In our pursuit of simplicity, we will meet a lot of people who live and think a lot different than we do. These people may even try to convince us that we are wrong in wanting to pursue a simpler more peaceful existence. We may watch others doing this or that and think how silly they are to be doing this, while they are looking at us with the same disdain.
That is not peace. Nor is it simplicity. When we worry about what others do or thing, we rob ourselves of energy better spent on making our own lives as peaceful as possible. We waste time better spent on us by worrying about what these folks are doing and saying.
Let's be frank here: Who cares what they think or do? Honestly, in a hundred years, who's gonna care what these people have done? In a hundred years, who's going to care what YOU have done?
Since in the end it really doesn't matter what you or anyone else does, why waste your time on it? Why not instead focus on having the most peaceful existence that YOU can have?
Plowhorses are frequently fitted with blinkers to keep their focus on the row ahead. This helps the farmer to keep the rows straight as he plows. The farmer has to do his part as well, for if he is distracted he may guide the animal in an unwanted direction. He has to pay attention to where he wants to go.
We are like that. If we are worried about what the field near us looks like, we won't be paying enough attention to our own field, and thus our rows will be crooked.
This is true for any pursuit, but the pursuit of simplicity, frugality and minimalism concentration is very important. We tend to lose track when barraged by those who don't understand, who don't share the same goals as we do.
Instead of worrying about them we need to spend that time focusing on ourselves, focusing on what we want to accomplish.
The less we worry about what others want and are doing, the more peace we will have in our lives.