18 things to remember on the journey to a simple life

18 seconds was the number to cross the road

​During my stay in Kotor, I found that I often had to wait more than 10 times that amount to let the cars pass and yet I only got 18 seconds to make the dash.

Reflecting on this, I began to draw a parallel with my journey towards a simpler life. ​

Making the move to create a simple life

​Often the bias in life is like the flow of traffic which gets more seconds, if not minutes, to pass. The cars sweeps along, safety in numbers, not getting interrupted too frequently with stops. The cars are like our culture. What the majority of people in society adhere to. The societal norms. What seems to be expected nowadays.

On the other hand, the pedestrians are those people in life wanting to do something different. Live a different sort of life to the norm. Create a simpler and more meaningful life for themselves.

​They are the ones standing at the side waiting for their moment to step out into the road, against the flow of traffic, trusting that the lights will do their work and the traffic will obey and come to a standstill to let them safely make their crossing.

​Yet just like those pedestrians we still need to take the leap of faith to cross. To move towards a life that is meaningful to us.

Take a simple leap of faith in life

​Yet just like those pedestrians we still need to take the leap of faith to cross. To move towards a life that is meaningful to us. We still need to believe in the lights’ power. Believe in our own ability to make a way and stand firm in what we believe is priority to us. Despite what comes our way at times.

The pedestrians only get 18 seconds to cross. And we too have limited time in this one wild and precious life.

Are we going to spend it waiting hesitantly from the side-lines, too afraid to stand out from others or stand up for what we believe?

Or are we going to going to step out for what we believe is important in life, despite the force of the traffic across our path? Are we going to hold onto our beliefs that a different way is possible even if it is not that common and at times not necessarily that easy?

Stepping out to do something different always requires a leap of faith and a dose of courage.

But you never know, it may just give the hesitant people waiting behind you, the courage to make their move too.

So, as you wait for your 18 seconds to cross, I’d like to pass on some things that I have learnt as I move towards a simpler life.

I hope they encourage you when you feel disheartened in your attempts to create a simpler life for yourself. Forging a different path in life is possible and it is absolutley worth it!

18 things to remember on the journey to a simple life

 1. Creating a simpler life isn’t always simple.

Life can be complicated. Sometimes it can take a while to peel off the layers to find a simpler way through.

2. Despite your best efforts, things will always come along to get in your way.

Patience, resilience and persistence need to be your friends.

3. Just because everyone else does it or says it, doesn’t make it the absolute truth. 

Or right for you.

4. Don’t wait for other’s approval to make your move. 

And don’t expect them to follow either.

5. Remember you have a choice. 

Sometimes it may only be the choice in how you respond to circumstances. But it is still a choice. And it will still make a difference to your life.

6. Get to know yourself and learn to trust your instincts.

Become the pioneer of your own life instead of waiting for someone else to lead the way.

7. You may have to accept that you can’t optimise every area of your life. 

Decide what is most important to you.

8. Don’t worry about converting everyone to your way of thinking. 

Sometimes there is more power in leading by example and simply living it out.

Become the pioneer of your own life instead of waiting for someone else to lead the way.

9. Be your own encourager. 

Remember, the vast majority of people don’t praise or encourage others much. (But they may still secretly be thinking nice things!).

10. To your own heart be true.

A cliché but true. There is no peace for a person whose internal and external life are disconnected and disjointed.

11. There is an important connection between our environment and inner well-being. 

Decluttering your home and finding simple systems for dealing with everyday tasks will have a massive impact.

12. You can’t have it all. 

There will always be a compromise. The key is to make sure that you compromise on the things that you don’t really care much about – not the things you do.

13. Learn to identify your needs from your wants. 

It’s easy to believe that your desires are needs. When the bottom line is, they aren’t.

14. Embrace who you are.  

If you are a quiet introvert who loves reading, you are unlikely to transform yourself into the wildly sociable person, who loves to go out loads. Learn to accept and appreciate who you actually are.

15. Stop hanging on to the things that fit this ideal person you want to transform into.  

You don’t need an 8-place dinner service set for best when you hate holding dinner parties. Just use the darn thing every day and enjoy it!

16. You’ll never reach the goal of the perfect simple life and then you’re “done”. 

It is a journey and a way of life.

17. Remember to look back at where you came from to encourage yourself on the way. 

Remind yourself of that attic, large garden shed or cupboard that used to be crammed with all that stuff! Learn to be your own encourager.

18. Travelling along a different path in life is as much an internal as an external journey. 

Don’t worry that your journey doesn’t look so impressive, when you look at what others seem to have achieved. Big changes usually start internally first – tucked away from public view.