ASC SPEAK: STAYING GROUNDED AND OTHER SIMPLE PLEASURES

Staying grounded is hard. The way life is set up for the generation of young people my age, we're expected to get a job, find a significant other, collect and maintain friends, slay 100% of the time, have our hair laid, nails done, go out on weekends but always have money, read books, be educated, have at least one entrepreneurial endeavor, have and support children, all while getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night.Unfortunately, with the help of social media, this unrealistic lifestyle is becoming the perpetuated reality--and if you're anything like me, you don't ever really do all of the aforementioned things all at one time. Last week I sat outside after work....just me, a succulent, a pot, and some soil. I'd been puttting off giving my plants a new home for a long time, and finally decided to get on with it. As I sat there on my balcony, I realized I probably hadn't touched actual soil in at least a couple of years. I suddenly became aware of how easy it is to detach from the simple pleasures in life, those things that bring true happiness...like helping others, not just by giving money to a homeless person and driving on, but physically indulging in the assistance of someone else. Things like leaving my phone at home on purpose, or drawing, painting, woodworking, or learning a new language...all things I enjoy greatly but never seem to have the time for.So, I performed an experiment. For every ten or so odd minutes I would usually spend on social media or looking at fashion articles online, I decided to use particpating in something tangible I love. And as I did that, a thought came to me: how many hours a day do we spend watching someone else enjoy the best 5 minutes of their day, versus being present in our own?Now, this is not an attack on social media, because it is good for a great many things. However, I cannot express the feeling of freedom experienced after leaving my phone off on purpose during lunch, or forgetting it throughout the day. Try it sometime! The moral of my story, is that there is great value in finding time to indulge in the simple pleasures that make you happy. Make some time to do these things! And have a wonderful Wednesday.-AB

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.                                     ~Matthew 6:33