Simplicity Way

"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness" - Henry David Thoreau

This weekend was nothing short of remarkable for me. As we traveled up the coast of the northeast to the simple lands of Maine, through the fog and visions of to-the-point store front signs like "DINER" and "PIZZA", I realized that this is what life is all about. Sure, I am from a small town with no stop light and the closest place to buy a pair of socks is 45 minutes away...but something about our journey made me see the beauty in all of that once more. It's no secret that the contrast of different aspects in our lives makes us see things differently; city skylines against mountain rises, bright blue skies versus rainy days...bad days followed by happy days. Everything has an opposite that when looked at at the same time can tell us a lot about what we really want. You can say you'd prefer to have 365 days of sun in a year but without a rainy day, would you even stop to appreciate when you DO have the sun?

I think that's how I often feel when I take weekend trips to small towns and simpler lifestyles; I take it all in and appreciate every little moment because I know that at some point I'll be returning to the hustle and bustle of city life, routine and plans.

But does it really have to be like that?

On our journey, Melissa and I talked a great deal about being trapped in a life of things expected of us. How we all have bills that hold us down from taking random trips across the world, how our 9 to 5 existences keep us always tethered to one place and to one frame of mind. Wake up. Go to work. Come home. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Are we really that robotic? What if any of us had the courage to just let it all go? But the questions remain...

"What will you do about money?" "How would you pay your bills on time?" "That just isn't realistic at all."

But what is realistic? What is reality and how have we all fallen so hard into such a drone like world? Why do you have to have millions of dollars to do what you really want to do? Why can't life just be simple?

Those are the questions that we should ask ourselves...not ones that discourage us from following our dreams and making us happier than the way we may find ourselves now. As we discussed these things on a foggy mountain road, I happened to glance up at a sign (and it really did seem to be a sign of something much greater) that read "Simplicity Way". With no hesitation I turned the car around and Melissa and I stopped on the road that seemed to lead to anywhere we wanted. The fog filled the rows of trees on either side while the dirt road lead straight back into white...holding behind it so many secrets and possibilities. We took pictures and appreciated every second of being there. It was a very important moment that I think we'll both carry close with us for a long time.

The weekend that followed was filled with deep discussions, generous innkeepers, happy canines, roaring fireplaces and a sad spring rain that somehow made us all feel happy and alive.

I checked my bank balance this morning and it is at $0.00. And I could care less.