Comments on: Putting the Simple Back In

By: S

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:34:05 +0000

Embracing the paradox. I love it.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:15:17 +0000

What a great post, Trent! I love your blog and posts like this really resonate with me. I enjoy posts that make me think about how I am living, simplicity, etc.- reminds me to have gratitude for all the small things and pass on the stuff I don’t care enough about. Thank you!

By: SweetJersey

SweetJersey — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:14:01 +0000

It’s articles like this that just make me feel good, calm and ready to take on what is next on my list. I appreciated this article this morning. Kinda just brings me back to basics and reminds me to truly focus on what is important to me! Thanks for continuing to keep me in check!

By: Petmom

Petmom — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:29:47 +0000

Oh, Trent – thank you for this perspective! For so long I thought something was wrong me. I thought I was sort of bi-polar when it came to dealing with life! I secretly called myself “erratic” because things seemed to be smooth for awhile and then get totally chaotic when I found some new interests. My friends have always teased me about being afraid of “down time” but the truth is closer to what you have described. It’s the journey – not the destination. After all, there’s a time to drive along the highway on cruise control, enjoying the ride, and then there’s a time when you just have to off-road to see what’s out there!

I love your blog – you have changed my life 100%over the last few years. Thank you!

By: Sandy L

Sandy L — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:15:40 +0000

I do the same…except I try to take summers off from “projects” both for me and my kids.

Our summers are short, so I want to spend as much time outdoors as possible.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:07:44 +0000

Beautiful. Exactly on point. Now go slay that evil Sith lord son of yours.

By: lee

lee — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:58:36 +0000

Please could you tell me (I am from the UK- but an avid reader of this site dispite that )what is a pool noodle?

By: NMPatricia

NMPatricia — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:18:15 +0000

One of the best columns for a long time. I love the posts which tell me how to live, just not have numbers. Yes, I know this is a PF blog. But these posts are the ones that resonate with me. Thanks.

By: matt

matt — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:09:45 +0000

I wonder if perhaps you aren’t fully utilizing the capture in GTD. Simple may be more enjoyable for you because you can track it with your mind. Its entirely possible that as things get more complicated you are not doing as good of a job getting it all out of your mind and into compartmentalized project/next action structures. I certainly feel this way myself, and usually instead of paring down commitments I refocus and do a re-haul of my projects, someday maybe etc, and evaluate what has changed in personal priorities (perhaps move a few active projects to SM or drop them completely, or vice versa move SM to active projects), or what has gone missing that is causing the feelings (usually because I keep division between home and work in my system and there are several items which tend to crossover that dont get tracked properly).

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:23:20 +0000

My guess is that what you are describing is dynamic balance – a state of equilibrium that is always flowing and shifting combining both novelty and security. Great work!

This is my goal too although I don’t acheive it very often.

By: david/moneycrashers

david/moneycrashers — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:17:18 +0000

Quite an insightful post.

Especially the part about–a simple life doesn’t have to be a boring one.

Great stuff

By: Jules

Jules — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:49:08 +0000

Simple for me usually comes down to making choices about what I want to do and just doing it. For instance, when I get home, I can either go for a run, make dinner, read a book, clean my room, take a phototrip, etc etc etc. I usually just pick one or two to do and then just do it.

By: Maureen Thomson

Maureen Thomson — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:29:43 +0000

I am the same way. I call it the “pendulum effect”. I swing one way, then slowly come back to the other side, enjoying the journey the entire way.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:19:51 +0000

That reminds me of when I was little and used to play light-sabers with my dad. We used to just cut the cardboard tube from an empty roll of paper towels in half, draw on them and pretend we had light sabers on the end. Of course half the fun was making the light-saber noise.

Funny how I probably remember that clearer than toys I had!

The noodles sound like a great idea, I’ll have to keep that in mind when my son gets older!

By: Jason @ One Money Design

Jason @ One Money Design — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:47:43 +0000

Trent, thanks for the thought provoking post. I too desire the simple life often, but when I do simplify I miss the fast paced and busy life style. I suppose deep down I like the energy it requires to survive. :) But I do think you can live simply and still be challenged with complexities. Just pick up a book that stretches your ability to think on a new level.

By: Luke @ simplifi.de

Luke @ simplifi.de — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:32:53 +0000

Interesting perspective – I’ve never heard anyone talk about periodically ADDING complexity in those terms before.

Looking back on my childhood, I can tell you those “light-saber” moments do matter to them as much or more than they do to you. Way to go for keeping the main thing the main thing!

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:11:26 +0000

All right, I have to share the most amazing, frugal and FUN light-sabers ever invented (not by me!):

1.) Take a smooth (i.e., not flower-shaped) pool noodle in either red or blue, and cut it in half.
2.) Tape the bottom of the handle with alternating rows of silver-black-silver duct tape. (one row each)

Voila! Light sabers that will stand up to years of sword play, and which will not injure brothers. Also good for games of ‘hockey’ at VBS, played with a beach ball…

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:09:09 +0000

I do the exact same thing although I never saw in such a positive way! Thanks for putting that spin on it. I always thought it was a bad quality to have the need to add new things all the time.

By: Shelly

Shelly — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:08:23 +0000

Wow! This is me exactly. I am crazy busy and then I get rid of everything, enjoy it for awhile and then become overcommitted again. I agree though, there is nothing like the feeling and motivation of starting a new project after a little rest.

By: Stephan F-

Stephan F- — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:24:23 +0000

“Simplify, then add lightness.” -Colin Chapman

Sounds like you are doing pretty good. We make choices for better or worse and then choose some more.