When Less is More: Choosing a Simpler Lifestyle

Of Weevils and Weeds

“It is better to dwell on the beautiful things in life than the negative.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita ―

Anyone who’s dealt with weevils knows that where there’s one, there’s likely more. These tiny beetles with long snouts and antennae love to feast on grains, pasta, rice, oats, cereal, flour, and spices.

Not only do they tunnel their way into paper sacks or cardboard boxes, they also lay eggs resulting in a snoot squad that will rob anyone of their appetite (ironically, a group of weevils is called a blessing—I can think of a better term).

You can imagine my distress when, the other day, I discovered tiny black specks among the sacks of flour in my pantry. While some cultures consider them a source of protein, this perspective is far from my own view when it comes to these mini mites. I promptly rid our pantry of any contaminated food and invested in a set of airtight containers to prevent any recurrence.

As though that weren’t enough of a challenge for one day, I went on to tackle my flower beds. I’ve been so focused on finishing the first draft of my second mystery novel, that I’d neglected my garden. Add to the mix several inches of rain from recent storms, and the weeds had all the necessary elements to thrive and smother the young shoots emerging through the soil. Thankfully the ground was soft enough that my son and I were able to yank out fistfuls of chickweed.

The key takeaway from my recent experience boils down to this one truth. We mustn’t allow negative thoughts and behaviors to quietly infiltrate our lives.

Perhaps it’s a bad habit, a toxic relationship, a harmful influence, a warped perspective or biased opinion.

Ignoring such issues can result in lasting and potentially significant consequences in our day-to-day lives. A few practical steps might be:

• Identify those hurdles that slow our progress.
• Address the time wasters that prevent us from being productive.
• Confront the negatives that encroach on the positivity we yearn for in our lives. Personally, I have chosen to limit my exposure to political news and social media.

Much like the weevils and weeds that required action on my part, removing those factors that steal our joy paves the way for a happier and simpler lifestyle.

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. I look forward to hearing from you.