No, I'm not referring to retribution here, but something much gentler than that. This doesn't require anger, plotting, or ill will towards someone, but simply returning to a place in your mind where the pieces of the puzzle were easier. And yes, I do believe most of us, if asked if there were a more peaceful manageable place, we would all have one. Maybe it was a place where you felt like the stars were all lined up, love was felt, your needs were met financially, and there was time to enjoy the simple things in life. An afternoon nap in the hammock, two families gathered at a picnic table eating hot dogs, or your workplace running like a well oiled machine, with colleagues who respect and admire your work. In other words, you didn't wake up feeling that something huge was missing and had no idea what needed to happen next.
Now living on the top floor of my castle, moat below, and far above any chaos that life has to offer, I can see clearly why most people would want to "get back" to a more manageable lifestyle, where busy is not the theme of their life each day. It's like a badge people wear that gives license to use busy as an excuse to get out of doing something they really don't want to do. If there is one word that I would delete from the dictionary, busy would be at the top of the list. Probably half of the stuff that people say they are busy with, are things they just won't give themselves permission to say no to.
So, maybe a good place to start as far as getting back to a simpler place in your life, is to think about those things that keep you so busy, and when you actually use busy as permission to avoid people or situations. Keeping in mind this is not a tool to use as a sledge hammer that says you have your priorities all wrong, and are basically a dishonest person. But if you're actually going to make any progress in getting some peace back in your life, or at least having it a bit more manageable, something has to go, which surprisingly means you may have to let go of some activities, as well as some people who do nothing but drain you of your energy.
Let's face it, in each generation there is a pace that is set, and if you live around a large city, with access to more activities, people, things, you get caught up in that pace. On the other hand, if you live in a rural area, or smaller town off the beaten path, you actually have more control over how busy you want to be, or are able to realistically get back to a simpler way of life. Now that is a fact. Part of all of this is actually making choices on how you want to live your life, and how you want to spend your time. None of us are tied up, held hostage, demanded or expected to live a certain lifestyle. Most people I know are more than capable to choose the lifestyle they want to live, more specifically fast pace, slow pace.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are people who adore a fast pace life, and there is nothing wrong with that. But when you act like you can't keep up, don't have time to rest, end up spending time doing things you really don't want to do or with people you simply don't want to be around, then there is something wrong with that. When you've reached that point, you are the only person who can change it, no one else. It's time to honestly sit down and figure out what you can check off your list, and how you're going to do it without being overwhelmed with guilt.
Just remember, and I know we all hear this, but life truly is short, and there is so much that you miss when you're busy saying yes to so much you could say no to, and precious loved ones around you that would love to spend time with you doing simple things, that it's very sad indeed if you can't check things off that to do list, and cut some people or activities loose that are really not that necessary or enjoyable any longer. The time of spending your energy doing things that are not meaningful or doing them to appear cool or important are over, if in fact you are hungry enough to get back to a simpler way of being.
It's there, for the taking. So take a moment and think about what is simply no longer necessary in your life as far as time and how you spend it. Or if you had a choice, what you would eliminate in a heartbeat if you could, and then see where you stand. I don't believe there is anything more tragic than doing something or spending time with someone you really don't want to be with. That you feel obligated to do for some reason that is no longer valid.
Think about it.
