The Western way of living is one of excess, status, earn more, spend more, show it off. We find it embarrassing to say something is out of our price range, we equate our earnings with our self worth. How much fun and freedom we have is often tied up with how much we can spend and how much we can spoil ourselves. We all know the old adage, 'Stop and smell the roses', but when was the last time you actually did that? How much 'stuff' are you accumulating, lusting after, insuring, taking care of...and how much of that is really necessary? How much of it really gives you joy? How much of that do you actually use?
How much of that does your soul love?
I truly believe, that the best things in life really are free, we just need to remember the original definition of best; those things that are wholesome, healthy, good for the soul, good for the planet, and great for the wallet.
I'm bringing simple back...
The Best Things in Life are Free (or very very cheap)
- A cup of coffee at home with a great friend
- A walk in the beautiful outdoors (get out of the city!)
- Homemade cocktails (and so deliciously glam)
- Games evening with friends (just don't put couples in the same team lol!)
- Curling up on the couch with a DVD
- Playing with your dogs
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| My babies, Zola on the Left, Tex on the right :) |
- Listening to music (it's one of the most powerful emoters)
- Gardening (when last did you feel the earth beneath your manicured hands?)
- Building a puzzle
- Hiking
- Window shopping (what if I told you...you don't have to buy something every time you go to the mall..I know, shocking!)
- A chat over the phone/email/skype with someone you haven't spoken to in a while
- Dancing in the rain (okay, let's be serious, I probably wouldn't do this)
- Watching a sunrise or sunset
- Flowers...
- Devouring an excellent book
- Cheese and wine evenings
- Picnics
- Hugs
- Kisses
- Taking photos, and looking at them afterwards
- Spending time with those you love and love you back
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| My better half, Byron, and I - together for 9 years and getting hitched in April 2013 :) |
- Doing absolutely nothing
- Lying in a hammock and doing absolutely nothing
- Disconnecting from all technology...and doing absolutely nothing
- Baking cookies
- Eating cookies
- Listening to a thunderstorm
- A candlelit bubble bath
- A home spa day
- An afternoon nap
- Walking barefoot on the grass
- A fabulous home cooked meal and lingering around the table
- Watching/playing a good game of sport with friends
- Time in the bedroom....ooh la la
- Sleeping late
- Exercise
- Teaching yourself a new skill
- Stargazing
- Riding a bike
- Dancing
- A good laugh
The list goes on and on but you get my point, all it takes is a little time to think and a bit of practice to appreciate the simpler things in life and suddenly, a new type of abundance opens up to you. Money is fabulous, and it's hard not to love, but it can rule your life and add to your stress and leave you feeling like a 'have not'. It is difficult to truthfully admit to yourself, and to your friends, that something is just beyond your means, or, "Not this month", but as they say, 'The truth shall set you free', and more often than not, your friends are in the same position as you are.
Here's to all the simple, wholesome, and fabulously inexpensive!
"Some people are so poor, all they have is money." - Unknown
