Posts Tagged ‘plain and simple’

I have been reading the book Plain and Simple: A Woman’s Journey to the Amish.  So even though I am only about half way through, I wanted to share a few of the bits of wisdom from the book.

It is about a woman, Sue Bender, who has spent her life in the frantic pursuit of success, but who is inexplicably drawn to the Amish.

One Summer, she decided to live with an Amish family, to observe and learn their ways.

Here are a few excerpts from the book:

She described the process of the women canning vegetables…   No one rushed.  Every step was done with care.  The women moved through the day unhurried.  There was no rushing to finish so they could get on to the “important things.”  For them, it was all important.

Everything was a ritual.  Doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, baking the bread, quilting, canning, hanging out the laundry, picking fresh produce, weeding.  Friday: housecleaning; Saturday: mowing the lawn; Monday: washing.

I have been thinking a lot about my days and how to make them simpler, less busy and less harried.  I also love the idea of routine…. which is definitely not my strength.

It’s high time I get more of a routine: Mondays: ironing; Tuesdays: dusting and mopping; Wednesdays: bathrooms… and so on.

I think it would help me feel less like there is always too much to do and too little time.

I love the idea of deliberation and of being unhurried… of making each task important and of doing my best at each task.  I think one of the keys to happiness is to enjoy the everyday things you have to do.  And there is no enjoying anything when you are rushed.

This book has given me a lot to think about.

Sometime I would love to share my mother Leslie’s experience with the Amish… it’s quite a story.