Sitting on my desk right under my monitor screen rests a sign with just one word “Simplicity.” Webster defines simplicity as: not difficult, easy, not elaborate, complicated or ornate, plain, unassuming, bare, humble, lowly, and freedom from complexity or intricacy, guile, absence of luxury, and pretentiousness.
The best way I know how to describe the term simplicity is to listen to and watch children, to interact and talk with young people. For instance, with my grandchildren (ages 4 and 2 years) there is no false pretense or hidden agenda. They play freely without assumption of false dignity or importance. They let you know when they’re hungry or tired fully relying on adult supervision. For them, life is pretty cut and dried and innocence abounds. For the most part, if they are fed on time, allowed to rest an appropriate number of hours, given attention—they are happy.
Do I operate like this? Hardly! Or rather, rarely. I tend to be goal-seeking, worried about what others will think, complicated, and fussy. It wasn’t until grandchildren came along that I decided to slow down and enjoy our times together. Only then did I make the time to really sit down with Liberty and Elijah and enjoy the present. I finally realized that the present really is a present! With my own children, it seemed like I was always forward-thinking which caused me to miss the here and now precious moments.
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