Simplifying Life

As summer gets underway, I reminisce of summers past and fishing with my dog Goofy in Doc Day’s pond. I remember the days seemed to never pass as if the hours of summer stood still as the dragon flies danced about the pond and frogs frolicked at the water’s edge. I forget the number of fish I caught or how big they were, but what I do remember was how relaxed I was – where my biggest worry of the day was getting home in time for dinner. What happens as we age causing us to take on more and more task as we turn our worlds in to chaos driven by stress that robs us of a balanced life?

Calming the chaos is not as simple as you might think. Our lives are complicated in the modern complexities of our environment, politics, economy, families, communities and careers. A few months ago, I set out to eliminate the things in my life that were not essential to completing school, work, and family. I resigned from committees; I started saying “NO” to anything that might disrupt the balance in my life. At first I felt good about the adjustments I had made with great expectations of the benefits a simpler less complicated schedule would reap. However, changes are never as simple as we first think. I realize in order for us to be complete, satisfied, and balanced we must first have moderation. It did not take long for me to realize that simply saying no was not the answer.

Goals are an important part of living life to the fullest. Moderation can be key to maintaining a healthy balance of career, family, and community. Learning to say yes and no in the right measure will help keep our goals in perspective and enjoying the things truly important to us. We all have complained at one time or another there is not enough hours in the day. It is not the number of hours in the day that is the problem; it is the number of things we try to pack into those hours. Only say yes to activities you really care about. Learn to say no to activities you dread. Our health, success, and happiness may depend on how well we master the art of saying yes.

My most important goal is completing graduate school. Writing this column is the most rewarding opportunity I enjoy each week. I have come face to face with the number of hours in a day and the complexities of completing what is important. I have advocated getting more sleep and exercise, eating a balanced diet, saying no to holiday activities, and enjoying things in moderation. The question to me was, how do I devote my energy to the things most important to me this summer – my answer was moderation. I have said no to the things I dreaded and felt I was not making a difference in, and saying yes to school, family, work, and you. The balance for me this summer will be writing the column once a month, focusing on school and relaxing just a little as I reminisce of dragon flies and Doc Day’s pond.

Howard Baker, RN BSN

For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com