The Simplified Life

"One generation abandons the enterprises of another like stranded vessels. --Thoreau

I often think of how hard my generation worked to keep socialism out of our government but here it is in the form of progress. I wonder what will happen when our health care system is on the verge of collapse because government took it over. At risk is the health of all Americans if the red tape of government converges on a system that works. Already we see advertisement about how much doctors make but in reality the salaries of doctors has been diminished by overcharging insurance companies who have to pay out charges for malpractice suits. No. The solution to health care is not the government takeover of our health care system. That has already been tried in Europe and Canada.

Canadians can tell you that if you want good medical care to come across the border to the United States. A Canadian friend of mine lost her father because he could not get into see a doctor in a timely manner. Choice of doctor is not an option for our Canadian neighbors. They play a game of Russian Roulette when they go to see one. The choice lies with the government. All doctors make the same amount because the government pays them so there is a dearth of doctors wanting to specialize. Why go to the trouble if you will make the same as a general practitioner? What about new research in the medical field? American doctors lead the way because of the freedom they have in enterprise. When government takes over many great minds will go to waste because government is a slow moving organization. So there must be a better way to have general health care for everyone. Wake up Americans. Watch what the legislature is doing now.

I believe in a simplified life without government interference. The more government puts their fingers into our lives the more taxes we will pay. Yep. If you want it they will provide it for you but YOU will pay for it. The government solution is not the best answer. Americans start taking care of yourselves in the private sector and quit asking government to do the job that you should do yourselves!!! If you don't your freedom to act will be taken away by the government. Perhaps that home you wanted will never come to fruition because the government takes your money or maybe that new car because the government has taken over the auto industry.

How do we live a simple life?

First of all take care of your health...follow the Word of Wisdom. Right now I am working on getting adequate rest, eating nutritious food, and exercise. I have started doing Yoga which in my imagination I never thought I could do. Yoga is an exercise in balance and strength. I watch the Yoga instructor on the BYU channel and challenge myself to do the exercises. A couple of days a week I am getting on the elliptical for a half an hour and last night I went for a leisurely bike ride through my neighborhood.

Second I am working on dressing and acting in a modest fashion. I think of the simplicity of Thoreau's words when he spoke about clothing that perhaps we have lost the concept of function and more move ourselves towards the idea of not having enough in the need to look fashionable.

"As for Clothing, to come at once to the practical part of the question, perhaps we are led oftener by the love of novelty, and a regard for the opinions of men, in procuring it, than by a true utility. Let him who has work to do recollect that the object of clothing is first, to retain the vital heat, and secondly, in this state of society, to cover nakedness, and he may judge how much of any necessary or important work may be accomplished without adding to his wardrobe."

I have a closet full of clothes which I look at every day and wonder if I will ever wear all of them. I find myself seeking out the few that are the most comfortable and have been startled to find that I have worn the same dress three weeks in a row to the temple even though I have about 10 skirts and the same amount of dresses hanging there. I don't really need all of those clothes and find myself wondering how I can simplify my life by getting rid of some. Many of them are worn out and should have been recycled a long time ago but I find myself staring at them everyday.

Third Kerry and I have simplified our lives by putting away money for the future. We try to live within our means and stay out of debt. Debt is a taskmaster that never sleeps. We don't pay interest we try to earn it which is hard today because the banks are paying less that 1% on savings and so we have to find other ways to earn interest on our money. Living within our means is another way that we have worked towards living a simple life. Both our cars are paid for and we are working towards paying of our house.

The Fourth way that I am simplifying my life is to read my scriptures, go to the temple, pray, listen to uplifting music, and search out ways to help others. My visiting teachers came to visit me this week and I was really inspired by what one of them said. She wondered how often people think about God in our society anymore. I agree that if we did that much of the stress we go through in life would be diminished.

Simplifying our lives will relieve stress in life.