Life becomes more simpler to live

For some of us, the minimalist lifestyle started way back from childhood due to parental lifestyle and also the availability of fewer options to things, especially because of low finances(oh yeah, it started off like this in my home). But then, we did not really know what was going on. In fact, we overreacted to those situations, but now that we have grown, are living alone, and facing life on our own, we can clearly see that such an initiation into that lifestyle helped us a lot. Okay, I am speaking for myself.

You know, just as it is usually said in a fun way here in Nigeria, we often joke that when you grow up, you will understand why your parents lived the kind of life they lived. You begin to see the value in every one of their actions and decisions in their lifestyle.

If I were to advise my younger self on letting go of emotional and physical things and experiences, it would surely be on how life becomes much lighter to live with.

Apart from the hunt for money — which sometimes feels like the sole purpose everyone came into this world for — life is actually easy when we make it simple for ourselves. By “simple” here, I mean keeping every aspect of it uncluttered — no piling up of unwanted things, both physical and emotional, that make life difficult.

Let me share this:

Back then, when we were growing up, my family — I mean the extended one — had a heated quarrel with a neighboring family who had a very big, spacious compound and were quite wealthy. My family made sure to teach every child in the house to harbor hatred against that family. No lies, it was fun to us back then because we felt we were supporting our parents as well. But to tell you the truth, we had serious difficulties and constant battles in our minds anytime we saw ourselves around them — whether at school, on the football field, or anywhere outside.

You know that feeling when your mind suddenly races in fear when you see your “enemy” appear in a place you did not expect? Or those situations in school where you find yourself grouped into the same team as them? Mehn, it was crazy!

Also, because these people had such a large compound, we used to take shortcuts through their place, but after the quarrel, we stopped and began taking the long journey instead.

That grudge stayed with us for so long. We carried hatred for so many years, and we also constantly experienced fear and awkwardness whenever we crossed paths. Those emotions took over us and made life choked and inconvenient, and we did not even mind because we were just children — even though by then, we had already reached our teenage years.

Now that I have grown, I cannot imagine living that kind of life. Never! 😅 This is what I would advise my younger self: Never let such emotional baggage cluster your mind or deprive you of living a free life.

Thanks for reading

This is my entry to #KISS challenge.

Photos used are mine