It is the Simple Things in Life

It is my firm belief that most of the problems of this world could be solved if each of us followed a simpler path in life.  Realizing that many in this world live what we Americans would consider simple but that is only a cover.  People in second and third world countries live in poverty, but that in itself makes life very complex: it is called survival.  Even those of our own country who are poor, ten times more privileged than those just mentioned yet their life is compounded by their relative poverty.  So with that in mind, how do we make this work: finding the simple things in life and discovering what is really important?

Let us start with ourselves.  I just received an email from a very dear friend even though we have never met in four years of writing each other.  We do care for our friendship, and share in some common areas of our private lives.  So when I received this email, it did not surprise me its content.  Of course, the common or regular things, like how are you doing, are you well (both of us in our seventies).  But with this particular email she sent a wonderful powerpoint presentation of Orchids of Viet Nam, each orchid had a lovely statement.  I will share three of these in an attempt to help each of us to find our path to a simpler life.  The first from this download is: “Don’t deprive a person of hope; it could be the only thing a person owns.”

Each time the “545″ individuals meet, the elected administration, Congress and the Justices who have the governmental authority to control our destiny in the United States of America, they rob many of us of hope.  Since the great depression of the thirties, one give away program after another has been instituted to enslave a small segment of our people.  Yes, they are enslaved because rather than giving them incentive, government gives them dependency.  Each legislative session it seems a new entitlement is given, new dependents are added to this group of enslaved people.  Without incentive, you cannot have hope.  A free handout helps in emergencies, yet to build, you must have motivation, desire and hope.  Free is never free.  Someone has to pay for everything given to us as free.  Our basic freedom comes from the hands of our military, and I thank God for them often.  Suppose, if our “545″  rulers were to began to give us the opportunity to have simple lives, the cost of everything would go down, the need for more taxes would lessen, the economy would settle into a comfortable role and level out.

Let me build upon that theme before moving to another point from the email.  When you turn over your life to government by expecting them to take care of you, you compound the complexity of your life, not simplify.  You will never know what can or will happen when government is so big to provide all your needs, and they decide they are big enough to take all away from you.  That is compounding.  To simplify your life, you need to vote on those politicians who want smaller government, a more simple government with the solid basic foundation our constitution now holds for us.  We do not need judges who make law but who interpret law.  We do not need legislators who line their pockets with our money.  We do not need government to bailout failing empires who also rape the public through inflated prices, poor quality products and overly paid CEO’s.  So if government supports these actions, like right now, it is time for the people to simplify by electing new people who still listen to the public.

My second quote from the email is “Learn to keep some of your thoughts to yourself.”  Often we voice opinions that just are not necessary for those who listen to hear.  Some people call that gossip, but I call it cruel, for until I walk in the other person’s shoes, I have no way of knowing the troubles they are experiencing.  Now when it comes to groups, like a church group who is making a terrible move against the teachings of God, then it is time to be heard.  When small groups try to control the actions of the majority, it is time to be heard.  I do not want someone telling me when and where I can pray, not to whom I am allow to pray to.  I don’t see my praying at a public functions as the creation of a government religion.  I will carry a gun for it is my right and responsibility should my country need me.  I am basically against what is “Politically Correct” because it infringes upon my personal rights.  I do not believe in killing babies, murder is murder and each person engaged in this activity should be on trial.  You do not correct a loose style of life by killing the evidence, you quit living a loose life style.

I love to play pool with the old fellows at our Senior Citizen Center, but we have one fellow who is so very self centered, and rude it just gets to me badly. In almost four years of knowing this fellow, I often, in the past, corrected him when he was rude, or being childish.  It was affecting me, my game and my enjoyment of going out for this social event.  Finally, I learned to keep some of my thoughts to myself.  You know what happened, no the fellow did not change, he is still the obnoxious one.  What happened others began to correct him.  I was at peace with myself when it pertained to him.  Some times we cannot control our thoughts, but by golly, we can control our tongue and not share some of those thoughts.  It will make your life simpler if we do that, and use our thoughts to determine who should be part of the “545″ people running our nation.

Oh! I like this next quote.  “Discover pleasure in simple things: eating, breathing, walking, tasting, touching, seeing, sleeping…”  If you could see me, my size, you would know I enjoy eating.  An old fellow stopped me one day, knowing I was going through a rough period in my life at the time.  This is what he wanted me to know, “Stop and smell the roses.”  No lecture, no long speech on the right or wrong of the situation, just simply stop and smell the roses.  Do not take these small pleasures for granted, do them make them part of your daily life.  It took me sixty five years to finally learn to play the piano.  I seemed never able to put the two hands together working on the same piece of music.  Three times in my life I took piano lessons, over two years at a time, each time.  Never could get out of beginners.  About five years ago, Scott Houston was on Public Television, he said he could teach anyone to play the piano in fifteen minutes.  So I voiced out loud, “come on sucker, teach this old man.”  He broke the ice jam that was preventing me from playing with both hands.

In all fairness to you who aspire to play, I was a voice major in my college work, so knew something about music.  I just could not put my hands together.  Playing now is such a pleasure, I learn new techniques almost every time I play.  No I am not a concert pianist, but I play some rather complicated pieces by ear like: Vincent, Starry Starry Night, or Memories, and my version of St. Louie Woman.  Occasionally I play a little Latin, boogie woogie, country, or whatever hits my fancy.  Most songs that I have loved over the years I can play with a little practice and people like hearing me play.  I am telling you this so you understand the great pleasure I receive in my playing and this next part.  In March, 2009, I totaled a truck.  While still in the accident motion, I realized my left hand was in a position to be severed from my arm.  I prayed very quickly for God not to take my hand, I enjoyed playing so much after having tried for so long.  The truck rolled over my hand, and could have easily been severed at the wrist.  Instead, it was pushed into the soft mud and when the truck adjusted itself, I removed my hand from danger and it functions as always.  Playing is like smelling the roses to me, giving me and others great pleasure.

Our economic problems are being caused I believe because too many of our people put material things before family, before God, before even self.  We have loaded ourselves with big houses not needed, big cars and trucks not needed, big fishing boats not needed, expensive bikes or golf carts or plasma televisions, toys of every description and we are teaching our children these same values.  What we need for ourselves and our family is a great appreciation for the simple, priceless things in life.  I receive a  great thrill each spring when I see baby calves hitting the ground.  These are not mine but I get the pleasure.  New plants popping out of a well prepared garden row, baby chicks hatching or jumping on their mother’s back.  Roses unfurling, daisies popping up to face the sun.  A spring shower that washes the world around me.  Fish spawning, fawns or colts frolicking around, and nothing more energetic than a young kid goat.

One other point in making your life simple.  You may not believe in the same God I do, but get close and intimate with what you do believe.  As in my hand incident, my relationship with my God is private and personal, but oh! so intimate.  I see his planned beauty everywhere I look, and no place is void of some form of beauty.  Often we have to look beyond our limited mind set but even a horn toad is beauty, don’t you think.  I find peace and solace in my relationship with my God, I hope you can find the same with yours.  Enjoy simplicity.