A simple life

LIVING A SIMPLE LIFE

Is it possible to live a simple life in 2021? What does a simple life look like? Is there a one-size-fits all simple life?

Life is hard. Life is not fair. The only certainties in life are death and taxes. The soul-destroying, devastating effects of Covid 19, a dying ESKOM and Poverty; these are the facts of life we must live with every day. No wonder many people want to throw in the towel and can identify with the person who said: “Stop the world, I want to get off!”

One way of coping for some is to disconnect and hibernate at home, but how viable is that in the long term? Somehow, we need to find the energy, motivation and means to get out there and live while we are still breathing. Your simple life does not have to look the same as mine, but I think a reassessment of the way we live is needed.

For me, a simple life implies downscaling. How can you live a simple life while daily struggling to keep up with the Joneses? Downscaling every aspect of your life needs planning and time. Assess what you need in your life and work towards it. If you want more than what you need, you put pressure on yourself and that can compromise your health.

Work stress is identified as the top trigger of stress. Read the full article by on WebMD, CAUSES OF STRESS by Stephanie Watson.

According to www.statssa.gov.za in 2019, more than half of South Africa’s population lives in poverty. Western Cape and Gauteng are slightly better off with 29,3% and 33.2% respectively. After the Covid 19-lockdown, more than 600 thousand jobs in the formal sector were lost in the second quarter of 2020. That is on top of the high percentage of unemployment before Covid 19.

South Africans’ discontent was reflected in the past municipality elections. Lack of basic services prevent people to live in a clean environment and for some, even access to clean water. One woman lamented: “We are living like pigs!” We need to use every tool we have, like voting, to bring about much needed change.

On top of all these hardships, Patricia, who lives in Crossroads, told me that their house was broken into last Friday when no-one was home. Her daughter’s stokvel money which she received the previous day was stolen. She was planning on using part of the R6000 to buy clothes for her three children for school and Christmas. I can still remember how grateful Patricia was when her daughter finally found work as a security person for Woolworths two years ago. Up till then, Patricia was the only person in their family with a job, working as a char. Who can afford to lose R6000? That was her year’s savings.

Unfortunately, this is a typical South African story and trying to look for the positive, we claim: "At least nobody got hurt." How sad is that. Lives are cheap in our country.

Living in South Africa, we are aware of the multi-level and complex problems we are facing, with no short-term solution in sight. The resilience of South Africans amazes me time and time again. People tackle problems wherever they can make a difference, no matter how small.

We know about the many soup kitchens which provided sustenance to thousands, most of the time operating on a wing and a prayer. NGOs like Gift of the Givers are nothing but modern-day miracles. Amazing individuals like Quinton Adams, the shack builder, is proof of the difference one person can make. How can these examples not inspire each one of us to contribute in any way or form we can?

Downscaling is not just a personal issue, but also an environmental one. there are just not enough environmental resources to sustain a fast-growing world population. Ordinary people need to start living more consciously and not wait for environmental laws to force us to do whatever we can to contribute.

One area on which we can make a huge impact, is the fashion industry. According to the latest stats in 2019, 92 million tonnes of waste are generated globally by this industry alone. It is also the 2nd biggest user of our most precious commodity, water. How many of us are guilty of having too many clothes?

One of the last lessons I taught my children at school, is the difference between needs and wants. How many grown-ups know the difference but couldn’t care less? Our children and grandchildren will have to cope with the heritage of lost natural sources.

There is no simple solution, but we can make a difference by striving to live a simpler life and downscale wherever we can. I have a Pinterest page called The Simple Life and have saved many suggestions there. Feel free to browse whenever you have a few minutes.

Enjoy downscaling and making a much needed contribution till we chat again.

Love and light.

Shirley Rose