“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu
You are reading the 300th post on Frictionless.
When I started the blog, I’m not sure what I expected but 300 posts (14 books, 100s of guest posts and nearly 9 years) later, here we are.
Observations
My Writing Journey
Keeping a steady and consistent writing habit here has changed my life, for the better. Writing is a form expression, creativity, and meditation all in one, for me. A way to make sense of cluttered thoughts inside and the world outside.
As much as I write for the reader, I’ve come to understand I write for me. I write because writing is a part of my identity. The writing needs to come out.
Variations on a Theme
The blog started as a mixture of essays on simplicity, personal growth, lifestyle design and productivity.
Across the years I have drifted, dabbled and experimented. Some posts have been stripped back and sparse. Some have delved deeper. Some posts have slipped into the philosophical. There’s even been room to share my love of haiku.
The site still has the same DNA but has developed organically.
If people ask what I write about, mostly I say I write under the broad umbrella of simplicity and trying to simplify life. That covers a lot of ground.
Frictionless Living – Really? (The Origins of the Name)
I originally named the site Frictionless Living (inspired by a Leo Babauta post). I have toyed with changing this several times since. Life is not without friction after all. Some friction in life is to be welcomed. It’s how we grow.
To be clear, I don’t live in a bubble. Frictionless is partly an ideal. While I continue to believe we can all use tools and habits to make life simpler, that doesn’t mean we won’t encounter hurdles. Hurdles and challenges are part of living.
Simple, Not Easy
The irony that a blog rooted in simplicity has 300 posts, and many more to explore, isn’t lost on me. After all, simplicity at it’s core is about identifying the essential and removing distractions. Who would think this would lead to so much to write about!
What I’ve found is that the more I’ve deepened my own practice and study of simplicity and living life with focus, the more I’ve found to write about.
My Favourite Posts
My favourites change, but here is a collection of posts I remain fond of from the last 300.
Finding the Silence in What We Do
80/20 and What It Means to You
Embrace Your Environment – Simplify Your Fitness and Your Life
Finding the Stillness in What We Do
Thank You!
Yes you. Thank you for taking the time to read anything, and everything, you have deemed worthy of your attention here. I appreciate what a gift it is for anyone to read our words, especially in a modern day, hyper-stimulated, information overloaded, culture.
I am grateful for your attention and I also see it a responsibility to try to make what I share, the best and most useful it can be. I might not always succeed but that remains the aim.
If you have ideas about what you would like to read in future, do reach out and let me know at frictionlessliving@gmail.com.
Now, time to celebrate.
In gratitude.
Carl