"No matter how much you try to hold on to something, it will be gone." Taoist proverb
I love this proverb--it is why I believe simplicity is so essential. Things, and people too, pass. We can't hold on to anything forever, and how does this reality impact the way we live?
The things we accure and the people we connect with provide us with a life of rich experiences if we are thoughtful about this. The things and people will pass, but the experiences make up the good lives possible.
This affirms that we should be deliberate about the things we collect, create, and buy, and we should also be thoughtful about the people in our lives and how we connect with those people.
Often I think about the time my mother-in-law devoted to painting. One reason I think about this is that many of her paintings are hung on walls throughout my house, and those paintings bring me pleasure daily. She invested in her paint tools and painting, and that investment has brought so many great joy and reflection. Her investment included depth of time and activity as well as long lasting value with regard to what she created.
We wouldn't define her art or effort as simple, but we would define it as rich. So as we think about the passing of things and people--we need to think about both simplicity and richness. Too many things rob us of the time and potentially the money to invest in rich experiences and enriching items--items that bring us joy and meaning for a long time.
What items in your home truly enrich your life? What people in your life make your life better?
In contrast, what items clutter your home and diminish the wealth of experiences, and what people obstruct good living for you?
Simiplicity, in general, opens the door for better living, and when that is partnered with a search for rich experiences and good people, you're on track for good living.