“As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.” –Henry David Thoreau
As if from heaven, I am sent another New York Times Style
Magazine. Why is it that so much deep insight should come from such an unlikely
source? Surely not everyone is happening upon the wisdom I appear to be
hand-picked to receive.
The article I am speaking about is actually the Editor’s Letter
from the September 28, 2014 issue; the magazine being aptly named “The Power of
Refusal”.
It starts off by saying that generally, happy people are those
who say yes to things, people and situations.
However, it is the conscious ones who say no.
These people, the editor notes, have “the confidence to reject trends or
conventions—whether of living, dressing or decorating—that don’t feel uplifting
or authentic” (34).
Of course, this translates to more than style or fashion. It is
about moving beyond the superfluous to the essentials. Moving beyond the
“add-ons” to what really matters. This could be in education, art, music, food,
religion.
The letter specifically is in reference to interior design
choices to curtail rather than to over-do. “Of course, the desire to shun
excess, to live more simply, is really the domain of those who live in
abundance, of those who could easily have more.” The magazine editor admits
that seeing the value in less is for those who can afford to.
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House-sitting in the country I find such solace in looking out
at the trees, staring into the day’s diamond clear skies, and the night’s
fog-ridden abyss; feeding chickens and petting goats, sampling organic soaps
and foods, and knowing that all is well with the world, at least here. It is
the simple life, but it is a good one.
Many people really do live without many things, fine or simple,
having no choice in the matter. These people therefore make it their mission
(or resentment), to have more.
Take fictional character
Jay Gatsby, who, born and raised by poor farmers in the Midwest, made it his
mission to pursue the Good Life. The grand house, the super-charged car, the
wild parties, he got it all…his version of the Good Life anyway; and all for
Daisy (or his idea of her.) His dream died because he didn’t see in time that
life could never bring him the happiness he wanted, not really.
The Great Gatsby has many lessons and morals, but one idea that
recurs is that of Identity. Are we really what we identify with? Do the things
we purchase, pursue, or achieve define who we are? By our culture’s standards,
yes, that is all that we are. Sometimes, however, we try too hard to be
someone/something we are not, and thus live in such a way that is neither
uplifting nor authentic. And others can tell. And we die unfulfilled.
_______________
We must see that our value lies beyond society’s dictates; it
transcends even our own comprehension most of the time. We must get in touch
with that part of ourselves that is the uncorruptable core. This core is
uncomplicated, unembellished, and unequivocally who we are. When we can find a
way to truly go within, we find the ability to naturally live without. And then
our world, instead of frittered away in detail, becomes rooted around the essentials
of life: peace, joy and love; which ultimately come from within only to be
reflected in life without.
As Thoreau urged, “Simplify, simplify.”
It can’t be simpler than that.
