Perplexed by Simplicity
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Being rich does not mean having a great amount of property, but it is being content with what one has." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 453
“Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meager life than the poor.” - Henry David Thoreau
I’ve noticed lately that I’ve started to care too much what other people think about me. Well, it’s actually something I’ve battled all my life, but I’ve noticed it has snuck up on me once again. Trying to please others is certainly something that will complicate your life. Attempting to live up to other’s expectations of you is tiring, sapping your energy and stealing your precious time.
Several years ago I was absorbed by my interest in the Voluntary Simplicity movement. I devoured many books touting its praises, and still have many of them, including Thoreau’s Walden on my bookshelf here, which I’ve started reading several times but can never get past the first 15 pages. It’s on my “to read” shelf… along with Steven Covey, the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and Man’s Search for Meaning. In fact, I have so many good intentions to be an intellectual person… I just find that my time is consumed with being a woman first. Is this the plight of half of mankind? Had I only been born a man, I’d’ve been been one smart cookie, or at least well-read, that’s for sure. Oh, imagine the time I’d find if I just had a wife to wash my dishes, cook for me, give the kids a bath, do the laundry and the shopping. I’d find extra hours of free time daily. That’s what I need to simplify my life-- a wife.
I don’t mean to imply that I don’t read- I have several books with moving bookmarks that sit on my night table- Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, The Life of the Prophet Mohammed, The Ideal Muslimah, and I did recently complete a 700 page novel. But, most of the reading I manage to do is the “aloud” kind, and it’s usually something I’ve already read at least 20 times, or else it’s the latest installment of Harry Potter at bedtime. Again, if only I wasn’t The Mommy, I could really get into being more selfish. But, it’s ok. I like being The Mommy and there’s always “later” to look forward to when I’m reading Dr Seuss for the 187th time.
Simplicity is relative. But isn’t everything in life? It depends on the comparison being made. A few years ago when I was living full time in the US, I romanticized the simple life of Egypt. No need for a dryer there, there’s always the clothesline on the balcony. No need for a personal car, mass transit and taxis are plentiful in Cairo. Fresh produce at the souq, and the shopping is within walking distance, preventing destruction of the ozone layer and providing free earth based exercise. But after almost three years of living here, the honeymoon’s over, baby. Clothes dry stiffly on the line and need to be ironed- including my pajamas. I don’t go so far as ironing socks and the like, mostly because I don’t think I could find the time. Mass transit is available and if you don’t mind risking your life everyday, it’s a cheap way to hope to get to one point to another in one piece within a fortnight. Otherwise, taxis outnumber privately owned cars here and one usually comes along every 5 minutes, if you’re lucky. Walking to do your shopping sounds great, especially if your lower back and hips don’t happen to hurt that day and if you can actually find the time. God this simplicity thing sure is getting complicated.
TIME. Precious time. I wish there was a magic word to slow it down. Always too much to do, never enough time. I could live a whole lot more simply if someone could give me a few extra hours per day. Or, at least, a wife.
“Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meager life than the poor.” - Henry David Thoreau
I’ve noticed lately that I’ve started to care too much what other people think about me. Well, it’s actually something I’ve battled all my life, but I’ve noticed it has snuck up on me once again. Trying to please others is certainly something that will complicate your life. Attempting to live up to other’s expectations of you is tiring, sapping your energy and stealing your precious time.
Several years ago I was absorbed by my interest in the Voluntary Simplicity movement. I devoured many books touting its praises, and still have many of them, including Thoreau’s Walden on my bookshelf here, which I’ve started reading several times but can never get past the first 15 pages. It’s on my “to read” shelf… along with Steven Covey, the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and Man’s Search for Meaning. In fact, I have so many good intentions to be an intellectual person… I just find that my time is consumed with being a woman first. Is this the plight of half of mankind? Had I only been born a man, I’d’ve been been one smart cookie, or at least well-read, that’s for sure. Oh, imagine the time I’d find if I just had a wife to wash my dishes, cook for me, give the kids a bath, do the laundry and the shopping. I’d find extra hours of free time daily. That’s what I need to simplify my life-- a wife.
I don’t mean to imply that I don’t read- I have several books with moving bookmarks that sit on my night table- Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, The Life of the Prophet Mohammed, The Ideal Muslimah, and I did recently complete a 700 page novel. But, most of the reading I manage to do is the “aloud” kind, and it’s usually something I’ve already read at least 20 times, or else it’s the latest installment of Harry Potter at bedtime. Again, if only I wasn’t The Mommy, I could really get into being more selfish. But, it’s ok. I like being The Mommy and there’s always “later” to look forward to when I’m reading Dr Seuss for the 187th time.
Simplicity is relative. But isn’t everything in life? It depends on the comparison being made. A few years ago when I was living full time in the US, I romanticized the simple life of Egypt. No need for a dryer there, there’s always the clothesline on the balcony. No need for a personal car, mass transit and taxis are plentiful in Cairo. Fresh produce at the souq, and the shopping is within walking distance, preventing destruction of the ozone layer and providing free earth based exercise. But after almost three years of living here, the honeymoon’s over, baby. Clothes dry stiffly on the line and need to be ironed- including my pajamas. I don’t go so far as ironing socks and the like, mostly because I don’t think I could find the time. Mass transit is available and if you don’t mind risking your life everyday, it’s a cheap way to hope to get to one point to another in one piece within a fortnight. Otherwise, taxis outnumber privately owned cars here and one usually comes along every 5 minutes, if you’re lucky. Walking to do your shopping sounds great, especially if your lower back and hips don’t happen to hurt that day and if you can actually find the time. God this simplicity thing sure is getting complicated.
TIME. Precious time. I wish there was a magic word to slow it down. Always too much to do, never enough time. I could live a whole lot more simply if someone could give me a few extra hours per day. Or, at least, a wife.
posted by Just Ruthie at 9:47 AM
2 Comments:
hmm, found ur comment in my blog. I really miss blogging, but i'm in my "silent and observing" phase now ... sounds scary? :P
I just can't find time to organize my thoughts and/or write everything i wanna say, so i'd rather keep it till it comes out in a better way :-)
Keep up your good work here ;)
I come from an analytical family. It's in my genes. Anyway, Shelly, I didn't mean to imply that about the books- I meant that I have many books as well on my night table and I do try to read them, too but it's erratic as well. I have several on my night table because I read a page or chapter of each one here and there. AND drying clothes on the line makes them stiff- with big wrinkles in them. I like to iron to take the wrinkles OUT and actually, it leaves them somewhat flexible. I think others living in Cairo know what I mean. You can take a pair of jeans off the line here, hold them out horizontally and they will almost not bend. Ok, I will try to photograph un-ironed line-dried clothes of Cairo. ;-) I find un-ironed cotton clothes dried on the line here- very stiff and itchy against the skin. And, ideally, maintaining a simple living environment would create less friction to our world-saving or world-changing activities. Like- buying/ owning/ collecting/ consuming less should mean less money, time and energy spent shopping, less stuff in the home means less stuff to maintain, clean and protect... Then you could use your time/energy/ money etc towards your higher endeavours. Everyone has different comfort levels and abilities, and different people find different things "calming". Feel free to ask more questions. Love you and give your kids a kiss from us.
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