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Monday Musings: Simplicity-The Key to Happiness!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Napa Consultants DRE00893924

As humans our tendencies are to complicate and justify our existence. When we achieve something wonderful, instead of savoring the moment,  our narrative turns to long stories of struggle, pain, and long hours of hard work.  

 

Conversely when we have setbacks, we also have a list of justifications for those moments.  It usually involves someone who thwarted our path in some way or other.  

 

Humans have a difficult time saying, "I did it!" regardless of the outcome. We have all seen the joy in a child's face when they first learn to walk, tie their shoes, ride a bicycle, or learn to read.  

 

It is a moment of "explosion of joy" as Maria Montessori dubbed it. The whole Montessori educational system is based on letting a child find their way to learning, essentially saying, "I did it!"  

 

Some may say that life is not a Montessori school,  however, we would counter that by saying that we always have our inner guidance as a teacher, providing we listen and respond to those "gut feelings!"When you do, life becomes, simple, enjoyable and worth living.

 

"That's been one of my mantras - focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."

~ Steve Jobs

 

 

"Nothing is more simple than greatness; indeed, to be simple is to be great."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

~ Leonardo da Vinci

 

 

"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials."

~ Lin Yutang (Chinese philosopher)

 

"Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity."

~ Charles Mingus (American Jazz musician)

 

Wishing everyone a great week ahead!

 

 

 

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Comments(29)

Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Michael Jacobs I think Ron read every book Maria Montessori wrote.  And we loved that the then 1000 lire note had her picture on it.  Ron still has that in his wallet.  Joy needs some marketing prowess these days...I am doing my best to promote it as is Ron.  Cheers, A

May 03, 2021 08:28 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

I wish the public schools had the same curriculum and taught the same "I Did It" mindset to students Ron and Alexandra. What an amazing change of view it would be for children to reach their full potential eventually as adults. I love the roses, gorgeous, my mother's favorite!

May 03, 2021 08:48 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! We worked with a school district in Los Angeles for three years, to generate donations, and to create curriculums that would be more in keeping with the Montessori system.  All I can say is that there are a lot of entrenched administrators and teachers wanting to maintain the status quo.  This is one reason that home schooling is growing as are private schools... A

May 03, 2021 09:15 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Ron and Alexandra- loved your thoughts! The older I get, the more I appreciate the simple things in life. It is such a shame that our schools cannot focus on the simple facts of learning the joys of learning and achieving. It has to be muddied up with structure that means nothing. 

May 03, 2021 12:48 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Simplicity, like minimalism allows space for thinking. I like your post and I like the concept of simplicity, because ultimately I am pretty simple myself.

May 03, 2021 01:04 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Kathy Streib I do not think this is a function of age, rather a function of wisdom and growth.  We both love simplicity which often in our minds include ingenuity...The structure in school pays for so many jobs that mean very little...and people will fight tooth and nail when they fear they are going to loose all that built cush.  A

May 03, 2021 01:10 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 I am so happy to hear from you.  I was wondering if you were wholly immersed in Antiques.  I like being simple also.  Thank you for your comment. A

May 03, 2021 01:13 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Ron and Alexandra Seigel - I love that tagging is back.  With all those great simplicity quotes I thought of AR and how complex it has been to get back the simplicity of and clean look and feel of this website.  

May 03, 2021 05:12 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Right is right and wrong is wrong and you can't reverse either. People make mistakes and the right thing to do is to admit, correct and move on.

May 03, 2021 06:19 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Simplicity is so much better.  I simplified after Mom died and then when I started traveling 3 years ago.  In case you missed my comment about where I am.  I am still at the RV park I spent the winter.  I leave here 6/1 and will spend time in Northern Arizona and then Utah. Not sure where else.  Will probably do a blog before leaving. Enjoy your evening

May 03, 2021 06:53 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Sharon Lee I did miss your comment.  If you tagged me under "Reply", it does not alert us.  Your plans sounds great, and I know you will have great stories and adventures. A

May 03, 2021 08:46 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Ed Silva Sadly some people have trouble admitting they are wrong, or taking credit for their great work. A

May 03, 2021 08:47 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® I agree with you, and I hope that many who stopped participating will be back..A

May 03, 2021 08:48 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Thank you I will remember that.  I did make the comment under reply.  That is probably why I have missed comments from folks on my blog. Just figured it was a A.R. glitch. 

May 03, 2021 08:51 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Good evening Ron and Alexandra Seigel.  I have to agree about a rose being very simple and that it brings me happiness whenever I see one or smell one Alexandra 🙂

May 03, 2021 09:23 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Loved this post and all the quotes were powerful, if I had to choose one it would be Charlie Mingus' message. That is so true! Clearly this is not a new concept if Da Vinci wrote about it:)Endre

May 03, 2021 10:30 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Alexandra.

I like simple, some people never find that joy, making everything they do difficult

May 04, 2021 12:16 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS and that is why I grow roses.  I have downsized to 10 bushes, so far...LOL A

May 04, 2021 11:03 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Endre Barath, Jr. I agree with you, and I do love Leonardo's words on simplicity, "Simplicity is the ultimat sophistication."  A

May 04, 2021 11:05 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

James,

We both love simple, there is no joy for us in complications...A

May 04, 2021 11:05 AM