Are You Wasting the Best Moments of Your Life with Simple Living?
When you live simply, days run together beautifully. Evenings spent relaxing with a good book blend seamlessly into morning walks and late afternoon glasses of wine into… evenings spent relaxing with a good book. It’s all well and lovely, but where’s the adventure, the drama, the stuff to tell grandkids about? In the end, are we wasting our lives by living simply?
Think back on your favorite memories of the last few years. Chances are, they revolve around vacations, parties, special events, and the like. Less likely to come to mind is the time you sipped a glass of iced tea on the lawn chair. Again, are our efforts to enjoy the simple pleasures mean we’re missing out on the kind of memories we’ll cherish years from now?
What Makes a Memory? Less Than You Might Think
If you thought I was going to say “yes” to that, you’re totally reading the wrong blog. But there is a caveat. Memories don’t just happen. We can consciously play a part in making them. One of the best pieces of advice I got on a special occasion was to take a moment to stop, look around, and take everything in. If I didn’t, the day would fly by and I would have missed the forest for the trees. That turned out to be true, and I’ve applied it to many more days since then.
Your conscious awareness of what’s going on around you—and your reaction to those surroundings—is the core of memory. It’s not what’s going on around you; it’s whether you truly see it.
So the next time you’re sitting in the hot tub, enjoying the stars (I know, I wish) or spending an afternoon scrapbooking, take a few seconds to take in your surroundings. Notice the way the air smells, the sounds around you, and the faces you see. Spend a minute just soaking in the feeling of the moment without interacting or reacting. Just be.
In the end, you don’t have to travel the globe to fill your life with interesting, satisfying memories. You just have to be happy where you are.
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This post has 23 comments
June 3rd, 2009
One of my husband and I´s best memories of a summer well spent was a summer we were living in Bern, Switzerland. He was unemployed but we weren´t too stressed about it and we spent the summer with our baby daughter- Long walks, swimming nearly every day and being very chilled. Picking berries in the woods also comes to mind…
RMLs last blog post..Being Thankful to See A Small Loss
June 3rd, 2009
Great post on mindfulness and living in the present moment!
We can learn to appreciate each moment (even the seemingly unpleasant ones) if we can let go of our ego and notions about how the moment should be.
Roger – A Content Lifes last blog post..Meditation for Beginners (Week 5) – Walking Meditation
June 3rd, 2009
I lived in Brazil for 6 months. And what I remember are not the wild travel adventures, but some of my fondest memories are of sitting in a cafe with a good friend and just talking about life.
Srinivas Raos last blog post..How the ego gets in the way of learning
June 3rd, 2009
I like the way you suggest a ’simple’ or ‘unchallenging’ life may be less memorable. I don’t agree but I recognise that without opportunities to be creative or sharing, our memories can be flat and lifeless.
I agree that noticing what’s around you can offer so many memorable moments. I enjoy meditation and deep relaxation and as a result appreciate more of my world.
Thanks for this article
Jens
June 3rd, 2009
Wonderful post! This has really reminded me to give careful thought to how I’m living on a daily basis. Sometimes I just coast along, doing what I do, and I don’t think about it as much as I should. All of the moments of my life are important and I shouldn’t waste them. Thanks for the helpful and inspiring reminder!
Positively Presents last blog post..happiness (is not) for sale!
June 3rd, 2009
Surprisingly enough, some of the best memories I have are enjoying people’s company with us just lying on the grass and watching the clouds, or sitting quietly in a cafe to people-watch. Moments are made all the time! I really love this post.
Sagans last blog post..The Run-A-Race-This-Summer Challenge
June 3rd, 2009
Having things to do isn’t what causes us to NOT live simply, it’s having too many things to do and being dominated by them.
It’s more of an attitude than anything else!
Ron@TheWisdomJournals last blog post..My Health Insurance Nightmare
June 3rd, 2009
Our lives, like most, are filled with those “special event”, once in a lifetime and/ or special trip memories. And we’re very lucky to have had quite a few here and around the world.
(I can still smell the honeysuckle and see the sunset on the terrace of Villa D’Este in Italy’s Lake region. We certainly could not afford to stay there, but we toured the grounds and hotel and had drinks and a meal. HEAVENLY!
And I remember climbing to the top of St. Peter’s and looking out all over Rome. And an incredible sunset at the Tea House in SFO’s Golden Gate Park. And tons of Hawaii memories.)
Those have their place in our lives, but the key is to find joy, peace and pleasure in our everyday lives. Those small reminders that no matter how challenging our lives are, we have those moments of grace, connection and love.
Sometimes it takes only a moment to stop and just feel the breeze or the sun on us and just totally appreciate how lucky we are to experience it. (Think of all the sick and dying, for example, who NEVER get outside to feel that air and sun. Or those who are imprisoned.)
For me, walking in a local park is a “simple living” moment that makes each day a joy. (I notice the difference when I don’t get my “nature fix” as I refer to it!)
We can find pleasure in things as simple as being mindful when we do daily tasks (taking pleasure in being able to make a good meal, to be able to clean up, to have a home to tidy up, etc.).
Sara writes:
“In the end, you don’t have to travel the globe to fill your life with interesting, satisfying memories. You just have to be happy where you are.”
Absolutely, Sara. You nailed that perfectly. This was a bang-on article.
All we have to do is take time, especially for each other.
I’ve seen some beautiful places in the world and am grateful for it.
But there’s nothing to compare to those times when I and a friend or family member just hang out and out of the blue, we have a truly meaningful conversation or simply just share the air and time together and feel the connection and love. THIS is what it’s all about.
