A Simple Life - the beginnings

SIMPLE LIFE

A Simple Life – the beginnings

‘Dreams come a size too big…so we can grow into them.’

Josie Bisset

I’ve been reading much lately about living ‘a ‘simple life‘ one not complicated by the expectations of society. Not the ‘declutter’ fad that seems to be growing as fast as Ikea can create imaginative ways to store it all.

I’m not thinking of matching fabric covered boxes held in shelving units made especially for them or 100 ways to declutter your kitchen. It doesn’t mean giving away all our possessions and living in a teepee either.

I’m not certain what our version of a simple’ life will look like but it’s really starting to excite me.

So what is a simple life and why does it have such appeal for so many?

Time to just do nothing at all, home grown food, less time on computers and TV, moments to share with friends and family, even something as easy to achieve as a good book and a comfortable chair.

We have been unknowingly living a simple life for years now, it comes with renovating, our need for ‘things’ slowly released it’s strangle hold. I had no choice really as most of my treasures have been in boxes for numerous moves, this last big move to Italy has us pared down to a handful of stored boxes for each of our lives to date.

We will head off with a few suitcases and the only thing that will follow later are Sam’s tools and Luca’s dinosaurs.

This is an adventure, we are stepping into the unknown….creating life as it happens!

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This is what YOU thought!

Carla Ann Coulson – Friends, food, fresh air and love…

Tracy Robinson – Living a simple life, less social media, more books, enjoying and appreciating nature… Simple dinners with family and friends, long walks, less car time, holding hands with my fiance, snuggling with my pooch, laying on the grass watching the clouds go by, needing less material items…

Ryrie Wild – Strolling on a beach; playing with my grandson; looking in second-hand stores; reading in a comfy chair in the shade; cooking a lovely meal for family or friends; wishing wells; taking photos of whatever takes my fancy……..

Lourayne Mahood – Time with my sons, friends and cats. Beautiful food and wine. Good bread. Clean, crisp linen. Triple milled soap. Fresh flowers. Smiles

For The Love Of Italy – Wild rosemary. A glass of wine. The setting sun. And soon afterward… fireflies. Soulful conversation with my best friend. A fresh breeze dancing amongst clothes decorating the clothesline. I’ve seen all these things at once. I don’t sound too demanding, do I?

Jos Parkinson – To me it means finding joy in the simple things. Like taking time sit with a cup of tea & look at the beautiful flowers in my garden. Enjoying a walk along the beach with my family & thinking how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful country.

Michelle M Burke – Living a simple life, what does it mean to me? I’ve been searching for this and I think, maybe I’ve found it…to live in the country, and breath in the fresh air, the peace, the birds, the kids running around and just being themselves..loving each other and having appreciation for what we have been given x

Bronwyn Marquardt – To be happy with the things I have rather than worried about what I don’t have. To be grateful for the joy and beauty in life, nature, my children and our world. To enjoy the simple things in life – good food, a roof over our heads, safe water to drink, each other, pets, friends, family and love. Oh and chocolate. It’s nice to have chocolate.

Sarah Ager – For me, a simple life is being content with what you have and taking great pleasure in the small things even if it’s just a cup of tea after a long walk or extra froth on your cappuccino! If I have the opportunity in the future, I’d love to grow my own vegetables and herbs. I think growing your own food would make you really appreciate the taste & value because you put so much effort into it. I don’t know if others feel the same.

Jeannie Marshall – A simple life would have big stacks of books, comfortable leather chairs and good reading lamps. Doesn’t sound so hard to achieve once you write it down.

Karen-Louise Taylor – The simple life is making the best of what you have & trying to be as self sufficient as possible. A life where possessions are not as important as friendships.

Monica Cesarato – A simple life is to take each day as a gift and treasure it!

I’d love to hear more about your idea’s for living a ‘simple life”and if you are achieving them…

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and the gang x

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currybadger says:
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I think my simple life involves a lot of beer, wine and computer programming.

