The Simple Life is a Reality
A simple life is a reality. The Simple Life is not just something that you read about, dream about, or imagine. It’s not even something you have to strive for you can wake up every morning and choose to live the Simple Life right then and there. It’s a choice that we all have in our hands: how much stuff do we need? How much is enough? What do we want our lives to look like at their core?
The Simple Life isn’t a way of life; it’s an idea of how we should think about our lives and it’s one that we should all embrace as often as possible!
Packing
- Pack light. The less you have to carry, the better. Your kids will be more willing to help unload your car if they don’t have to struggle with their bags too.
- Make a list of essentials that you can’t travel without and make sure you remember them all for each trip. As well as any other items that are crucial for your comfort and wellbeing this is especially important if you intend on cooking at home or doing laundry (more on these later).
- If you have children, don’t forget anything they need either. This includes not only obvious things such as clothes and toys but also something like a blanket or jacket if it gets cold at night, or an extra pair of shoes in case one gets lost during transport. It may seem obvious but it’s easy with kids around sometimes!
Seaside Living
You’ll be surprised how many things you can do with your kids. You can:
- Relax on the beach with a good book.
- Walk along the shoreline and collect shells and sea glass.
- Swim in the sea and build sandcastles, or just play in the sand (this is more fun for little kids).
- Sail, windsurf, or jet-ski.
- Fish from boats (or from rocks if you prefer).
- Go kayaking or canoeing along creeks and rivers; there are loads of them here! Some beaches are only accessible by boat so this is a great way to explore places that most tourists don’t reach yet.
Do as the Romans do
One of the many joys of living in Provence is its rich history. There are ancient Roman ruins to discover, centuries-old cathedrals and churches to visit, and lovely old villages built around mediecal castles. Many of these sites are often quite spread out, so if you’re planning on visiting multiple places in one day and you should be doing this often! you must know how to get around without driving yourself crazy.
That said, it might be tempting at first glance to rent a car and use Google Maps as your guide (or download our app!). But we encourage you not only because there are other ways to get around town but also because doing so allows us all to pause for thought about what it means when we say “car culture.” We think getting lost can lead as much meaning into life as any destination ever could!
Market day in France
Market day is a great day to take kids and it’s great for adults, too.
France has something called “market day,” which I think should be the best day of the week. It’s like a weekly farmer’s market that happens on different days depending on where you are in France.
Kids can see so many things on market day: there are flowers, fruits, and vegetables galore, meats hanging from hooks (usually lusualheese counters with endless varieties (because France is famous for its cheese), olives, bread and pastries you name it! There will also be artisans selling pottery or hand-blown glassware or paintings by local artists who live just down the road.
Get your kids outside, enjoying nature and thinking beyond their iPhones and you’ll leave famished for more.
Imagine your child spending time in nature. What is on his or her mind? Is it their homework? Their grades? Does the child have a dream they’d like to pursue? Do they want to be an artist, doctor, or athlete when they grow up?
How about this do you think your kids are thinking about what to eat for dinner tonight, what outfit looks best for school tomorrow morning, or whether or not you will allow them an extra piece of candy when we go out for ice cream later tonight? If these seem like normal thoughts for a child to have, then yes but if not, then maybe it’s time for us adults to get our priorities straight.
We can all agree that social media has become an integral part of modern life and provides several benefits (such as keeping up with friends and family). But studies show that children who spend too much time online run the risk of developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
A simple life is a reality. The Simple Life is not just something that you read about, dream about, or imagine. It’s not even something you have to strive for you can wake up every morning and choose to live the Simple Life right then and there. It’s a choice that we all have in our hands: how much stuff do we need? How much is enough? What do we want our lives to look like at their core?
The truth is: that most of us want to be materialistic. We just think we do because that’s what we’ve been taught. We’ve been conditioned to think that bigger is better and more is better. But it’s not! Being too busy and stressed out by all the things we own can make us unhappy.
So why am I telling you this? Because I want you to know that there is another way! And it doesn’t involve selling everything off on Craigslist and living out of your car to “downsize.” (Because let’s face it: nobody wants an RV).
It involves making choices every day that will lead to a simpler life without sacrificing all the good things.
