Marching to the Beat of a Different Drummer; Secrets of Simplicity
It is a challenge to march in a parade when you don’t hear the beat of the drum. The percussion is the section which allows members of the band to keep in step and perform at their best. We all love a great parade! Simplifying your life is a bit like walking to the beat of a different drummer. You will get push back from your friends and family. They may not like the changes you are beginning to claim as your own.
![Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band - St. Patrick's Day Parade In Dublin [Ireland]](http://www.simplyabundantlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/louisiana_state_university_tiger_marching_band__st_patricks_day_parade_in_dublin_ireland.jpg)
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Henry David Thoreau
You likely will ruffle a feather or two. I know. It happened to me. When we sold our home and moved into a much smaller space it was a challenge to explain to our family and friends the “why” of what we were doing. Looking back I think it was because we did not fully understand our why. We only knew we wanted to live the width and breadth of our days while we were still breathing. We did not want to look back on a life and see only regret in our rear view mirror.
Your journey of simplicity will look different than ours.
- You don’t have to sell your home to simplify. You only need to start.
- Change begins with a single step, one closet cleaned or a desktop organized.
- Change may also come when you realize one of the areas you need to ‘house-clean” is a pile of unhealthy relationships you feed like monsters in a dank basement.
- Change begins when you decide you are willing to let go of what no longer gives life to your heart and soul.
Learning to live a better life with less is possible. I have found it oddly freeing to be surrounded with a few things which mean a great deal to me instead of a roomful of stuff which I like, but don’t love. The relationships which are precious to me are now treasured in a new way and as I let go of physical stuff, I am finding more ways to give back to others in ways which speak love and value to them.
Marching to the beat of a different drummer… a little off tempo, a bit unique, but who made the rule we need to be like everyone else. The greatness of a band marching in perfect step is a joy to behold… but so is a eclectic blend of jazz and funk. What makes one better than the other? What makes one right or wrong? They are different and different is not bad; it is merely different.
Challenge for Today- Know your why. Recognize what motivates you.
- What do you hope to gain through living more simply?
- What does a more simplified life look like to YOU?
- Can you determine the influencers in your life? Are they internal or do they come from friends, family, advertising or the media? Which of these feel the most true and right to you? Which ones feel false?
- Is it possible for you to live a better life by subtracting from your to do list instead of adding to it?
Congratulations friend.. you are digging deep! Thrilled to have you on this journey with me. Know as I write these words to you, they are resonating to me as well. Let me know in the comments, what is hitting home with you? What feels like the biggest struggle to you as you strain to hear the beat of a different drummer ?
Invite your friends to join us- on our 31 day adventure, send them our link and bring them along on your quest for less stuff (inside and out) and more of a life you love! You will find a place to sign up on the top right of the screen! One of you will receive a special gift at the end of our journey! Blessings my friends!
Oh my, I’m always hearing Laura, youre different, you dance to a different Drummer! I’ve heard that for 59 years, life is an adventure with many highs, lows, in between, and it keeps going….hopefully, I’ll find my other drummer half before I’m all that much older, who knows. In the meantime, life is interesting……an adventure, I’ll still drum on!
Drum on !!!
Nancy thanks for sharing this post. I have often said about myself that I dance to the beat of a different drum. I too had people question why my family and I moved over 750 miles away from my home state fifteen years ago. But my family grew spiritually tremendously during those eight years away from our comfort zone. It will ll be seven years this December that we’ve been back home. When it was time to come back home we just “knew” we had to return the same way we “knew” when it was time to leave. It was revealed to us shortly after returning home why we had to return. I’m sure it will be revealed to my family and I why I had to retire from a 38 yr. career in accounting/bookkeeping a month ago today.
The bottom line is the benefits of simplifying our lives outweigh the difficulties we may face in the growth process and weeding out process. I pray that everyone who is seeking to live simpler lives are surrounded by more people like you and others who encourage them than naysayers.
Helena- Happy one month anniversary 🙂 Keep marching to the beat of your drum. You please your heavenly father when you listen not to the beat of the world around you- but to Him alone!
It’s very true that those around you will think you took a wrong turn. We’ll have to use a different guiding system than before and a different mirror to check our progress. Who hopes for what they already have?
Thanks for sharing Nancy – GREAT words!
Judi-
Most of us yearn to hear the words- ‘good job, great choice, yippee” … but often we instead hear, how, what and most of all WHY! Must reconcile these questions in our own minds, being at peace at where and what Abba Father has called us to in our lives.
Blessings!
Nancy 🙂
I just told my brother, George about your series. I really like it a lot. Your warm caring tone comes through loud and clear. I like that you point out we will get objections from others and at the very least we will hear comments. Sometimes when we branch out and do different things it is intimidating. Sometimes it reveals the areas others wish they were free to also do.They are free, perhaps they are not there yet. We experienced this in a small way when we launched Emma’s Wish. There were a couple of people who gave more than just a comment. But giving others freedom to express their views is freeing.
I am here again, before getting ready for church. I never read Thoreau’s words in the quotation you use. It’s beautiful and wise like all his reflections.
I have been living in simplicity for a long time. I cannot live a less busier life unless i disappear in the desert…I have given many things away to others and most of my precious things to children and grandchildren. But I cannot get rid of the pain for my children and grandchildren who have had life come down on them hard, and not because of their own doings.
Thank God, He is with us all and even at the worst He sends us signs of His love!
Our mama’s hearts want to gather up our children and grands.. protect them, heal them and restore them- yet so much is out of our control. Our hearts beat the same my friend. We stand. We pray. We wait.
Hugs
Nancy