Life is not always complex.
We make it complex.
Somewhere between point A and point B, we forget the most important part:
WE ARE ALIVE WHILE WE ARE TRAVELING.
Life is not complex.
We make it so.
Most of our daily coming and going is pretty simple when you strip it down.
We go from point A…
to point B…
then another point B…
then another…
and eventually, at the end of the day, many of us end up right back where we started.
Home.
Work.
School.
Store.
Appointments.
Projects.
Errands.
Responsibilities.
Repeat.
LOL.
Nothing wrong with any of that.
The problem begins when the movement becomes the whole life.
Going to work, taking the kids to school, managing a project, handling our affairs…
all of that matters.
But it should not become so dominant that the ENJOYMENT of being here gets pushed into the back seat.
REMEMBER TO ENJOY
Isn’t that what a vacation is for?
Or for many people…
the weekend.
We step away from the usual routine.
Different place.
Different pace.
Different clothes.
Different food.
Different mindset.
Sometimes the entire purpose is simply:
DO LESS.
SEE MORE.
FEEL MORE.
ENJOY.
Interesting, isn’t it?
We often need to travel somewhere else to give ourselves permission to relax.
LOL.
Maybe we should bring some of that vacation attitude home with us.
R & R
Rest and relaxation.
R & R.
Simple words.
Very important function.
The body spends energy.
The mind spends energy.
The emotions spend energy.
Something has to refill the tank.
Rest is not laziness.
Relaxation is not wasted time.
PAUSE.
Sometimes doing nothing is exactly what needs to be done.
Let the kid in you come out too.
Play.
Laugh.
Sit in the grass.
Take the long way home.
Eat something you like.
Watch the clouds.
Do something without turning it into a productivity project.
LOL.
You do not have to monetize the sunset.
APPRECIATE
Human beings are wonderfully resourceful.
We can push ourselves.
Adapt.
Work.
Build.
Solve.
Survive.
But there is a cost when we push relentlessly.
Eventually, we can stop appreciating even the things we once wanted.
The job you prayed for becomes annoying.
The home you worked for becomes maintenance.
The family dinner becomes another item on the schedule.
The car becomes traffic.
The miracle becomes routine.
That is when appreciation needs to be invited back in.
Because here is the truth:
We will get a lot of things done.
We usually do.
Then what?
What happens after the list is finished?
Another list.
LOL.
If you are waiting for the day when absolutely everything is done before you enjoy life…
I have some bad news.
That day may never come.
PAUSE
One of my favorite words is:
PAUSE.
I never get tired of it.
What a delightful word.
PAUSE.
It does not mean quit.
It does not mean fail.
It does not mean fall behind.
It simply means:
STOP LONG ENOUGH TO NOTICE.
Notice where you are.
Notice who is with you.
Notice the weather.
Notice your breath.
Notice the meal.
Notice the laugh.
Notice the person sitting across from you.
Notice the fact that you are HERE.
That little pause can turn an ordinary moment into something meaningful.
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN A AND B
We spend so much time trying to get somewhere.
But life does not only happen at the destination.
It happens in the distance between.
The drive.
The walk.
The waiting room.
The coffee before work.
The conversation in the kitchen.
The five minutes before everybody leaves the house.
Those little in-between moments may not look important.
But one day…
they may be exactly what you remember.
RICHIE SPEAKS
Here is one Richie rule:
Do not rush through the part you are going to miss later.
LOL.
And another:
If you only enjoy life when everything is perfect…
you are going to be waiting a long time.
And one more:
Point A and point B matter.
But do not forget to look out the window.
PEARLS INSIGHT
A simpler life does not require abandoning responsibility.
It requires becoming more present inside the life we already have.
Rest, enjoyment, appreciation, and awareness restore perspective and help us experience ordinary days as part of life rather than obstacles we must hurry through.
PEARLS CONNECTION
This connects directly with WHAT’S THE HURRY? RELAX, WILL YOU.
That Pearl was about using time to create breathing room.
This one goes deeper.
Once you have breathing room…
BREATHE.
LOL.
Use the extra space.
Notice life.
Enjoy what you worked so hard to create.
FINAL THOUGHT
Life is more than movement.
More than schedules.
More than tasks.
More than getting from point A to point B.
Sometimes the wisest thing you can do is stop right in the middle of all that motion…
and behold what is around you.
Smell the coffee.
Smell the roses.
Watch the light change.
Listen to somebody you love.
Sit still for a minute.
PAUSE.
Because while you are busy getting somewhere…
life is already happening.
And it would be a shame to arrive…
without having enjoyed the trip.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
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