Simplicity.
“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.”
-Jack Kerouac
The Lens-Artists photo challenge this week is hosted by Patti and she has chosen the theme of simplicity.
I love the concept of simplicity. A removal of the unnecessary. It flows right along with my word for 2020 – “prune”.
In looking up definitions and synonyms, I liked how the word “ease” came up. Ease is defined as peace; quiet; lack of difficulty.
Doesn’t that sound like something we all could use?
For me, simplicity is often found in nature. The tagline here at this blog is “seek the beauty in the chaos”. I am often looking for those simple moments of beauty that can be easily missed when our lives are in constant forward motion, with no time for the pause between the breaths. The space where life is truly lived. In the present.
“Nature is pleased with simplicity and simplicity is no dummy.”
-Isaac Newton
Naples, Florida. Naples Pier.
This is from my hometown. It was taken during my year of #thisis40 challenges and was for 30 days of yoga poses, which I completed in May 2018.
I love the beauty of any beach. Water, sand, sunshine…and my hometown has glorious sunsets over the water.
When your movement is restricted, you realize what is truly important in your life. While I am so grateful to be in my home with my husband and three children, I also realize that even though I visit my family that remains in Florida quite often, I should travel there even more.
p.s. – I’m wearing my favorite shirt in this photo. It says simplicity. And if you aren’t familiar with yoga, I’m practicing Crescent Pose.
“There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.”
-Leo Tolstoy
Dornie, Scotland. Eilean Donan Castle.
Since we started with my yoga pose from May 2018, I thought we’d move along to where I traveled from there. I was in Naples to meet my mother so that we could embark on our second trip to Scotland.
I chose this photo to represent simplicity for two reasons. One is that the magnificent castle is in the background while a simple stack of rocks takes the stage of the foreground. The second is that the stacking of rocks is called a cairn. It often carries the spiritual meaning of creating balance. Something many are pondering now that we’ve had a chance to stop the go, go, go.
“Simplicity is ultimately a matter of focus.”
-Anne Voskamp
Edinburgh, Scotland. Arthur’s Seat.
On this trip, my mother and I hiked up Arthur’s Seat and watched a magnificent sunset. While this is not a photo of it, one of our reasons for wanting to hike it was due to the existence of The Radical Road.
The Radical Road is so named this because it was built by the unemployed weavers after their failed effort during the Radical War of 1820, also known as the Scottish Insurrection. It was weeks of strikes and unrest and that began in areas around and in Glasgow. Our roots are Scottish and mainly based out of Glasgow. While many were coal miners, there are also some who were handloom weavers (Going back to my roots- a trip to Airdrie). And while we don’t know if any of our ancestors helped build The Radical Road, the timeline definitely suggests that it was a possibility.
“I do believe in simplicity… So simplify the problem of life, distinguish the necessary and the real. Probe the earth to see where your main roots run.”
-Henry David Thoreau
Scotland.
I love daisies. Hence, its appearance in my blog name. I also love that I find them everywhere I travel.
They are simple works of beauty.
Unpretentious.
And they are resilient.
Humans should take note.
“If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.”
-Ranier Maria Rilke
Glasgow, Scotland. Ashton Lane.
When we come out on the other side of all of this, I hope that we continue to embrace simplicity.
There is great joy to be found in gathering with our friends, having a pint of beer, and not rushing off in our hurried, busy ways.
Laughter, friendship, compassion, kindness…these are some of the simple things that truly matter.
“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”
-Laura Ingalls Wilder.
For an older take on simplicity and a journey through some Virginia woods, be sure to check out the post : Purely Captivating.
Stay healthy out there…and…
Let your light shine!
Amy
I love the photo of the cairn and the castle. It’s such a beautiful setting.
I loved the varying scenes along that shore. Our day tour stopped there as a bathroom break and then we went over to the castle. It was closed, but we were able to walk around the exterior. It was quite magnificent.
What a beautiful post Amy. A simple life and being grateful for small pleasures seems to be at the core of finding peace. Love all your photos, especially the one of you on the beach. Thanks for sharing it all. Much love xx 🙏
Thank you, Miriam. Simplicity and gratitude do seem to be at the core of finding peace. Much love to you as well! xx
Simplicity is my one word of the year. This post sings to me, it does. I like the idea that simplicity is focus, something doable when you put your mind and spirit into it. Which is what I’m trying to do with all that I do.
I know Naples FL, too. Years ago I had family there and would go visit. Such a gorgeous place to experience. I know it’s more commercialized now, so I might not recognize it. But back then, it was so relaxed.
That is a great word for the year! I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. 🙂
Naples is very beautiful, but is is extremely crowded in the winter. I travel in the summer because of my children’s school schedules and it’s much more relaxed then. Prior to our move to Virginia we lived in the Stuart, Florida area. While the water isn’t calm like the Gulf, my parent’s commentary about that town was that it reminded them of Naples in the 70’s.
Excellent photos, quotes, and commentary. Arthur’s Seat! We hiked that on our arrival day in Scotland, to shake the jet lag. A good walk!
Thank you so much, John. Arthur’s Seat is an excellent hike!
I love these quotes, and your images. I love Cairns! I am compelled to add a rock when I come upon them and sometimes I start them. I really liked the image with the cairn and castle. That would be a good pub name or beer name I think. 😀
Wow!
These are really gorgeous snaps. Truly amazing 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
Love the photo of yoga on the beach. Your photography of places you have visited is wonderful too.
Thanks so much, Jonathan!! 🙂
Quite a set of images – simplicity in nature indeed. Especially loved the daisies.
Thank you, Tina. Nature does simplicity very well. 🙂
Wonderful post, Amy! Your shots are gorgeous and your thoughts on simplicity are very wise. I especially love your shot of Arthur’s Seat. I want to go back to Scotland!
Thank you so much, Patti! I want to go back to Scotland too!!
A beautiful post, well written, Amy – and I love Scotland of course. Excellent images – love Eilean Donan Castle and Arthur’s Seat especially. I haven’t visited Glasgow though – maybe next time! For now, “The space where life is truly lived. In the present.”
Thank you so much!! I hope to get back to Scotland again someday. I love it so much! I really enjoyed Glasgow. You should visit if you get the chance. 🙂
I will!
I really like the cairn photo <3 So pretty — well, all of them are, but that one hits different 😉
I do enjoy the less going and fear it's a crime of my heart that I hope we never resume being too busy to stop and enjoy. I don't know why life is like that, it's not simplicity and it's stressful.
The cairn photo seems to be well liked. My husband made the interesting oberservation of the cairn being a stack of stones and the castle also being a stack of stones. The same, yet different. 🙂
I hope that we all can keep the slower pace of life when we return to a life of being free to come and go as we please.
I like your husband’s observation. This is good thinking.
Lovely post.
Thank you!! 🙂
This was a lovely post, Amy. Your photo taken in Holyrood Park is really beautiful. I have such a deep longing in my heart to be back there.
Thank you so much! I’d love to have a chance to go back there as well. 🙂