They were standing at the corner of the road waiting for the school bus – a father and his five year old daughter.
Suddenly she tensed. A dog and his walker were approaching her and she was scared. She appealed to her father for protection.
Her father prodded her and moved her out of the dog’s path. She relaxed and smiled. I heard him tell her, “All you needed to do was move. Simple.”
Then, as if he realized the wisdom of his own words, he said to himself, “Keep life simple.”
I don’t think he realized the other part of what he had said: : “All you need to do is move.”
On my morning walk, I got my dose of wisdom for the day. Both parts of what he said were so relevant to me. This year, I have decided to keep things simple, but have a tendency to get overwhelmed by unnecessary things sometimes. I postpone the important for the urgent. And the urgent is linked with the first part of what that father said – I need to move. I’ve completely slacked off on my walks and writing my morning pages – both of which are important to my well-being.
When making choices, opt for the plain, the simple, the functional. Less goes wrong when you stick to life’s standard equipment. ~ Linus Mundy
Time to keep it simple and to move, don’t you think?
Simple and sweet post giving a very valuable reminder to keep moving and to keep it simple. Thanks!
It was such a sweet thing to watch, Kajal. Thanks for stopping by.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
Life is complicated enough. Keeping it simple is the best way to live, love and laugh 🙂
Anne recently posted..Book Review: The Survivor by DiAnn Mills
True, true, Anne.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
Aha! Such profound learnings and realizations from an early morning walk! Confucius said, life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Shilpa Garg recently posted..The Homing Pigeons
I was amazed, Shilpa. It was as if it was laid on for me. I was walking after ages and it made me want to go more regularly only for the insights! 😉
Just seconds before reading this, literally seconds, I said to my husband “Maybe I should stop drinking caffeine for the next week, to see if that’s the problem.” I’ve been having very painful muscle spasms in my face you see, I’m on a ton of medications that aren’t really helping. So what if I ‘just move’? I’ll let you know how it works out 🙂
Cairn Rodrigues recently posted..No, Nestle
I’m sorry to hear about he muscle spasms, Cairn.
Isn’t it amazing how we hear what we need to – if only we’d listen! I do hope you get well soon.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
It has always been the case of keeping life as simple as one can…but,but,we only make it complicated for others and ourselves
B k Chowla recently posted..COMIC TRAGEDY
Exactly, Mr Chowla. Aren’t we crazy? 🙂
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
It really is much easier if you keep it simple, Corinne. We’re human and forget. I think the trick is to forgive our selves when we derail and ‘keep moving’. The beauty of morning pages is they can be started again with ease.
Brenda recently posted..Ten Things I Hate About You
Oh, yes it is. And you’re so right, Brenda. Regret gets us nowhere. A fresh start it is! 🙂
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
Valuable advice Corinne. Thank you… 🙂
I got it for free, PNA! 🙂
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
Excellent advice Corinne!
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
Kathy recently posted..Z is for Zoë
Thanks, Kathy. I got it from that Dad! 🙂
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Foolish Daydreams
Loved this post-such simple yet important jewels of wisdom. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Jessica recently posted..Afternoon Reflections: A Poem
Glad you liked it, Jessica – an affirmation that the simple is what matters!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words on Saturday 7
Hi Corinne! U’ve changed the look of your blog. 🙂 It’s lovely. And simple too. 🙂
Yes, it’s been a while now, Punam. Glad you like it! 🙂
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Foolish Daydreams
Hi Corinne
Being trying to weed out what was such a time waster and focus only what I felt I needed to do. So back to better nutrition and food for the soul. Everything else needs to take a back seat for now. Have shut a number of websites down and another one is going this month and another later this year. I will renew the one I am in touch with others and I have until next year to figure out about the others. Keeping it simple for now seems the best move. There is only so much time in the day and I really want to make what matters count for something.
Like your simple plan and all the pressure and stress go away.
Mary
Mary Stephenson recently posted..Preprogrammed Without Our Knowledge
Thank you for sharing, Mary. I’m glad you are making great choices for yourself and for setting an example for all of us.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
Very simply put, and yet, intensely moving!
Roshni recently posted..The last post of the April Challenge!
It was a lovely thing for me to watch and learn from, Roshni.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
Absolutely right! What a lovely lesson to get on a morning walk. Like you pointed out sometimes we ignore the important for the urgent. Thank you for reminding us to keep it simple.
Rachna recently posted..A woman who took on the high and mighty against sexual harassment!
I got the reminder just when I needed it, Rachna. Made the morning walk really special.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Foolish Daydreams
Keeping it simple . . . Something I want so much, too, but too often let things get out of hand. Loved this lesson here, Corinne. Great reminder to not blow things out of proportion and to take everything in stride.
Blessings, my friend!
Martha Orlando recently posted..What Would You Do for Jesus?
