire way to get some perspective on one’s existence.
For now, I’ll settle for a walk on the beach with the dog.
Em
x ( )
How about spending the first 10 minutes upon waking just sitting still and doing a mini meditation.
Set the tone for the rest of the day.
Sure beats the hell out of waking up to the news (bombings, murders, natural or un-natural disasters, think BP in the Gulf of Mexico).
All it takes is a cancer diagnosis to make appreciating the simple things our mantra…
In the Vedic scriptures this is known as ‘simple living, high thinking’. Simplifying your life so that you have more time and head space to focus on spiritual development.
No-one has seemed to notice the drastic decline in spirituality that came with the economic incline in our country.
It also says in the Vedic scripitures that we in the age of ‘chaos and confusion’ (Kali Yuga). Yes- there is definitely non-stop chaos!! and yes there is definitely confusion!- same sex marriages, sense gratification is the goal of life, people dressing and relating to their dogs like humans, human sex is not limited to the human race, people get off on eating other peoples stool in some sick corners of the world (sorry to be so confronting, but its all true!).
Simple living, high thinking- that is, the using our minds to think of higher purposes, such as living in accordance with the will of God.
Thanks for all your motivation and thoughts.
Luv this
… just what I needed!!! Thank you, Mon 
Totally agree. I try to do this often. Its actually quite a nice feeling just being still and letting the chaos just go on around you. This is of course once I have recovered from the frustration of it all. Its like a ‘build up tear down’ kinda thing.
Happy Friday all and have a fantastic weekend.
x
It’s hard to find peace here in busy Sydney but last night I was asleep in my cosy small unit i’m staying at in the inner city and found it!
Simplicity – isn’t there an iPhone app for that?
Yes Craig so true
KISS = keep it simple stupid. As in keep your life as simple as possible
There is nothing like sitting out around a fire in the middle of nowhere watching the stars. Am I the only female who loves camping and fishing in the wilderness and can go for weeks without a proper shower, rather than sitting in a hotel room being waited on and watching cable.
We have so much in the western world but we are less happy than ever.
Sue
Hi Craig,
I found simplicity when I was forced into a situation to completely stop. Everything in my life stopped, you may even say I collapsed.
It was then that I realised I had stepped out of MY life. I felt lost and disconnect to life and me.
I was always too busy as a mother,wife and employee to stop and take a breath. To stop and enjoy what was around me. I don’t ever remember making me time (apart from my walking which I always loved) and I was always tired trying to fit in and do for everyone.
This situation GAVE me my space and peace. It taught me that I deserve to have time to myself without guilt. It taught me how wonderful life with the ‘less’ as you say should be. It’s been extremely hard finding peace,letting go and finding me but I am here and I plan to stay and learn from my past.
ps by the way Craig I don’t wear flannel shirts but I really love wearing thick wind cheaters!
Love the post by craig & also the ones by fellow readers.Please do write smthng about follwoing your simple dreams,in the midst of this world full of competition.
Thanks,Suchi
Are there two Mon’s ? Or was that a mistake above?
Anyhow, you’re welcome….to the other Mon. (now, I’m confused).
Our lives would be much better, if it were uncluttered and simple. I still recall with nostalgia the uncomplicated lives of 60′s and 70′s, when there were no computers, no internet, no mobile phones, no cable television. We had lots of time at our disposal to pursue the simple hobbies like stamp collecting, interacting with friends, prancing around in the rain or simply lazing under the sun.
People don’t know what to do these days when they are alone and in their own space. They don’t understand what it means to sit and contemplate the world in which we live……… not so much the world as a planet but the world in our heads. People complicate issues that 50 and 60 years ago wouldn’t have been an issue. Simple is the key. I struggle with finding the simple ways of life – and so wish that things in my direct contact were more simple.