Take Your Simple Life to the Next Level

Turn your love for simple living into something bigger, better, and stronger. It’s time to step gently beyond your comfort zone and consider how you might take your own simple life passion to the next level—whether through writing, teaching, creating, or simply living more intentionally.

Transcript

Episode 184 – Take Your Simple Life to the Next Level

Have you ever found yourself doing something you absolutely love and thinking, “I could do this all day”? Maybe it's baking bread from scratch, digging your hands deep into garden soil, spinning yarn, or exploring local history. We all have something that makes our heart beat a little faster, brings peace to our minds, and gives us a sense of fulfillment.

But what if I told you that your simple life passion could be the beginning of something even bigger? Something that reaches beyond your kitchen, your craft room, or your back porch—and touches others in a meaningful way?

Today, I want to talk about taking that passion of yours to the next level.

Now don’t get me wrong - I’m not talking about hustling harder or adding chaos to your days. I’m talking about growing into something you already love, just on a slightly wider scale. Maybe it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and turn that passion into a gift for others—whether that’s through teaching, creating, speaking, or even writing.

How do I know this is possible? Because I’ve been there.

Let me take you back a bit.

When I first started walking the path toward living a simpler life, it was more out of necessity than design. I was craving peace. I needed space to breathe. I longed to reconnect with the rhythms of the land, the joys of a slower pace, and the values that truly matter to me - faith, family, and community.

At the time, I was doing what most of us do—learning as I went, making mistakes, and soaking in every hard-earned lesson. I didn’t set out to write a book about it. But something inside me felt called to share the journey. Not because I had it all figured out, but because I knew I couldn’t be the only one looking for a simpler life in a complicated world.

That little nudge turned into my first book, The Farm Wife: Living a Simple Life on the Farm. It was raw, honest, and real. And when I say ‘real’ – I mean REAL. I tell you the nitty gritty – and nasty pieces of farm life, like having to scoop a calf out of a septic tank. Now tell me, just how real is that? That was probably the first time I realized that maybe - just maybe - my story could help someone else.

Once that seed was planted, something started to grow. I followed it up with The Search for a Simple Life, which can help you think about all of the ways you can start following your own simple life journey. Then came How to Cook a Possum, which isn’t a cookbook, but instead, takes a fun and frugal look at yesterday’s wisdom and how we can apply it to today’s world. That book was born out of my love for the old ways—those little nuggets of knowledge passed down from generations before us.

And then… I felt a tug on my heart again.

I’d shared about homemaking, frugality, and farming. But one piece was still missing—faith.

Faith had always been the root of my simple life. It was the quiet strength that carried me through rough patches, and the steady compass that helped me find peace in the middle of the storm. So, I wrote Faith and a Simple Life. That book was a natural extension of everything else I had done, but it also marked a turning point.

Because once I hit “publish” on that book, I realized something very important.

Sharing your passion doesn’t have to stop at just one expression. So, I took an even bigger leap. 

I’ve always loved history—especially Southern history, the stories wrapped up in plantations, old buildings, and the land itself. That love started to intertwine with another interest: storytelling. But I’ll be honest with you—fiction was way out of my comfort zone.

Still, something kept whispering, “Try it.”

I resisted for a while. After all, I was known for writing nonfiction about simple living. What business did I have stepping into fiction? But sometimes the nudge becomes a push, and I finally decided to lean into the idea.

That’s when The Stranger’s Room came to life.

This book wasn’t just a story—it was a leap of faith. It combined my love of Southern culture, mystery, and suspense. It also carried the same themes of simplicity, community, and even redemption in its own subtle way. It was my way of showing that a passion can bloom in different ways.

I didn’t abandon my simple life—I just gave it a new voice.

And here’s the beautiful part. That first leap opened up even more possibilities. It taught me that you don’t have to stay in one lane. You can still be true to your roots while growing in new directions.

So why am I sharing all this with you today?

Because I want you to know that, whatever it is you love, whether it’s gardening, baking, preserving, crafting, quilting, or something else entirely—you can take it a step further. You can turn that passion into a way to encourage others, serve your community, and maybe even create a legacy.

No, you don’t have to write a book—unless you want to, of course! But there are so many other ways to share your gifts:

• Maybe you could teach a class at your local library or community center.
• Start a blog or social media page that helps others learn what you love.
• Host a craft day or garden club in your town.
• Open a little side business selling baked goods, handmade items, or vegetable plants.
• Record your stories and memories for your children and grandchildren.
• Or simply mentor someone who is just starting out.

You might be thinking, “Who would want to hear from me?” I thought almost those same words, but mine were more like, “Who would want to read my books?” But I can tell you—someone out there needs exactly what you have to offer. Your passion matters. Your experience matters. And your story might be the encouragement someone else needs to begin their own journey.

Now, you may be listening to this in October. The leaves are starting to fall, the air has that nip in it, and life is naturally slowing down just a little. This is the season for reflection. It’s the season when we start to ponder the year behind us and the one ahead.

And it’s the perfect time to ask yourself:

• What have I loved doing this year?
• What brought me the most joy and peace?
• Is there a way to take that passion just one step further?

Maybe it’s time to dream a little. To make space for new ideas. To let your heart wander and wonder, “What if?”

I’m not saying you need to overhaul your life or dive headfirst into something huge. But sometimes the smallest step is all it takes. One class. One conversation. One little notebook where you jot down your thoughts and dreams. 

It all begins with a willingness to explore what’s possible.

My journey into writing didn’t start with a master plan. It started with a quiet moment out on the swing, a few scribbled notes, and a whole lot of love for the life I was building.

Yours can start the same way.

If you feel something tugging at your heart, whispering for more—listen to it. Nurture it. And don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. You never know what beautiful things might grow when you do.

As we move toward the end of the year, give yourself the gift of dreaming. Of planting a seed that just might bloom in the new year. Whether it’s writing, teaching, creating, or serving—take your passion and do something new with it. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you say yes.

Let me leave you with this last thought. You may have heard the phrase, ‘put your money where your mouth is’. In other words, don’t just say it, do it. Down here in the south, we have another one that my daddy always tossed out at me when I told him about something I wanted to do. ‘the proof is in the pudding’. What that means is, prove that you actually did what you said you would do. I did just that – I put my money where my mouth was, took daddy’s words to heart, and ‘made the pudding’ so to speak. I stepped out in faith and wrote The Strangers Room. If you want to see the results of that pudding, be sure to get your copy. It’s on Amazon, in both Kindle and print. 

And then it’s your turn. I can’t wait to see how your pudding turns out!