It's amazing how easy it is to forget to appreciate all of the little things in life. Things like a warm shower, some air conditioning, the ability to wear a clean set of clothes every day, or to have a bowl of Coco Puffs for breakfast. Ecuador is a whole new realm to me. Sure, I've been out of the country for a few different vacations, but I have never been forced to live the life of the locals. I've come to realize how hard it can be to let go of all of the material things we come to depend on so much. I haven't used a cell phone in two weeks, and I've hardly had a computer to check my Facebook and emails. I've worn the same two pairs of pants for the last two weeks, have had to use a bottle of water just to brush my teeth, and can't even throw my toilet paper in the toilet.. I haven't been able to wear my favorite necklace, earrings, and rings at all, and my new best friends have become my oh so fashionable rubber boots. But here's the thing: being forced to separate from these things has been so...refreshing. Being thrown into situations where I simply don't have the choice to care about what I look like or how clean I am, it has become apparent that life at its simplest is the most enjoyable way to live life in the first place. I am happier and more at peace right now than I ever have been in my life. Well, that, and I feel ALIVE. If I haven't already learned that a simple life is a good life, I can at least know to appreciate all the little things I take for granted.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Living the Simple Life
It's amazing how easy it is to forget to appreciate all of the little things in life. Things like a warm shower, some air conditioning, the ability to wear a clean set of clothes every day, or to have a bowl of Coco Puffs for breakfast. Ecuador is a whole new realm to me. Sure, I've been out of the country for a few different vacations, but I have never been forced to live the life of the locals. I've come to realize how hard it can be to let go of all of the material things we come to depend on so much. I haven't used a cell phone in two weeks, and I've hardly had a computer to check my Facebook and emails. I've worn the same two pairs of pants for the last two weeks, have had to use a bottle of water just to brush my teeth, and can't even throw my toilet paper in the toilet.. I haven't been able to wear my favorite necklace, earrings, and rings at all, and my new best friends have become my oh so fashionable rubber boots. But here's the thing: being forced to separate from these things has been so...refreshing. Being thrown into situations where I simply don't have the choice to care about what I look like or how clean I am, it has become apparent that life at its simplest is the most enjoyable way to live life in the first place. I am happier and more at peace right now than I ever have been in my life. Well, that, and I feel ALIVE. If I haven't already learned that a simple life is a good life, I can at least know to appreciate all the little things I take for granted.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sounds like you're having an incredible experience! I'm glad you feel so blessed by this opportunity to let go of many of the material things we Americans are so attached to, and I'm glad you feel so happy and content and alive in Him. Miss you!
ReplyDelete