"Loving and Leaving the Good Life"

 

I was given a wonderful book for my first Mother's Day in 1998.  It is called Simple Abundace: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  The book gives a daily entry with thoughtful words on living more authentically .  I have read it off and on for the past 19 years. Sometimes daily, sometimes not for months.  But, whenever I do pick it up to read I find a gem of wisdom or a reminder of how to be more present and enjoy the day I am experiencing.

Today - I didn't read February 5th, but was drawn to read July 6th which Sarah called "The Good Life".
She writes about Scott and Helen Nearing, who during the great-depression decided to go live a completely self-sufficient lifestyle.
Below are some of Helen's recommendations for living less stressfully- written in her memoir, Loving and Leaving the Good Life.

- Do the best you can, whatever arises.
- Be at peace with yourself.
- Find a job you enjoy.
- Live in simple conditions; housing, food, clothing.  Get rid of clutter.
- Contact nature every day; feel the earth under your feet.
- Take physical exercise through hard work; through gardening or walking.
- Don't worry; live one day at a time.
- Share something everyday with someone else; if you live alone, write someone; give something away; help someone else somehow.
- Take time to wonder at life and the world; see some humor in life where you can.
- Observe the one life in all things.
- Be kind to all creatures.


I wish you a good life!
Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com