I guess we all go through phases of biting off more than we can chew, Martha. Aren’t we blessed to get these little reminders sent to us to stick to the basics?
Excellent advice, Corinne! I often over-complicate things and that usually increases the stress level. This is real “back to basics” thinking. Thanks! 🙂
Debbie recently posted..REGRETS – I’VE HAD A FEW
We all have a tendency to over-complicate, Debbie. I think we all need to remind each other to keep it simple.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Foolish Daydreams
simple n sweet,advisable n worth implementing,gr8 observation,luv this mam.
It certainly was a sweet moment, Rama – and a great teaching one too.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Pause, Rewind Or Forward
C…thank U so much… Do U know how much U touch our lives everyday!!!We forget basic things in life and then cry about our mess..and U know what is special when U say it?..It isnt preacy..It is like a ray of light that falls and heals and shows the path…with an embrace that helps face and clear the mess…Lots of Love..Thank U.. 😀
Deepti recently posted..What if nothing held you back?
You always have a way of making me feel wonderful, Dee. All I did was share what I heard. ♥
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words On Saturday – Week 9
Keeping is simple sounds simple doesn’t it? Yet, we complicate and cloud things by over thinking and worrying. Corinne, I too am seeking to simplify my life by staying present and engaging with only what is in front of me. I tend to project ahead and fret about certain tasks…like doing my taxes;) Staying present wards off the worries and helps my creativity to soar.
Sending love Corinne!!
Leah recently posted..Transcendent Tango
Thanks for sharing, Leah. I’m trying too not to look ahead with fear, but live in today. Easier said than done though! 😉
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words On Saturday – Week 9
Corinne thank you so much for visiting Khronos Design FB page, and add your blog post link. Loved your conclusion on the article, it is exactly this that we should do “keep things simple” and “move” with one step at a time. No worries, if we can understand that and do this exercise we’ll be good! 🙂
Meire Weishaupt recently posted..Pamper and Take Care of Yourself to Have a Successful Business
I enjoyed visiting your page and blog, Meire. It was very generous of you to offer to come by and look at our blogs.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words On Saturday – Week 9
So true! In martial arts we learn to do as little as possible to defect an attack. If someone is moving towards me with a kick or a punch, sometimes all I need to do is move to the side a few inches. Easy in principle but hard in practice because we become afraid and panic. At least I do–ha!
Loved your story and the lesson you have taken into your own life.
Galen Pearl recently posted..Trillium Thrills
Thanks for sharing about the martial arts strategy, Galen. I would never have guessed that ‘keep it simple’ applies there too.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words On Saturday – Week 9
nice work ma’am.. life really requires to be simple for least problems, at the same time we should not miss the opportunities to innovate us ( thinking that it makes life complex :P)
good eg. 🙂
Yes, sometimes the most complex problems have the simplest of solutions, Ashish.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words On Saturday – Week 9
No matter what, life moves on..ain’t it? So, why not keep it simple? 🙂 So sweet, Corinne..these all are simple things which we all know, yet we keep forgetting. Thanks for the gentle reminders you give. Also, I miss your posts on writing techniques…How to make short sentences and all that 🙂
Latha recently posted..What has changed?
Yes, life does move on – if only we learn that lesson. Thanks for your kind words, Latha. Yes, I will revive that series too soon.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words On Saturday – Week 9
Very beautifully said!!
Privy Trifles recently posted..Blessed & Chase ~ This week
Thanks, Privy.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words On Saturday – Week 9
Hi Corinne,
Wonderful lessons here. What you wrote about keeping it simple reminded me of a principle I learnt when I used to work in software development, which was KISS. This stands for keep it simple and stupid. I learnt to keep software simple, so that anyone could use it. A similar principle can be applied to life itself.
We just end of creating more trouble for ourselves when we make things to complex.
Thank you.
Hiten recently posted..Negative Thoughts – How to Change Them
I hadn’t realized you were involved in software development, Hiten. How interesting that you say that. Galen said it applied to martial arts too. I know KISS is used in public speaking – Keep it short and simple.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..100 Words On Saturday – Week 9
I just love what you wrote here BS. I was initially thinking of my brother and my bosses ~ they have so many things to do and yet I find it very difficult to believe that they are truly living a fulfilled life with all the money that they are earning…then I read your post. So I gave that piece of thought to God~ those things occupy even a space in my life and I do worry so I think I’ll let God do His work 😛
I’m on the third day with Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life, and ‘keeping life simple’ is God’s message for me these days too. What struck me was this:”Prune away even good activities and do only that which matters most.”
Your post spoke of simple living and yet there are so many things to ponder on ‘how’ it could be lived 🙂
I love you BS!
Melissa recently posted..A Miracle!
No matter whatever happens, life is a journey and we all have to move on.
Simplicity is the best way to live our life with happiness, I really liked your post..