In a world where spiritual bankruptcy is more obvious than ever before, where greed is rampant and waste is ignored – how often do I as an individual STOP to consider how much waste I’m contributing and what am I doing about it?… Did you know we even have ‘computer cemeteries’? Our broken down computers get dumped by the truckload in ‘graveyards’ which are silently growing in developing countries.

Waste means “to spend without thought” without consideration for my wellbeing, the wellbeing of others or the wellbeing of the planet (loss through carelessness)… Do you know how much money you waste on material belongings that sit unused in the cupboards or tossed into a dusty corner? Do you notice how much effort you waste on ‘looking good’, fitting in or seeking approval? Do you heed the energy you waste on toxic relationships? Do you pay attention to the amount of time you waste worrying about trivial matters, regretting the past or stressing about the future? Do you recognise the thoughts living behind each and every one of these wasteful actions?

When my mind is filled with rubbish (disempowering thoughts) it overflows and spills into my life, daily living gets complicated and finding even 5 minutes to re-centre myself will be an arduous task.  When we are oblivious to the wasteful thoughts accumulating every second in our mind, we lose sight of the bigger picture and simplicity is lost, we lose power and we feel fatigued and weighed down. Today the average person thinks approximately 70,000 thoughts per day, with 90% being negative, heavy, limiting, sabotaging, weak and even destructive – the speed is rapidly increasing and life is a direct reflection. Wasteful thoughts so often go unnoticed – pulling and pushing at me like an uncontrollable child. Thoughts that continually drag us away from the present moment and pull us down to a place where we eventually compromise our own value, at which point surprise is often expressed.

To stop any kind of waste begins within my own mind – being mindful leaves no room for any waste to sneak in… internally and therefore externally. One simple method we can use to slow down our mind is to play – like innocent children absorbed in the present moment. It’s liberating and empowering… oh, if only we gave ourselves permission! Regularly immersing myself in life’s simple pleasures is one great way to maintain harmony and balance – it lightens the mind, rejuvenates the body and recharges the soul… less waste, more power.

As we slowly make our way down the east coast of Australia – living indefinitely in our caravan, it pays to remain light and playful. The winding, unfamiliar road of life brings me back to simplicity every single time. We have faced many challenges over the past 10 months on the open road of discovery (for one, chronic pain has no mercy no matter where you are). So whenever I can, I seize opportunities to play… to uplift myself and therefore others. A playful attitude feeds enthusiasm, courage and determination, turning the discomfort of any stressful situation into pleasant learning experiences.

Simplicity saves waste on so many levels – it heals us, it heals our planet and even saves lives.  Going back to basics – to play on a swing, jump on a trampoline, using a skipping rope or a hula hoop, to run through the autumn leaves, or to roller-skate, to play bare foot in the sand or wade in the ocean, to sit under a waterfall or to meditate on a mountain top, to pick fresh lavender, play cricket in a cow paddock or to simply climb a tree, recharges and rejuvenates – giving clarity where before there was clutter and confusion. ‘Playing’ is a great time to un-clutter, unwind and de-stress… It’s a great time to cut through any illusions and maintain lightness. It’s a great time to let go… to breathe… and to be present.  When I’m mindful I can check the quality of my thoughts, I can change wasteful, fruitless thoughts into abundant, fruitful ones – turning tension into attention and loss into profit.

Question: How often do you give yourself permission to play?

Consideration: Why is it difficult to give yourself permission to play on a regular basis?

Action: Think of things you loved doing as a child and have stopped doing – perhaps because your belief system won’t allow you (adults don’t play) or you simply won’t make the time (be honest – you only cheat yourself). Give yourself permission and create time to play on a regular basis. DO NOT worry what others think or say, don’t miss out on playing because of the insecurities of others… LIVE & ENJOY LIFE TODAY!… we could be gone tomorrow 🙂