The Simple Life

Thoughts on no longer wanting to escape and the magic of the everyday.

When I was young I wanted to escape my life and in many ways I did. I moved to Oxford at 18 and stayed there until five years ago when we moved out of the city and into the shire. I also had a feeling of wanting to be successful, to do something important. Not to be famous as such, but perhaps to do something of academic importance.

I am a late discovered autistic person, which means that for most of my life I have wandered through a world set against my brain and ways of thinking, trying to be the master of learning social norms, failing miserably and generally wondering why I am so exhausted all the time. I have an anxiety disorder which I now know does not exist alone, it has been the sibling of my unknown, unsupported autism all along. Many times it has led me to want to flee, to safety.

At 36 I feel safe now. Not all the time, the world changes and throws different things at you, unexpected sorrows and joys are always arriving but at my core I now feel safe.

I have spent a lot of the last 18 months since my discovery working on calming my spirit. Reading more about the vagus nerve, the head, heart and gut and the three cauldrons or energy centres of Celtic spirituality all make sense to me. I am looking forward to learning more about the cauldrons from Rhonda McCrimmon’s book when it is released.

I spent this past weekend visiting my sister and some friends in the North East of England. I asked them, and also some of my subscribers here on Substack, about what a simple life means to them.

Currently for me it means a big shift out of a scarcity mindset and into truly accepting abundance. This looks nothing like I thought it would when I was young. Much more traditional in a lot of ways: husband, kids, house, garden - all beautiful joys for which I am so grateful. However our abundance takes a less traditional turn there, and is anchored in a deep connection with nature.

For me, this daily connection with nature was what I need. To look for the magic in the everyday things. To notice.

For others, simple comforts bringing coziness were essential. Being organised enough in a busy world in order to allow for this relaxation, simplifying tasks and ‘booking in time’ came up a lot also.

I believe that moving joyfully through life is an act of resistance. Simplifying my life, choosing love over fear and pointing myself in the direction of what truly matters to me makes me strong and able to choose to serve others.

I would love to hear what a simple life means to you. Let me know here in the comments.

Bright Blessings