When Simplicity Becomes Intention

This month, I am finding myself leaning more into the feel of the season. As we move into the colder months, topics like rest and simplicity are on the forefront of my mind. These are little reminders as we move more into the holidays and things start to ramp up. A way to do that is to remember K.I.S.S. This acronym is one of my favorites, it stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. To me, it’s a silly reminder to take a step back and simplify.

It’s been one of those weeks, where I go to sit down and start to write and I find myself forcing a topic that doesn’t want to be written about. I’m sure you have had those weeks or days, where trying to fit something together just doesn’t want to be put together. To quote Kate Winslet from the movie The Holiday, I was trying to fit “a square peg into a round hole.” When someone tries to force something, usually it doesn’t want to budge and is met with resistance. When we take a step back and strip it down to the essentials we simplify, then we are able to look at the problem differently. I needed to remember K.I.S.S.

While I was out walking my dog at sunset last night, I started to think about the word simplicity and what that means to me. The word that came to mind is intention. Then the phrase came, to live simply is to live with intention. This allows us to connect to what is most important, we are able to slow down and come back to the present moment. In a world where things are complicated, it’s nice to come back to the simple things. Taking a walk, making a cup of tea or coffee, having those small pockets of quiet, lighting a candle, spending time with close friends.

Growing up, my mom would say to me “less is more”. It is one of the many pieces of advice she gave to me growing up. Now, she was talking to the middle school version of Alexandra who was using make-up for the first time, but the phrase has been a mantra throughout my life to keep it simple. 

In the Yoga Sutras, there is the 8 limbed path, the first limb is called the Yamas (Restraints). There are 5 Yamas and the 5th is called Aparigraha, it means to have non-attachment. To take what is only necessary and let go of what no longer serves us.

Keeping things simple allows us to slow down and move through the world with intention.