WHY I LOVE MY SIMPLE GARDEN OF EDEN LIFESTYE
From an early age, I have always had a yearning for a quiet simple life, with as little stress and complications as possible. And to this day, in my sixties, that’s precisely what I am doing. Living a simple quiet lifestyle. Off the grid. and off the treadmill. And yes. It has been worth it. A journey that started in my 40’s. Yes, it took that long to get off the treadmill of life. Having worked and lived overseas through my twenties, thirties, and forties, the yearning stayed in me. When I think about it, it makes me think that we were not created to have all the stress that goes with how we live our lives. Neither were our bodies!!! We need to just stop. And rest amidst all that is going on around us. Because it is good and healthy and healing. I had worked hard in corporate and international community organizations to create a quality life for my daughter and I. Living in large and exciting cities provided great opportunities and entertainment, but what I once found exciting I began to find challenging. My brain felt increasingly overwhelmed with noise, excess stimulation, distractions, and ever-increasing crowds, all helping to pump up my stress levels. Noise. Noise. Noise. In my head.Around me. In me. Up went my blood pressure, until I consciously decided all ‘this’ wasn’t me. Much as I tried, I knew it wasn’t working for me, because of all the anxiety I was experiencing. I got tired of having to conform to the world’s standards to be ‘successful’. I wasn’t in tune with a world that demanded that ‘enough’ was always just a little more than I already had, and there wasn’t a lot of room left for the truly great pleasures of life: family, friends, and the time to enjoy them, nature and just being able to be and connect with God. I wasted many years just hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life doesn’t change. It has the potential to get even worse. I understood that my only real option was changing my life approach. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want any more prescriptions to mask another symptom of the real problem— chronic stress. It became apparent that I needed to get serious about simplifying my life. As a result, I found myself thinking about a quieter, more simplistic way of life, being closer to nature and in a more peaceful setting, which was more the person I was created to be. I worked from home surrounded by nature. I was more productive. And got my basic needs met, followed by enjoying what I had in my hands. And now I can say, by God’s grace, and by decluttering from the world and its demands, I really enjoy living my simple life where I co-exist with nature and live in my Mud Palace. BENEFITS OF THE SIMPLE LIFE The following are just some of the benefits of simplifying your life: You might choose to have fewer friends, but the friends you have will be much closer. It’s easier to focus on the other person when your life is more straightforward. The interaction is also sincere since you’re free of the need to impress them. Choose people in your life whom you can trust. The more things you own, the more responsibilities you have, the more you need to service your ego, and the less freedom you enjoy. You will find that simple things such as walking, looking at the clouds, and smelling flowers can make you so happy. A simple life gives you freedom from issues in life that should not be of major concern. It can be hard to learn to relax when you’re used to running around trying to get everything done. But free time is a gift that only a few truly appreciate. LIFE IS SIMPLE BUT WHY DO WE MAKE IT COMPLICATED? Have your say at Disqus!
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The Weight of Unforgiveness
Have you ever felt like a dagger in your heart when someone wronged you? Let’s be real. We’ve all been there. Maybe it was that time your bestie completely forgot about your big day. Maybe your dad just didn’t understand why you chose that career path, or perhaps it was the painful memories from school when you were picked on. And of course, there’s nothing like the pain that comes from betrayal by someone you share your life with. Be it a big incident or just a tiny slip, getting hurt is a universal experience. When we’re hurt, especially by those dear to us, it’s like an emotional storm brews within us. We feel rejected, scared, betrayed, or just downright insecure. Just like how a tiny cut can get seriously infected if we don’t treat it right, these emotional cuts can get infected too. They can fester with resentment, bitterness, and thoughts of revenge. Instead of helping ourselves heal with a dose of forgiveness, sometimes we unknowingly sip on the poison called unforgiveness. So, what is unforgiveness? Imagine holding onto a balloon filled with anger, resentment, and all those nasty emotions. That’s unforgiveness. It’s when we can’t let go of the pain someone caused us. Instead of healing and moving on, we keep replaying it in our heads, feeling that anger and hurt all over again. And just like any wound that doesn’t get the care it needs, with time, it doesn’t get better—it only gets worse. Imagine lugging around a massive backpack everywhere you go. At first, it might seem manageable, but as days turn into weeks and weeks into months, that bag becomes unbearably heavy. That’s what unforgiveness is like – a constant, heavy weight on our souls. And the longer we ignore it, the deeper it roots, pulling us down. Ladies, unforgiveness? It’s toxic. We’re feeding our souls with something that’s slowly poisoning us from the inside. But what does it do to us? Let’s dive into the negative effects of unforgiveness. So, diving right back in—unforgiveness? It’s like a whirlwind of chaos inside us. Picture it: an emotional hurricane that tosses up stress, anxiety, depression, insecurity, and a heap of fear. And beneath all of that? A heart that’s turned stone-cold. You see their face or even just hear their name, and suddenly you’re reliving all those emotions of anger, resentment, and bitterness. It’s like a never-ending replay of a painful past. And sometimes, the hurt takes over so much that we lose the zest for life. Sound familiar? Imagine your mind as a room, and unforgiveness. It’s like that oversized, obnoxious piece of furniture that takes up all the space, making it difficult to breathe. You replay that painful moment, dissecting every word, every gesture, like a film critic analyzing a movie. And maybe you’ve caught yourself crafting the perfect confrontation speech or daydreaming about some poetic justice. And, ugh, when we get caught in that loop? It’s not just about the current heartache. Suddenly, every bad memory from the past wants a starring role. It feels like we’re trapped in this twisted cinema of our own making. When we’re draped in unforgiveness, everything looks different. The world seems like a stage where every misstep feels like a scene directed against you. You start to walk on eggshells, expecting not just the one who hurt you, but everyone, to let you down. Before you know it, that pain isn’t just an emotion; it’s become your entire persona. And, ladies, it doesn’t stop there. Holding onto grudges isn’t just harmful to us; it’s also not our most glamorous side. Maybe you’ve found yourself ranting about that person one too many times or stretching the truth to gain a few sympathetic nods. And those passive-aggressive vibes, the silent treatments, or maybe the petty jabs? Not the best accessories we could choose. Reveling in someone else’s misfortunes or plotting revenge? It’s like we’re donning a cloak of negativity. Picture unforgiveness as a spill of red wine on a white carpet; it spreads, staining everything in its path. Maybe your partner or colleagues are tired of that same old rerun, or perhaps your friends are starting to keep their distance. And, let’s be real: it’s hard to share love and warmth when there’s a chill in our hearts. That distrust? It creates a wall between us and our loved ones. It’s like wearing armor 24/7 because we’re scared of getting hurt again. The cherry on this not-so-delicious cake? Unforgiveness doesn’t just tug at our heartstrings; it messes with our health too. Studies have linked it to high blood pressure, a weaker immune system, sleepless nights, lingering pain, and even heart troubles. And get this: because of its damaging effects, cancer treatments are now including forgiveness exercises to help patients heal. Sisters, let’s reclaim our space, our health, and our hearts. It’s time for a spring cleaning of the soul!
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