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Simplicity has traversed a long journey. It has seen times when it was considered a virtue. It has also seen times when it has been termed for a lifestyle devoid of any panache. It has been associated with people who have practiced it genuinely as humility. It has also put up with people who have endured simplicity due to lack of an alternative.

What is simplicity? Is it wearing cotton? Is it eating bland food? Is it surviving without technology? Is it living without modern amenities? Is it commuting by public transport? What is it that determines us as being simple? Is being simple very difficult?

Our daily life incidences or our past experiences build our concept of simplicity. A person who has led his early life in penury and indigence will be reluctant to spend money. Their concept of simplicity is to be parsimonious and thrifty. The concept of needs is so limited in such people that they interpret all luxuries as greed. Spending money is reckless, wasteful and a violation of simplicity in his opinion.

Similarly, an old lady, who has spent herself working in kitchen and in other household chores, feels annoyed at the sight of gadgets placed in the kitchen and around. For her the tasks would be quite simpler and easier without them. The tools are meant to aid her and make her job simpler. But the very purpose of the tools is defeated because of her concept of simplicity.

It becomes tough to restrain ourselves in a world changing so fast. A world that is focused on possession, owning and amassing beyond needs. Practicing simplicity contradicts the general trends of the modern society. In the present times we are so unreasonably enamoured and besotted with acquiring the stuff around us that even a remote thought of simplicity strikes us with an onset of depression. We try to seek happiness with all the material benefits around us. The idea of de-cluttering and simplifying our lives triggers insecurity in us. It’s tough to cumulate fortune, but its lot more difficult and tougher to renounce them. A simple life is gratifying only when it springs from within.

We should take cue from the birds who build nests, squirrels that make drays and rabbits who live in burrows and they all take care of their young ones. Life is as good, precious and tough in any form. The life is simple and satisfying for them. Its devoid of all the confused multitude of things.

There is no single way of living simple. There are lots of aspects that determine simplicity. Simplicity is not denouncing the technology, it’s not embracing hardships in life and it’s not even withdrawing ourselves from the ever changing world. Such misconceptions just beget regression and not simplicity. It should not also be practiced to impress others. Simplicity is genuineness. It is a quality of being simply simple. Anything lacking ornamentation is simple. Clarity of concept and focused vision bears simplicity. It is the highest level of achievement. Simplicity should be an integral part of character. It should be developed as an attitude. Simplicity comes from within. It changes our perception. This attitudinal shift reflects on our lifestyle. We should get rid of unwanted echoes which interfere with the basic purpose in the journey of our life.