Simplicity

I saw a marvellous quote on a School Billboard as we were driving past and I thought – I must remember that. It would make great subject matter for a Blog.

Of course, when I got home, I discovered that I couldn’t remember the wording of the quote, so I spent ages ‘Googling’ - but to no avail. And then the irony of the situation struck me. The quote I had been chasing was all to do with how wisdom is learning the art of simplicity. Yet there I was getting all frustrated because I couldn’t find the proper wording for the quote, when all I really needed to do was to paraphrase.

Simple really. Yet the simple answer is often the one we most easily overlook.

A problematic situation darkens our door and we launch ourselves into a frantic quest for a solution. Then, when we are about ready to start tearing our hair out in sheer frustration, some one comes along and says ‘Why don’t you just …?’ They offer us the simplest solution imaginable, and yet we know instantly that it is the one that will actually work.

It’s always easy to see how the Jigsaw puzzle fits together when it is completed. It might have looked like such an impossible task when it was all scattered over the table in a multitude of pieces. But no matter how big the puzzle might be, it is still a matter of just fitting the pieces together to form the intended picture.

I found another quote in my travels.
“Wisdom begins at the end” – Daniel Webster.

©Lyn Murphy 2011

Stay Flexible

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I used to say I would NEVER want to work at night. I’m a morning person. I would much prefer to get up early, do my work for the day, and then relax at night.


Well, experience has taught me that getting up early in the mornings can have its drawbacks. For example the neighbours aren’t ready to turn in at the same time as I need to go to bed in order to be all bright eyed and bushy tailed for a 4.30am rising. They are still out clattering and banging, and shouting from room to room to each other while I am laying there gritting my teeth and wondering if I will ever get to sleep.


My circumstances changed and now I actually do work at night. Guess what? To my surprise I don’t mind at all. It’s great not having to rush off in the mornings – not having to try to get to sleep early at night. I can potter around and get all my housework done in the mornings, rather than have to come home after several hours of cleaning and attempt to do it then. I can make appointments in the morning, instead of having to specify afternoons.


And I go to bed at night because I’m tired, not because it’s my accepted bedtime. That means I actually sleep rather than tossing and turning the night away.


I used to say I loved the heat. When I told everyone I was moving to Queensland they all asked how I would cope with the weather. I told them, ‘Not a problem. I love the Queensland weather’


Well I certainly prefer the heat to the cold, there is no doubt about that. But it’s one thing to go somewhere hot and steamy on a holiday, and entirely another thing to have to go out and work in those kinds of conditions. The heat and humidity can be totally draining and I often find myself almost wishing for summer to end.


So what is the point that I’m trying to make here? Life has taught me the importance of remaining open minded and flexible in my thinking. I’ve learned that my ideals; my personal preferences and beliefs can change just like everything else in this world of ours. It really doesn’t do to be too dogmatic in my approach to anything.


We never stop learning, about the world around us and even about ourselves.
©Lyn Murphy 2011