At many times in our lives we can feel ¨off¨ or unbalanced which often speaks of a need for refocusing in order to reenergize ourselves. Melissa and I had been feeling this way for quite some time now, at least dating back to sometime last October, for a variety of reasons. We had spent a good amount of time with family between November and January which was the good stuff, and we also have been sick on and off (most on for me) in addition with extending our temporary residency both of which have brought us back to the city more times than we would have liked. Interruptions in our routine as well as the inability to create new routines for ourselves have bubbled into feelings of ¨what am I doing here¨ and ¨am I valuable?¨. When we look at these questions through the lenses of accomplishments the answers can be pretty grim. Yet when we refocus and look at ourselves in terms of positive relationships developed and other non-measurable evolutions that have taken place within ourselves and the community we begin to see our place and our value. It has gone without saying for me that I have tried for the last several years to simplify my life in terms of materialism and needs both with and without success. Melissa has also jumped onboard this journey with me and together we are proud to say that we feel the journey is worth more than the arrival. The fact is that we are continually ready to adjust our lifestyles so that we will improve our ability to support, help, and connect with the poor in this world. I had mentioned before that we have been keeping track of our daily spending because 1) we don’t receive a lot and need to spend it wisely and 2) we have felt it is important to feel what the struggle of families who are living on minimum wage or less. During this last month we cut down our spending to nearly 12 dollars a day between the two of us (That includes all spending: food, transportation, water, electricity, cleaning supplies, money to call home or in using computers, and other desired goods.) A smart person could say that we were just living off of all the food our parents had brought to fatten us up, yet one cannot live on peanut butter and chocolate alone… or can they?
Jokes aside how we spend our money is only a small part of simplicity, other areas really have do with practicing compassion both within ourselves and towards others. We have a tendency to complicate our lives even here in
Live in Joy
Live in Joy, In love,
Even among those who hate.
Live in joy, In health,
Even among the afflicted.
Live in joy, In peace,
Even among the troubled.
Look within. Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way.
~
There is no fire like greed,
No crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation,
No sickness like hunger of heart,
And no joy like the joy of freedom.
Health, contentment and trust
Are your greatest possessions,
And freedom your greatest joy.
Look within. Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way.
