Stepping Off

I have never really liked the word ‘DOWNSHIFTING’ – because it gives the impression of reducing, giving up, compacting.  When really downshifting is exactly the opposite.

Downshifting actually allows you to expand your life.  To grow, to enjoy it more, to experience new things – it is in fact completely liberating.

The only condition I would suggest is that when you downshift you must  allow  something inside your head to change.  You have to look at life differently.  You have to change your outlook on life. You need to start to value different things.  You can not look back and hanker after old times and the old material ways that you may have lived in.  Downshifting or Voluntary Simplicity as they call it in USA is letting go of the trappings of the material world and replacing it with real quality of life.  

I am almost ashamed to say that I used to buy the latest two seater sports car every couple of years.  I would be driving an MX5 and the BMW Z3 would be on order.  Then I was driving the Z3 and the Audi TT was on order……  When I look back I shudder at the money I wasted.  OK – so I have always love soft top cars – but now I need a small 4-wheel drive (we live at the top of Shap fell!) and I still have a soft top  – but it is hardly a luxury car.  I drive ‘Little Blue’ – a suzuki Jimny jeep – and I love it.  I love it – and look after it – because I have to.  I have had it five years and it will have to last me at least another five years – but hey – it is one of the most fun to drive cars I have ever had – Comfortable? – it ain’t!  

The best thing about my life now is that I don’t really worry too much about money.  We have worked out how much we need to live on, then we go out and try to earn it in any way we can and when we have earned it – we stop!  At that point we really start to enjoy life.  We don’t work full time – we have much more work in the summer and have lots of leisure time in the winter.  It is surprising what little you can live on and still really enjoy the quality of life.  We have given up a few things like luxury overseas holidays, eating out a lot and even the latest fashions, but we have replaced them with other things which seem more worthwhile – like enjoying the occasional meal out much more then we used to because it is a real treat.  Enjoying the countryside where we live – which is frankly as beautiful as any (we live in the Lakes) and you don’t need city/office clothes if you work from home! – Win/win!

So I dont feel as though I have ‘down’ anything – I think I have definately ‘UP’d a lot and mostly my quality of life.

Another great day out of the rat race.  This time I was out in the garden with a couple of helpers – Alexandra and Dale – to help.  I had been given a load of raspberry canes by our lovely neighbour – Alex – for my birthday in the autumn and have been nurturing them until the ground was ready for planting.

We had cheated a little by asking our friend Alan if he would pop a plough on the back of one of his old tractors and plough me a couple of furrows for the veg and fruit.  This he did but the ground then needed to be dug over, all the weeds and roots removed and fed with compost.

And so the work began…

Back breaking work - but a beautiful sunny day.

The great thing about downshifting is that if you get it right it does give you more time – the holy grail of course – but if you work at it – with a little discipline you can get the work life balance right.  Of course this is work of sorts – we grow the raspberries to make jam for breakfast  for our B&B guests.  We also give  jars away as gifts and George is thinking about making rhubarb and raspberry jam this year! (notice the absence of George in any of our photos!)

Still at it!

Interesting that this is of course work but in the old days this sort of thing had to be done at the weekend when all you wanted to do was recover from a hard week in the office.  Now we  have got off the treadmill – it is just a part of the day – and a joy.  Hard work – yes certainly – but 3 hours later the planting began and it all seemed worth while!

Nougat is there to help

I am not sure that I have planted then sufficiently apart – but they all seem to be trying hard to sprout!

Molly - playing foreman!

We will keep you posted with the progress and of course the jam and wine making.

I love this life in the slow lane!

The new issue of Carlisle Living is out – with another new article in it by Stepping Off.  This time it is all about “looking for the good and feeling the benefit”

A short article to help keep positive and look for the good in everything around you.  It is extraordinary – because when you do look for the good – guess what – you will see it!

Look for the good and feel the benefit

How many times have you heard folk describe themselves as glass-half-full or glass-half-empty people?  In my experience those looking at a full glass tend to be much more cheerful!

How do you feel when someone bumps into you? – Is it an idiot not looking where they are going, or someone with poor eyesight or perhaps tears in their eyes?  Whatever the truth, if you think you’ve been jostled by an idiot, you will feel as though you have.  Look at it again.  If this time you believe there is a reason you can just let it go.  Choosing how you see things can really make your day.

A friend once complained that they couldn’t stand one of their staff.  They were untidy, missed appointments and never smiled.  I asked what this colleague would have to do to make my friend’s life better “Oh, just get in on time, make an effort, smile a bit, get stuff right, ANYTHING!”  So I suggested that for a week my friend just notice the good stuff.   After a week she was amazed “What a change! He seems to have turned a corner, really getting things done!  He’s been in on time, done a few extra things with me and was all smiles on Friday!” 

Who had changed?  Before, my friend was just seeing the bad things.  Now she was seeing some good things.  Maybe my friend started smiling first; she may have said ‘thank you’ a couple of times – this would have got a return smile – it is self-perpetuating.

This works at home too.  When you start to see untidiness, thoughtlessness, rudeness or impatience of a partner, parent, sibling or offspring it can be very hard to see anything else; but if you look for the good, you will see it.  Try it for yourself, look for the positive in situations, look for the good side in people.  You just might find yourself smiling more…