choosing...(p.26)

I am constantly challenged with weighing today’s advancements with how things once were.

There is a place for both.

There are gifts and shadows with each.

I do believe the simpler I live, the happier I am.

I don’t always make the right choices

but here are a few I daydream

of choosing…

the broom over the vacuum,

ticking clocks over the glowing phone,

open windows over air conditioning,

a warm, crackling fireplace over a thermostat,

candles over a flashlight,

to mend over purchasing,

cooked meals over restaurants,

the family table over the coffee table,

cotton fabric over a blend,

small, seasonal, curated clothes over a full closet,

glass over plastic,

to walk over runs,

books over channels,

groomed nails over polished,

nature over digital,

family games over quiet rooms,

old, storied furniture over new

cut wildflowers over long-stem roses,

worn pages over crisp,

to pray more over control more.

to dress thoughtfully over mindlessly casual,

to sleep and rise early over late nights and groggy mornings,

routine over the free flow,

pens and notebooks over phones and apps,

a sleepy village over a sleepless city,

contentment over striving,

to breathe over holding my breath,

happiness over achievements,

long gazes over missed moments,

to listen over solving,

to say hello over wearing headphones,

clotheslines over dryers,

stoves over microwaves,

granny's wisdom over today's hacks,

to respect mother earth over my own comforts,

and

front porches over messenger chats.

I'm not completely there yet, but these tug at my heart. ❤️