Pink Lotus Peace: Painting by Marcy LaBella
subtracted from their days. Most people discovered that being at home with extra hours and more down time created space to add a hobby or mindfulness practice to their day. Gardening, running, biking, yoga, walking, reading, playing with children and taking the dog for a walk now took the place of sitting in traffic during commuting time or working as much or as many hours as before. People have discovered what a difference those changes made in their lives. It created an impetus and time to reflect upon ways to make informed changes to create simpler more intentional lives. Change always includes the process of letting go, of material things certainly, and also of emotional baggage, of professional relationships and friendships that drain them and also releasing some goals that may have set for themselves in the past that are no longer serving them.
SIMPLE LIFE Simply Joyful by Marcy LaBella
“When we slow down, we are reminded of what matters most.” -Julianna Poplin
T
he beginning of the pandemic began an introspective period of reassessment and reprioritizing for many people. For some, the whole world seemed to stop, people were faced with months and, in some cases, well over a year of isolation and unemployment. Some worked from home with little to no outside contact. This left long hours for contemplation, rethinking how to live life and rethinking plans for the future. This time caused many to ask how could they be happier, freer and more satisfied? Many people preferred the pace of working from home, spending time with family, 14
New Haven/Middlesex
children and animal companions without the distraction of co-workers and office chit chat. In many cases, people felt more productive. Those working from home also gained extra time with commuting
The beginning of the pandemic began an introspective period of reassessment and reprioritizing for many people.
NaturalNewHaven.com
By stripping away the unnecessary and being intentional about what is most important to them in life, people are finding they can create more of the space required to live more simply and fully for the things that are most essential in their lives. Simplicity comes through focus and setting clear intention. Starting by clarifying intention and creating a list of the most important people, activities, things and goals that bring the greatest joy, is the first step. The next part is even more difficult as it requires defining what needs to go, creating distance from relationships that are mentally and emotionally draining, and things that take up too much precious time for little gain or reward. Next is
