Living A Simple Life In A Chaotic World

The three essentials in life are food, shelter, and clothing. Most of us have access to these three things in one way or another, and many have an overabundance. People are beginning to realize that happiness is not achieved by having a lot of extras in life. Happiness is achieved when we realize that there is something greater than us. As we figure out what our purpose is in life and create a vision to accomplish what we were designed to do.

Connecting with God’s creation and using his creation to feed our bodies we are in turn connecting ourselves with the life cycle that He created. The farther we get away from God’s created order the more we fight against nature versus living in sync with nature. 

For most pursuing the minimalist or homestead lifestyle means change. Start by making small incremental changes. What are two or three staple food items that you can raise or exchange? Raising your own eggs is an easy place to start. A good place to start in animal husbandry is to keep a few hens, as they are easy to maintain. If you have landscaping, you can replace some shrubbery with a few tomato plants.

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Different items can be created with tomatoes, to name a few, ketchup, salsa, tomato soup, chilly soup, and pizza sauce. Peppers and sweet corn are also easier foods you can plant, to grow your garden slowly. If you live in an apartment and are unable to build a backyard garden, planting in pots is a great alternative. Place your pots of homegrown foods on your balcony or by a south-facing window. 

As we move through the stages of life and the change that comes with that, often means there is stuff we no longer need or use. A good rule of thumb is if it has not been used in the last 2-3 years, clean it out. If it is not a valuable item, you can either sell it by having a garage sale or donate it to a local thrift store. You will be surprised how much more relaxed you will feel after decluttering the areas and items that are no longer used.

We are constantly bombarded with advertisements, reminders, and greeted with items to purchase that promise to make our life better. As we said earlier, more is not always better. Slow down and take enough time to evaluate what you find to be important in life. After you have evaluated what is important, determine how you can spend more time on what is important and less time on what is not. We’ve found that the more time you’re able to spend with your loved ones and with nature, the more grounded you will become.

Are you willing to limit your screen time? Try to shut off all electronics during dinner time for one week and have dinner together as a family, and listen to one another as you share about your days. Does listening to the news benefit your life? Does it make you happier or more stressed? Can you do anything about it? Focus on areas in your life where you can make changes. Unplug and go outside, enjoy nature, and take a hike with your family.

The important thing is not that we get everything right, but that we do something and are willing to make some mistakes along the way. If you make mistakes that means you are growing, as you learn from the challenges.