Less is More
I almost forgot that this is the whole point.
The quiet moments in the morning. The laughter of children. The playful energy of puppies. The vibrant greenery and the colors that surround us. It’s in the simple, little things, finding joy in what already is.
What a gift it is just to be here, to have our souls experience life on Earth. The point is to feel. To observe. To genuinely enjoy ourselves. All those beautiful emotions, the highs and the lows, they are the point. The kind of laughter that brings tears, the ache of missing home, the people who inspire us to live a little more, the moments of discomfort and vulnerability — these are the heart of it.
It’s never about the clothes we wear, the car we drive, or the job title we carry. None of those things bring what a simple appreciation for the small can.
Imagine a menu with two hundred items versus a menu with just four. Most of us would choose the smaller one. That metaphor parallels many parts of life.
While traveling, I carry a backpack with just the essentials — one outfit for a night out, a few bathing suits, a handful of tank tops. And it’s enough. There’s no agonizing over what to wear, no digging through a pile of black tops. There’s just one option, and it’s perfect. The simplification of life, in every area, makes it easier to enjoy. It creates more space in our minds to be present, therefore more time to relish and find pleasure in our current moment, and completely be our authentic selves.
When I meet someone, I never remember what they were wearing. I remember how they made me feel. Their smile, the way they made me feel safe, how they made me laugh until I couldn’t breathe.
I think about the local Balinese people I’ve met along the way — their gentle spirits, the way they helped without hesitation, the way they went the extra mile simply because they wanted to.
And that simplicity, that warmth, extends into how we can live our own lives. The simpler we live, the lighter everything feels.
We’ve noticed this again and again — in Cuba, in Guatemala, and now in Bali. There’s a quiet contentment in the way people live. They don’t wait for happiness to arrive with the next big purchase. They choose to find peace in the lives they already have. On paper, it might look like they have “less,” but in truth, they radiate more joy than most people I know. Their smiles are the brightest, their energy the most generous.
When we have too much — when we’re trying to keep up, to chase the next thing — it never feels like enough. In the States, this often feels like a constant undercurrent: too many choices, too much stimulation, and always the sense that what we have isn’t quite it. The Targets and Walmarts are filled with endless options, but somehow leave us feeling drained. It’s decision fatigue, and it surrounds us.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Keep it simple. Take it easy. Notice where you might be overcomplicating your life, and try softening it — even just a little. The human experience is already a colorful, messy, beautiful whirlwind of emotions and complexities.
Why make it any harder than it has to be?