WQ#46: Thoughts on the Admiration of a Simple Life

Published on by Yinglan

Before I officially stuck with the blog name – This is Another Story – this blog was called A Simple Life.

I felt life was too complex back then, having to juggle school along with 3 jobs I was forced into by mom and her sisters. I remember constantly in manic mode, wishing the world would slow down.

Commuting back then was a struggle because parking at the university was expensive and mom didn’t want me commuting the daily 60 miles in my 1995 clunker. Commuting by public transit took 60 minutes, if I was lucky and 90 minutes if I wasn’t, each way and a lot of times, classes began at 7:30 AM.

It made me ponder constantly of how my life would’ve differed if I had gone with my guts and pursued a career in graphic design.

I had been studying graphic design during my junior and senior years in high school. Those classes counted as college credits and I had been accepted by a technical college before I graduated high school. It would had been 2 years of college before I would be placed in a job.

Mom went to tour the campus with me. I liked it, she did not. Before I knew it, I was pushed into applying for university to pursue a major I have never heard of because her friend said, “it’s hot.”

I started blogging to pursue simplicity because I craved minimalism. I wanted to get rid of all the things that were causing me anxiety and headache in life – the jobs, life with mom, the house I was living in, school.

I wanted simplicity. I wanted minimalism. I only wanted the things that mattered. Back then, it was my own place and a writing pad and pencil.

I still crave simplicity but more so, I crave freedom these days. I crave the freedom to go somewhere without needing to give anyone a rational and logical explanation. I crave the freedom to make my own decisions. I crave the freedom to make purchases without being interrogated or lectured each time. I crave an independent adulthood.

It makes me admire those in my age group who are living their lives independently and not being controlled by their parents like a pet on a leash. The unfortunate thing is there are still many people in the world who are in similar situations or worse.

19 thoughts on “WQ#46: Thoughts on the Admiration of a Simple Life”

  4. Yinglan, I am glad that blogging offers you a place of tranquility and freedom. I hope that you eventually find freedom in real life. Here is our story.

    Vince’s sister lived with her parents until they died. She was 56. She never had a career and never worked for longer than a few months in the late 70s, probably because they disapproved of something. She did not have the backbone, the education, or the outlets that you have. Nor did she desire freedom because she was comfortable. When she came to live with us, because Dad “Said she was going to live with us,” she was penniless except for a small inheritance. She thought life would continue as usual, except without the criticism from her folks. “Dad said my brothers would take care of me,” she told me. She soon found out that life is not like that. She learned to drive, work, live by herself, and became an independent adult. Recently, she said to me, “I wish I’d done this sooner.” She is now 71.

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    1. Wow, what a story!
      In many ways, she sounds like my cousin. He’s in China and living in the comfort of his mother’s home without a job and any sort of technical training, all the while claiming he has depression and anxiety. While I feel bad for him, I don’t think these are legitimate excuses and I still feel he should at least try.
      More often than not, I think we are what we are is how we’re raised.
      If my mom hadn’t left me so many times as a child and as a teen, I would not be the way I am now. I would probably be my mom’s good little robot instead of fighting the control as I am now.
      When she came to live with you guys, was there someone who woke her up to the reality of life? Was that how she finally decided to learn to drive, work, and live? I’m glad she learned to live independently before it’s too late.

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      1. We basically became her parents. She’s pretty docile, and does what she’s told, but taking initiative isn’t her first response. I gave her choices of the things she could do to get ready to work instead of staying home watching tv, and didn’t allow her that as an option. We took everything in baby steps. Then we got her a place of her own.

        “I don’t want to live by myself.”

        “Sometimes we all have to do things we don’t want to do,” was Vince’s response.

        She had some very tough times, but she has come through like a champ. It’s a fascinating story, I think, and I only know parts of it.

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  7. I was very interested to read this little glimpse into your heart and your desire to find simplicity. Sometimes we don’t see that our lives are too complicated until we’re overwhelmed by the busy-ness. I’m glad you’re finding a place to experience some freedom, creativity, and simplicity here on your lovely blog space. 🙂

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    1. I agree, many of us don’t see life as complex until we find ourselves running around trying to get stuff done and accomplishing nothing at the same time. It was how I was at the time and many times, I found myself just scream, “stop!” Now, at the end of the day, I can just come to this blog and put my feelings here.

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