Cheers
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  how on earth did you come up with the name Mr Currybadger? Great to see you are ‘down under’ and you certainly won’t have to look far for that first simple pleasure, great to meet you ciao lisa
Lisa Chiodo says:
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How fabulous Margaret, if you do a post let me know and I’ll link to you!! A TV that doesn’t work sounds like perfection, and I would love to have a bath so I can go and read, now we have a shower so the only place to escape the brood is the loo! Definitely fresh sheets, an open window with a light breeze, nowhere to get and plenty of time to get there! ciao love lisa x
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Margaret says:
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…. fewer bills, less paperwork. A coffee at a cafe where you catch up with friends and people you know. A head that’s not full of chatter, that has space and time to feel creative. An afternoon painting. A morning in the garden. Time to prepare and cook a meal with care instead of on the run. Tenderly picking vegies you’ve grown yourself. A late afternoon drink. A television that doesn’t work. A laptop that’s used like a good book. A good book because you can’t take a laptop in the bath. Candlelight. Fresh sheets … eeewww Lisa I can feel a blog post coming on. Thanks for the inspiration x
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Sounds like my idea of heaven, all possible I just need to get off the computer xxx
Francesca Muir says:
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Simplifying my life means slowing down, taking time to be with people I love and doing the things I love; de-cluttering my surroundings and my mind and taking off the suit of armour – ahhhh – so liberating. See you soon. F x
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  It seems to be all about connecting, with our friends family and environment. Needing less and enjoying more, that suit of armour must go!! See you in Sydney, very excited to see where this new venture takes us!!
  love lisa x
Lisa wood says:
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our simple life is basically living with each other where ever we are, with whatever we have. No stuff to tie us down, no material possessions that take up too much dust in our life(style) and only having what we need.
Getting rid of the useless stuff means we are truly living.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Wow Lisa I saw this so perfectly today at Westfield when all I wanted to do was GET OUT as soon as possible. Christmas seems to mean nothing more than the latest sale, I didn’t want anything till I went in and then started looking at all those nice items I’d just ‘love’ to have….but don’t need and can’t afford!! We are selling everything, in fact today I sold the kids school uniforms LOL x
Tracy says:
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I try and try and try Lisa… I think the next step for me will be trying to find a more simpler work life… Thanks for linking my photography site, you are so lovely for doing that! Great post!
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Hey Tracy I had no idea you had these other web sites, it was funny as I skimmed over the page and saw an image which looked like yours LOL I’m making a links page for the blog and will pop you in as well. Hope all is okay with you and your Mum recovers soon x
Kelly says:
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I’m so happy for you guys! I’m hoping someday I’ll be able to join you in that village and enjoy the simple life also. Until then it is work, work, work to have $$ to get me to that simple life place I want to be. 🙂
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  thanks Kelly, I think we have been living with this in mind for such a long time that we have gotten into the habit of saying ‘oh no we don’t really need that cause we’re moving to Italy’. I see how easily we can just spend more time with our children, our daughter recently learned to do cross stitch with her Nona and next time she visits is going to teach her to knit….she didn’t even look at the TV for days LOL x
Janine says:
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Cara Lisa, Living a simple life, I think, has to do with knowing what’s important. And that’s different for everyone. My ‘simple’ though has to do with being in a place that gives me all I need just walking down the street. Doing simple everyday things that feel rich beyond compare. Greeting people who look at you and you look at them and there’s a connection. Italy’s as close as I come to that feeling. I think you’d agree. xx
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Just beautiful Janine, a connection with people and place is so important. Perhaps being in the moment and appreciation for what we have, a gifting of what we don’t need, and looking for ways to improve the world for our children each day xx
jann says:
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Hi Lisa–For me it’s focusing on people instead of money and things. Staying out of big box stores. Cultivating a friendship with the roving vendor. Savoring a coffee with a neighbor. Celebrating a saint’s day with fellow villagers. xxxxxx
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Absolutely all those things and so much more, xxx
Cathy says:
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It is hard to pinpoint what exactly makes a simpler life. I think your readers have covered some great ideas. My view is that we need friends and family to nourish our souls, food to sustain us and a roof over our heads.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  So true Cathy and also the time to enjoy each of these, perhaps it is getting away from the relentless stream of online information and noise?
  love lisa x
  PS I’m so enjoying reading everyone’s ideas and what it is that has them lead a fulfilled life that they love x