You Have All You Need
M Alan Roberts

The luxury to work from home is a nice one to have. From my desk, I can see the people everyday as they progress through their schedules. It's easy for me to tell who's running late; who's the early bird consistently; who's contented with their lives and, of course, who is completely miserable (they are the ones wearing scowls and cursing!). It's not that I pay that much attention, but some things are just obvious.

There are a few things at least that they all have in common. Firstly, they are all going to work. That's good; we need people to fuel the economy and keep our government rich. How else could we affect so much positivity throughout the globe as we do otherwise? My question is if they actually know why they are doing it, day after day, year after year. Yeah, I know: for the survival of their families, for their house payments, for their insurance, blah, blah, blah.

Maybe they are unaware that they have been forced into a life of governmental servitude. Maybe they are unaware that they do not have to do it - any of it! You know, not so very long ago, people lived much simpler lives. They embraced the land and all of the gifts that nature has always provided us with for free. They didn't need to go full-throttle all of the time because their lives were comprised of more holistic activities like working the land, actually raising their children, cooking the food that they grew or raised by themselves, and the like.

When people left the country for the cities, it was the beginning of a horrible and devastating loss for society and the principals of decency. Urban living spawns disease, crime, jealousy, hatred, unnecessary and unhealthy competition, dishonesty and greed to name just a few things. Those who stay in the rural settings, tending to their own business, do not experience these concepts in the same way. Sure they have their problems too, but their problems are manageable; they are not out of control every day with stress as their primary companions.

Even if you are a city dweller, there are many ways that you can return to a simpler lifestyle without leaving it. You can grow a garden - even if it's a windowsill garden. You can turn that television off every once in a while and read a book. Instead of sending your children to the mall after school, try working on their homework with them to instill in them the concepts of achievement, and of valuing their own education. Stop ordering out and learn how to cook. It's fun and will add years to the life of your family that you claim to care for so much. On the weekend, instead of everyone going their separate ways, have a family night together. Isn't that what a family should do?

People constantly are running around trying to achieve more and more, but in effect, they are just tearing everything down further and further until there is nothing left. Be different! Take charge of your lifestyle. Stop being sheep. Become a shepherd to your own flock and realize that you already have everything that you need. As a matter of fact, you have too much.