The Beauty of keeping life simple!

Lately, many of my friends have been sharing their struggles with the midlife crisis they’re going through. And honestly? I get it. As we grow older and as technology grows even faster than us, life sometimes feels overwhelmingly complicated.

As someone born in the hills, I’ve always found comfort in simplicity. And I struggle when life starts getting tangled up with too many tools, strategies, and advice. I do believe in being a Roman while in Rome, but sometimes we overdo it. We twist ourselves into knots trying to get everything just right and in the process, we lose the ease and joy of simply being.

Take parenting, for example.

Did our parents have access to parenting tips they could Google? Nope. But with whatever little knowledge they had, they did their best — and most of us turned out just fine. Yet here I am, drowning in an ocean of parenting tools and advice from the internet, friends, and experts. And instead of feeling empowered, I’m often just a confused aatma, fearful and guilty, wondering: What if I screw up my kids' lives? What if they grow up with childhood trauma because of something I didn’t get right?

And don’t even get me started on marriage and relationships.

Our parents, and I think this applies to many of our parents made great teams without ever reading a single self-help book. They didn’t know about concepts like “vulnerability” or “love languages,” but they did one simple thing that kept them connected: they talked. Every single day.

Both my parents worked and had hectic schedules, but no matter how busy they were, I always heard them share their day  the good, the bad, the ordinary. We had dinner together and we talked. We prayed together before bed. And you know what? These simple rituals, which felt so natural back then, have become a rare luxury for many families today.

We complicate life by replacing simple words and actions with jargon and theories. Don’t get me wrong I’m not against the tools and advice meant to help us grow. But I truly believe we don’t need to follow every formula out there. What works for one family might not work for ours.

We are all unique. Our families, our relationships, our experiences they’re one of a kind. And it’s so important that we take things slowly and choose what truly fits our lives. Let’s not get swept up by what everyone else is doing. Let’s focus on what brings us and our loved ones peace and joy.

For me, that joy often lies in the simplest things walks with my little one, the smell of a new book marking a new beginning, watching trees bloom and listening to birds chirp, sharing conversations and laughter around the dinner table with my kids, and those quiet, precious moments with my husband. These are the moments that make life whole.

But I’ll be honest — not every day is perfect.

Some days I feel like I’ve done well. Other days, I feel like I’ve failed. But every night, when I hit the bed, I take a moment to reflect. I feel grateful for the good things and I acknowledge the things I could’ve done better. And when I fail badly, I make sure I apologize even if it’s to my kids. Because I believe that’s part of keeping life simple too: owning up, making amends, and moving forward with love.

So maybe the power of simplicity is exactly what we need to find our balance, stay connected, and live a life that feels peaceful and true. After all, as Leonardo da Vinci said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication".

From my heart to yours

Nancy Kavin