Someone once told me they thought I was "lazy" for wanting to quit my teaching job to live the simple life.
They obviously had no idea how much effort it takes to live simply. At the time I didn't, either, but it didn't matter - the world of "work" was not for me.
Cooking all our own food from scratch is not easy.
Riding a bike instead of driving is not easy.
Growing a garden is not easy.
Being a stay-at-home caregiver is not easy.
Putting up with people that think I am lazy because I don't "have a job" or "do anything useful" is not easy.
The simple life is not as simple as some seem to think. But it is also not work in the conventional sense.
Teaching was a lot of work. Too much work. Sometimes it was enjoyable work, but it was still work.
I quit.
Since then I do things that often take great effort. And yet, they do not feel like work.
Every day I get up and just do the things that need to be done.
It is not work.
It is life.
It is living, like the other animals.
Blissful moment after blissful moment, followed by more blissful moments.
How many of us can say the same about our work, job, or career?
Devoting our lives to work that is slowly crushing our will to live is "the most ridiculous thing in the world".
Wouldn't it be great if the new normal was living an "easy, comfortable life with plenty of free time"?
That would be wonderful.
I totally agree. I cook from scratch and it is rewarding but not always that easy. Took care of my mother with dementia for three years until her death definitely not easy. Always grow a big garden and it is so much work. My sisters who have climbed the corporate ladder, have called me lazy. Now I sew in my home as my husband is retired with a Parkinson's condition. I work hard, but I have sew (pun) much more joy than others I know who have more material things.
ReplyDeleteLess stuff, more joy! I would not trade my simple life for anything, especially material things.
DeleteAmen!
ReplyDeleteLinda
I still need to work for money right now but I recently switched jobs so that I could move to a lower cost of living area. I had recently been promoted at my old job and was on track for more promotions in the near future. When I joined that organization I really needed the money to pay off student debt but that's been paid off and I've been able to save a bit too. My family and I decided I would take a huge drop in title and a decent drop in pay so we could leave the expensive city and move closer to a simpler life. This allows us to save more, have the possibility of owning a modest home one day, and letting at least one of the wage earners stop working and instead perform the household labour for things that we would otherwise spend our wages on. I'm so excited and grateful to be doing this and I can't wait until my partner can quit his job and make us tasty bread all day.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful story, and I wish you luck in finding the life for you. Your family is definitely on the right track at the right time.
DeleteI agree. Though I'm not able to work in the traditional sense due to disability, I would never have wanted to use up my life like that anyway. I can walk down to the beach and enjoy the little things. Time doesn't move as fast.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll enjoy this song (if you haven't heard it already)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DYUFs_1vKYlY&ved=2ahUKEwiglr670YfvAhVQUK0KHdAzDWwQ28sGMAR6BAgaEA0&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw379xrpenwgyhvhOGY2NpEH
I could feel that a teaching career would "use up my life" very quickly. I will take a slow walk on the beach any day.
DeleteI have not heard that song before, so thank you for sharing. "Easy and breezy." That is the way we like it.
I totally agree. I gave up a teaching job because I just couldn't stand it any more. I earned vast amounts of money and was permanently stressed and exhausted. Now I lead a wonderfully simple life growing my own food and making many craft things for my home. We don't own a big house and I don't have a car but choose to walk everywhere. If people would just jump off that treadmill of endlessly working for a bigger house/car/holiday and choose instead to live a simpler life the stress levels would all but disappear.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much pressure to get on the treadmill that we completley forget that it is optional. There are many beautiful alternatives that allow more authentic ways of living.
DeleteI love biking, but you can't really beat walking. Total freedom!