Mexico

Is simplicity the key to happiness?

Whenever I come home from a trip I have this overwhelming feeling of excess. I feel the need to simplify. I almost immediately start getting rid of stuff. By "stuff" I mean material possessions; clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry... This trip was no different.

Traveling has brought me perspective and with that perspective I've gained an amazing appreciation for simplicity.  The simple life if you will.  Other countries seem to have this down.  I have met some of the most genuinely happy people while traveling through some of the most poverty stricken countries. These people are poor by American standards. They don't have a lot of material possessions yet they are happy. Hmm... It can be argued that their simplicity is a product of their available resources or their lack of opportunity. Regardless their life is simple.  The less they have, the less they seem to need. 

Why live simply when we can have so much? We can afford it. It's available.  Why not possess it? In reality though to live life we only need the basic necessities...food, shelter and clothing. Everything else is a bonus. We live in a world in which success is everything.  This success seems to be measured by power, achievement, status & wealth. Having more equates with being successful.

I'm not suggesting you go and sell everything, move to another country and quit your job... But it's refreshing to be reminded that sometimes it is the simple things that really make us the happiest. We work hard for nice things and a certain lifestyle, but in reality what we really want is time. Time with our family, time doing what we love and time spent in the places that we love. 

This past week I was reminded of this. I got to spend time with my friends doing what I love in a pretty amazing place. Here are a few pictures from my last trip to Mexico...

Waves at San Pancho

Punta Mita Surf Breaks

Rainy day ~ boat trip to The Cove

 Drinks with some of the crew

Rainy night in Bucerias = tequila & beer

Fish tacos....yum!! 

Murals in San Pancho

Sayulita

Making the trek to La Lancha

Los Veneros

Siesta time

I love this story.  It's about a Mexican Villager, living the simple life.

Think about it... 

A businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied only a little while.

The businessman then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor."

The businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise."The Mexican fisherman asked, "But señor, how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "15-20 years." "But what then, señor?" The businessman laughed and said, "That's the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions." "Millions, señor? Then what?" The businessman said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"

~Author Unknown

surf, eat, sleep, repeat... sounds pretty simple to me :)