Memorable moments ARE everywhere. We just fail to appreciate them a lot of the time.
Sara writes:
Spend a minute just soaking in the feeling of the moment without interacting or reacting. Just be.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
June 3rd, 2009
Hi Sara,
Your post is a great example of what it means to be mindful and aware of the moment. Life is all about being in the moment and soaking up everything that is around us. Each day we are surrounded by so many amazing things but some people are so absorbed by the routine, they just don’t see how many awesome things there are in life.
June 3rd, 2009
Our last vacation (as short as it was) was four days spent in Sea Ranch, CA in a vacation rental last summer. Looking at the ocean, counting the shooting stars during the new moon from the hot tub….that was the best. I long for days like that again!
Carlas last blog post..Make Green the New Wedding Color
June 3rd, 2009
So true. My tip – when you go on vacation, take your watch off. I started doing that a while back and it helps me focus on the NOW, rather than where we are going.
Christophers last blog post..Art Class Helps Emotionally Fragile Kids
June 3rd, 2009
“You just have to be happy where you are” – so true.
We recently enjoyed my older son’s college graduation. The ceremony itself was long and boring (he didn’t want to attend!) but we got through it.
The fun part was afterward, sitting on a porch at a seafood restaurant across from a river. We sat and talked, ordered and ate, then sat and talked some more.
I was very aware of the moment, looking at my sons and my boyfriend, thinking this is what life is all about, just enjoying spending time together.
We walked across to the river, took a few photos and headed out. It was a relaxing & memorable day.
June 4th, 2009
Being in the moment is something that I really appreciate.One thing I do is just to stop and watch around.A bird, a flower, a person , the sun,anything can call my attention to make me just be.Another tip,I sing while walking in the street.
Patricias last blog post..¿POR QUE SERA?
June 4th, 2009
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. My husband and I decided to have a week at home this year instead of going away and yet, yesterday (with only a couple of weeks to spare) I booked a cheap week away in the sun. I felt vaguely guilty about it at first (it didn’t seem to fit in with what I’ve been trying to do very well!)but I’m not feeling too bad about it now. We could really use a week with each other away from all the pressures and distractions of home life that would have followed us around during our week off.
I totally agree that you have to make those special moments happen in day to day life when you can though. We just had a great BBQ on the beach with friends that cost next to nothing and it was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time!
Shoestrings last blog post..Day 69: Holiday planning
June 5th, 2009
I really enjoyed this post, such a good reminder to pay attention and not let the best moments slip past. As a busy mom of three and working full time, and going to grad school I often get wrapped up in what I “have” to do rather than enjoying the simple pleasures like my baby’s kisses or my son bringing me home another art project. The time goes by so quickly, my oldest is already a preteen, and it seems only yesterday he was a toddler. I love that every time I read your blog, it reminds me to slow down and smell the baby shampoo….thanks.
Kristina Summerss last blog post..People I Don’t Want to Know (Ever)
June 5th, 2009
I remember one Spring day a few years ago when my husband and I were home alone. Now I’m trying to be tactful here, so let’s just say we had an especially nice afternoon together, and later, we went to our bedroom window and looked out on our crab-apple tree and how the bright sun flickered through the leaves as they blew in the breeze. Jason Mraz was on the stereo and the only other sound you could here was birds chirping. When my husband started to leave, I told him to “Wait, look around, and be quiet… I’m making a memory.” Now we both can recall that particular day and how special it was. I love the whole idea of living deliberately in the moment.
Jennifers last blog post..headache
June 6th, 2009
What a lovely post, Sara!
Just being happy, here and now, can be so fulfilling and meaningful when we stop and feel the pleasure in the seemingly-innocuous moment.
Laurie | Express Yourself to Successs last blog post..Body Language Communicates
June 7th, 2009
Just stumbled across your site in my google recommended reads and ooooh am I liking it here. I live for drinking (indeed almost finding a drunken euphoria) in the simple moments. The Prairie Guy and I have travelled the globe and done lots of amazing things, but nothing beats laying back on the porch swing and watching our garden grow and hearing our kids laughter as they jump hay bales and chase lambs. Love it here, I’ll definitely be a frequent visitor.
Prairie Chicks last blog post..Little Robin Redbreast
June 8th, 2009
There are memories of specific moments and memories of a time period / life. For specifics it’s the extra stuff that we do that counts. But when we look back on life and smile at how beautiful and peaceful and happy and satisfying it was, it’s living simply that counts.
Avanis last blog post..Following My Heart
June 9th, 2009
“Just be”
Sweet
Rosss last blog post..Does integrity count for anything?
June 11th, 2009
It’s amazing when we focus on everything around us. I have specific of the milk man putting milk in the milk box, autumn leaves on the sidewalk to my aunts house, and sitting around the dinner table. Surprisingly, the simplest things become memories: sitting outside knitting, watching the boys play, listening to the rain on the porch. When everything slows down and we just snuggle about, watching old movies with the boys or reading books together, cooking – just slow-down hang out is great!
maryleighs last blog post..♥ Are You Man Enough?
June 12th, 2009
I agree that it is so important to be present and consciously live in the moment.
I struggle with doing this, but I am perservering.
June 15th, 2009
your article is simple but very meaningful. When i try to correlate what you have said with my memories i found what ever you said was 100 % right. I went on a trip with my classmate with their families. The best memories were when i was enjoying the new surroundings like my journey in the plain then in a mini bus and the 48 hrs long trip in which i seldom slept.
The moments in which we were in hurry seldom get remembered.
Shailendras last blog post..Tally Tutorial: How to use Tally.ERP 9 Remote Id.
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