My journey towards building a Ku body has lead me to the path of simplicity. Maybe it’s because of my interest in minimalism and seeking out what brings meaning and value to my life.
For instance, it has now been 6 weeks of not watching TV in my apartment which has made me realize it’s not needed. I haven’t bought any new clothes in over 2 months and I’ve actually donated two bags full of clothes. These are just a couple of examples of my idea of a simple life.
What is a Simple Life?
The interesting thing about a simple life is that it can seem complex to others. When I explain my lifestyle, many look at me with a big question mark – Why would you live like that?. My idea of simplicity will be different from yours. But no one is wrong. Everyone’s vision of simplicity is what they believe it is to them.
To live a simple life is really an art. I believe a simple life is about getting rid of the superfluous items, doing the things I love to do, spending time with people I enjoy being around, living aloha, being pono, and being nalu.
I was never one who wanted to rush through life or through tasks. When we rush, we are quickly overwhelmed which then brings unwanted stress. I try to find enjoyment in everything I do. Constantly feeling hurried or unhappy of where you are in life can make it very complex and unfulfilling.
I believe living a simple life is about keeping whatever brings meaning and value to you while getting rid of the clutter, both mentally and materially. I’m not saying that you should follow my ways to simplicity. But rather, find your own path. Your life is different from mine. We are all unique.
My goal, instead, is to offer you some inspiration for your path towards a simple life by sharing several of my ideas along with some I’ve learned from others. Some of the ideas I tried didn’t go along with what I wanted to do but maybe it could help you. The most important step everyone should take is to think about where you want to go and what you want in your simple life. Once you have a vision then you can work towards your destination.
- De-clutter. Leo Baubata at Zen Habits puts an interesting outlook on de-cluttering. By going through each room and letting go of superfluous items, you will feel some weight being lifted off your shoulder. It’s amazing how much freedom I felt after getting rid of a bunch of clothes, a dresser in my room, side tables, and random knick-knacks. Leo brought up interesting thoughts about how we hold on things because we don’t want to get rid of the past and are afraid of the future.
- Be Nalu. Just go with the flow. There is no rush towards a simple life. Don’t expect to wake up one morning and find yourself in a simple life. Enjoy the process. De-cluttering for me is still something I’m working on today. It’s getting better, but it has been a tough process for me. It’s hard to let go.
- Share the Spirit of Aloha. Put more effort in building relationships and making an impact on lives rather than trying to impress others. The best thing you can share with others is yourself. Your authentic self. If you feel you have to change who you are in order to impress a person or a group of people then you may have to reflect on the relationship. It may be time to move on.
- Go For Broke. Simply said – Go for it! You want a simple life? Just do it. Turn your life upside down and shake out all the crap you want to get rid of and start anew – Ho’omaka. Make a drastic change. It could mean finding a new job you enjoy, moving to a new place, doing the tasks you only see value in, and starting with a clean-slate.
- Live Pono. Live righteously. Everything you do must have a purpose and must bring meaning to your life. I got rid of my TV because it wasn’t helping me, I felt it was holding me back from my vision. I have become more comfortable with who I am as a person and no longer feel I have to put up a facade. My fiancee mentioned this has been something she’s been noticing a lot more and it feels liberating for me.
- Remember What’s Important. I liked the way Joshua Becker at Becoming Minimalist talks about this very essential aspect in everything you do. You must identify your core values in life and the reason why you want to achieve a simpler life. Is it to spend more time with family? Be able to work on your own terms? Travel? Write this down and keep referring back to it during your journey. It’ll be a great reminder to bring you back to focus on why you are doing what you are doing.
These are few ideas I wanted to share with you on how I’ve been heading towards a simpler life. I hope it give you something to reflect on. While I wrote this post I had to stop to read my values and what I want to accomplish. It re-energize me to continue on the projects I have in-line for The Aipa Project and you.
What does a simple life mean to you?
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Mahalo. Aloha. A hui hou.