I’m inspired by simplicity. Amazing, complex concepts can often be meaningfully summed up and expressed with a simple symbol.
My heart sings to the words of “Simple Gifts,” a Shaker song written by Joseph Brackett:
“‘Tis a gift to be simple,
‘Tis a gift to be free.”
Simplicity lends itself to clarity, to freedom from confusion, and to freedom from worry. Simplicity is like a breath of fresh air. But, how do we get there?
Attitude
I think Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said it best,
“Come what may, and love it.” He learned from his mother this difficult attitude of positive acceptance. I find it very difficult to just do that. But, it is a simple starting point of guaranteed happiness if you can figure it out. How can we be happy about everything? I know attitude is a choice, but I need more help to see how to simply be happy, come what may.
Enjoy
Bel Pesce shared how she can accept whatever happens and love it. She said, “If every step is something to celebrate or something to learn, you will enjoy your life.” What a beautiful, simple perspective.
This is a clear way to look at my progress (or lack of it). If I fall, it is a learning experience. If I make progress, it is something to celebrate. And, we celebrate small victories all along the way. Either way is something to enjoy. Progress is success as long as the sacrifice paid is not too great for the reward, something we each must define and judge for ourselves.
Appreciate
Edison’s many failures to discover how to make a light bulb all became nothing, of no importance, once he was successful. I can understand how he just had to press forward and learn from the failures while celebrating the tiny victories until he was ultimately successful. If he had not done that, he would have quit like most of us would have.
I have read some of his personal writing and he did collect results and experience. But what he also did that I thought was amazingly unique was appreciate all the positive results. For example, even though he was ultimately unsuccessful after tons of effort, time and investment at discovering a good way to make rubber native to our country, he did not think of it as a total failure. He appreciated that he had gained many good friends. He recognized an unlooked for, true treasure.
I can’t appreciate when someone I love dies. I hate it. Grief is horrid and hurts horribly. But, I can turn my thoughts to appreciating that my life was blessed by even a few moments with such a person. I can appreciate that I knew him or her. I can appreciate the gift they were in my life.
Even if everything stinks or appears to at the moment, I can appreciate that I’m alive. I can live one more day and hopefully make the most of it. Sometimes I can’t understand at all what I have to go through, but being faithful, I know that God loves me and somehow or other, He can help me make the best of it. We can always be thankful for that.
If you aren’t faithful, what can you do to appreciate the unappreciate-able? My friend, Laurie White who is also a blogger for LDS Blogs, learned a game from her dad that I thought was an amazingly fun solution. It was to outlast them. For example, she had a particularly difficult neighbor whose yard was an eyesore for the community. Instead of moving or upsetting herself, she made it a game. She recently celebrated her victory when they moved! Even when we can’t prevent or avoid trauma, we can appreciate the chance to try to outlast or outlive the challenges caused by it.
Share
Self Improvement- To read more of DarEll’s articles, click here.
It is so easy to see all we can’t do, to wish for things we don’t have. But, shouldn’t it be a simple thing to appreciate the abundance of what is? I can discover and celebrate what I can do. I can share what I can give. The fortune of who we are is a fountain of endless, genuine gifts.
May you experience great abundance this Thanksgiving holiday and always as you enjoy, appreciate, and share, come what may.
Namaste,
DarEll S. Hoskisson
DarEll S. Hoskisson loves to do hard things, but not too hard. She shares her own challenges, goals and experiences as she guides you into a realistic path of self-reflection and self-improvement. She shares tips on how to find, know and trust yourself so you can decide if other’s suggestions are right for you.
DarEll has the world a little upside down—where work is play and play is work. She actually thinks other people’s problems are fun to try to solve and lights up with a personal challenge. She loves people, harmony, and excellence. She also loves useful things like tools and ideas that make work faster, easier and more fun.
DarEll married in 1993 and graduated from BYU (1995) with a bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education. Since then she was adopted by 5 children and has worked with many non-profits. She is currently a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor—leading pilates and yoga at her local YMCA.
DarEll lives in Florida where she enjoys her family, nature, her work, and encouraging people to live well.
She periodically posts her poems, what she is learning, and service opportunities on her personal blogs:
https://personalabridgements.wordpress.com and https://darellhoskisson.wordpress.com
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I love the “out last” the challenge. I too have felt the terrible pain of grief in the sudden loss oft best friend and sweetheart.
I have also noticed the calming power of gratitude. On the hard days or the reoccurring heart wrenching moments, I can live through them and know they will not last forever.