The Secret Power of Simplicity

There are moments in life when you stumble across something that epically changes an aspect of your existence. I don’t say this in an existential way, but in a practical way. Life and all the shit in it can be complex, and if I let the complexity consume me, it leads to agitation and an edginess that isn’t pretty.

So, I try to ground myself in the idea of practicality and simplicity when I can. And when I do, I seem much more relaxed. Thus, I have created an ongoing quest for things that resonate with practicality and make my life simpler. Especially when it comes to fishing.

Much of our fishing on GFW takes us to the high country of the Rocky Mountains. We often find ourselves bushwhacking and/or hiking small creeks and less known rivers, usually in the heat of summer. There are times when the water is open enough to wet wade, but mostly it is easier to cover my legs and minimize the cuts and scrapes incurred when managing the terrain.

Full blown, shoulder strapped waders can get really hot and cumbersome when fishing the way we do. They can also leave the shoulders feeling tired…another result of graceful aging…as I don’t recall sore shoulders when I was younger.

So I started looking at alternatives and found what I was looking for.

Wading Pants!

The discovery and simplicity wading pants offer changed my fishing experience on those hot days of crashing through the woods in search of fish. I am cooler. I am able to climb and explore freely. I am happier. And who doesn’t want that? More joy! Once again, fishing provides direction and practicality I can use in my everyday life.

Experience matters. Improvement matters. Simplicity matters.

Recovery has proven to be a great teacher in my life, especially when it comes to simplicity. A common phrase we alcoholics come back to is “keep it simple, stupid.” I’m not always successful; however, myself awareness has grown in droves, and I can usually recognize when I’m escalating the complexities of my life.

But that phrase gets so much usage in my brain, it would probably be my “number one” if Spotify ever decided to do a Wrapped list for Self-Talk.

As I said earlier, when I am able to keep things in my life a safe distance from “complex and difficult,” I spend a lot less time frustrated and more time smiling.

Hans Hofmann once said, “To simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary, so that the necessary may speak.” When I am able to do this, I make profound discoveries.

Like more fish in the net!