Less is more, but not for everyone?

Having a simple life is something that today more than ever I value, I am very clear that I want to live with what is physically and mentally necessary, to be free of unnecessary things and to be able to dedicate all my attention to what is most important to me. That which is not bought but built by hand, with effort.

For me, living with what is necessary is more than enough and has helped me a lot to have my priorities clear, and to focus more on growing myself as a person than growing my possessions. Improving my spirituality and living a quiet life, with peace of mind, rather than burdening it with too many things.

This is quite clear to me, and sometimes I take it for granted that everyone can understand and accept this, because for me it is the logical thing to do. So when I see that I don't, it's a big internal shock, because even though I feel I'm doing it right, for others it's not so. After all, there is a variety of opinions, customs, cultures and ways of thinking.

I experienced this recently, I felt something strange when I heard some comments from an aunt I was visiting, and some of the other family members who were present and agreed with her. Her goals are to be able to grow her family, have more children, have a better vehicle to be able to transport herself, get a better job to get better wages and thus buy better things as well. The latest phone and what they call "comforts" for them and their families.

The truth is that this is the custom, to have better things "to progress" and also to have a life in "civilization", in a big city where you can live better and it is easier to get things, to be able to have a big family. Although I understand that many people think this way, the truth is that my way of thinking is totally the opposite, for me, the best thing in the world is to live in a rural area, as far away as possible from the noisy city that rushes everywhere.

I don't want the most expensive or the latest model, I want what works well for me to do what I do and besides, my plans and my husband's are not to have children, because we have considered many factors. However, explaining this was like trying to walk on water, I received a series of advice and even scoldings, of not being "ambitious" or of not "wanting the best for my family", when in reality I only have another concept of what it is to be ambitious and what is best for my family.

This situation made my aunt uncomfortable with me, and the truth is that I felt a little bad, but thinking a little more about the situation, I could only conclude that not everyone will understand that for many people less is more, and that far from growing in possessions and family, I want to stay with my little family in which the most valuable thing is always to have peace, and a spiritual mentality.

After all, by wanting to have a better lifestyle, more natural, more emotionally connected with others and more aware of who I am and my surroundings, I do not cause harm to anyone, on the contrary I am more able to bring positive things to others. So, I take this as a teaching that even if not everyone thinks like me, it doesn't mean that I should think like others.