I’ve always been drawn to a simpler life.
Not because it’s easy — most of the time it isn’t — but because it feels honest. Real. Grounded in things you can touch, fix, build, and understand.
Even before I knew words like “simple living” or “homesteading,” I felt it. I was the kid who wanted to be outside. The one who liked working with his hands, tearing things apart just to see how they worked, and disappearing into the woods for hours without feeling bored.
That pull never really went away.
The things that actually make me feel alive
It’s never been big, flashy moments.
It’s everyday stuff:
- working on things and keeping them running
- riding a bike with no destination
- walking familiar paths just to notice what changed
- sitting in the yard doing absolutely nothing
- cooking real food from scratch
- fixing something instead of replacing it
Those things calm my mind in a way nothing digital ever has.
Modern life pushes constant stimulation — noise, screens, notifications, urgency. Most people seem comfortable with it. I never really have been.
I don’t hate modern life — I just don’t want it running me
I still use technology. I still live in town. I still have responsibilities and schedules and days that feel way too full.
But I’ve learned the difference between using tools and being owned by them.
I’d rather spend an evening working with my hands than zoning out in front of a screen. I’d rather take a long walk than chase entertainment. I’d rather be tired from doing something real than exhausted from doing nothing at all.
That doesn’t make me better than anyone — it just makes me aware of what actually works for me.
Everyday hobbies, not escapes
None of this feels like an escape.
It feels like returning to myself.
My hobbies aren’t about productivity or side hustles or optimization. They’re about staying sane. About remembering that life isn’t supposed to feel like constant friction.
Some days that looks like:
- working in the garden
- maintaining the house
- learning a new practical skill
- getting outside even when the weather isn’t perfect
- Just going for a nice bike ride in the woods.
Other days it’s doing less — and being okay with that.
Simple doesn’t mean easy
Choosing a simpler life doesn’t magically remove stress.
It means you pick which stress you’re willing to carry.
I’d rather deal with weather, dirt, repairs, and effort than the constant pressure to consume, compare, and keep up. At least the first kind leads to something tangible.
That mindset carries into how I think about homesteading too — not as a destination, but as a way of living with intention, wherever you happen to be right now.
Why I keep choosing this path
I don’t think everyone needs to live this way.
But I know I do.
A simpler life keeps me grounded. It keeps me present. It keeps me connected — to my family, to the seasons, to myself.
Even when it’s hard, it’s the only direction that’s ever felt right.
– Just a note from the yard.