Simple is different for everyone.

I’m all for simplifying our lives if it makes them better. But to simplify, just so we can say we did and sound all hep and everything, is ridiculous. Besides, what looks like simple living for me is different from what it looks like for you.

Compared to my “bestie” I’m practically a minimalist. Compared to my daughter, I’m a hoarder. But I do have one area where I need to give myself a break.

Meal-planning is where I seem to think more is better. I always think meals should be substantial, meaning the main course, a salad, a veggie, and bread. Although I was brought up in Michigan, my southern heritage lives large in me. My “southern” relatives more influenced me than anyone else. While I am grateful for most of it, when it comes to meals, I’m not.

So the other day, I was feeling bad because I hadn’t been fixing what I thought were really nice meals. I mentioned it to my husband, and he looked at me in disbelief.

“Who are you talking to? You know better than that. Think about how I ate when I was traveling.”

He was right and always ate extremely simply, mostly salads, soup, and maybe a sandwich now and then. He would be fine with soup or sandwiches every day. So why was I making it all so hard?

So I’ve decided I’m streamlining my meal plan, and that means simple. I’m one of those people who overcomplicate everything. I can take the simplest thing and make it a big deal.

Let me give more examples

Why do I need 10 black t-shirts? I wash clothes once or twice a week. So that should translate to 2 black t-shirts? I must have ten pairs of black yoga pants. Why?

We’re attending a new church, and we’ve been attending their weekly prayer meeting. It’s a multicultural church. Some of the attendees pray very enthusiastically and loudly. I can barely hear myself think. When I have prayed, I’ve had a hard time hearing my own words. I was thinking about this today. Once again, I overcomplicated it. It really wasn’t an either-or.

I have a choice. I can have my “quiet” time at home. When I’m in the prayer meeting, I can enjoy their exuberance. I didn’t have to make it a big deal. Simple.

You know what? If we approached life as simple choices, we would lead a simpler life. It isn't so much about things as it is about attitude. Share on X

I think of Christ. He made everything very simple. I am choosing simple from now on.

How about you?

God bless, and have a wonderful weekend.