What is “simple” anyway?

From Merriam Webster online:
1sim·ple
Pronunciation: ˈsim-pəl
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): sim·pler -p(ə-)lər; sim·plest -p(ə-)ləst
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin simplus, alteration of Latin simplic-, simplex single, having one ingredient, plain, from sem-, sim- one + -plic-, -plex -fold — more at same, -fold
Date: 13th century
1 : free from guile : innocent 2 a : free from vanity : modest b : free from ostentation or display 3 : of humble origin or modest position 4 a : lacking in knowledge or expertise b (1) : stupid (2) : mentally retarded c : not socially or culturally sophisticated : naive; also : credulous 5 a : sheer, unmixed b : free of secondary complications c (1) : having only one main clause and no subordinate clauses (2) of a subject or predicate : having no modifiers, complements, or objects d : constituting a basic element : fundamental e : not made up of many like units 6 : free from elaboration or figuration 7 a (1) : not subdivided into branches or leaflets (2) : consisting of a single carpel (3) : developing from a single ovary b : controlled by a single gene 8 : not limited or restricted : unconditional 9 : readily understood or performed 10 of a statistical hypothesis : specifying exact values for one or more statistical parameters — compare composite 3
synonyms simple, foolish, silly, fatuous, asinine mean actually or apparently deficient in intelligence. simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort . foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense . silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior . fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality . asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception .
synonyms: see in addition “easy.”

I got a good chuckle reading several of these. I may be many of them. But, my favorite line is the last word: EASY. Not in a loose woman kind of easy, but easy as in not a lot of effort or brain power needed to accomplish.

Simplicity, then, ought to mean making things easy. I won’t pretend to be perfect here. I surely am not (miserably not to be honest) and I don’t want to be a holier than thou minimalist who will tell you what you ought to do to accomplish simplicity in your life. Surely that picture is different for each of us! But all of us could use more “easy” in their crazy, hectic, never slowing down lives, can’t we? I do!
So this journey has begun. My goal is to document everything from here on out, hopefully with pictures. I will give my opinions on how certain aspects of simplifying or minimizing work for my family as well as what the hurdles and triumphs are. At some point I hope people read this and share their own stories and help inspire each other.

I know Jesus never promised life would be easy but I don’t think that means we have to complicate ourselves. He is, in fact, the one who said (my paraphrase) “leave it all behind and follow me.” So I’m going to work on just that.

Thank you for reading this. I’m so glad you’re here!

Liz