Lost Then Found: Embracing the Joy of Life’s Simplicity
"It's The Little Things"
This is one of the toughest articles I’ve ever written.
When I started, my aim was to deliver something profound. I love to think. I love to inspire. I love to make those around me better. So, I did what any self-appreciating wellness “influencer” does — I went and sought a prescription for inspiration from my favourite philosopher: Dr. Google.
But the more I researched, searching for that breathtaking angle to launch into this piece, the more I realised that leaning too heavily on borrowed wisdom would only take away from what I truly wanted to say.
You see, in recent years I lost a big part of what I feel makes me … me.
It’s only lately I’ve started rediscovering a passion for everything I grew up loving and that, in due part, would not have been possible without taking a step away from the noise to reconnect with the simple joys of life.
I like the feeling. I like viewing the world through glasses tinted a shade lighter and I want to harness that sensation. I want to give back, to make the world shine.
So, “maybe that’s a good place to start,” I think to myself. How can I help build a better world? How did embracing the joy of simplicity help me overcome doubt? How can it help you?
I hope, in reading this, we can find out together.
Way Back to The Beginning
I was fortunate to grow up in a loving environment.
My parents — two individuals wickedly intelligent as they are deeply caring — instilled in me the values of empathy, resilience, and consideration. My brother, though very different to me, has always had a spark I admire (but have never quite been able to replicate).
Like any childhood, there were hurdles. Often, I didn’t really fit in with my immediate peers and took interest in things considered atypical to age norms. It could be isolating.
But ultimately, I think it was the support of my home life — a privilege I acknowledge not everyone has — that allowed me to develop a persona rooted in curiosity and an appetite for learning.
As this appetite grew, so did a budding fascination in the threads binding language, motivation and leadership together. I didn’t just want to understand these deeply nuanced concepts; I wanted to exist within them … to redefine how they’re understood in the modern world.
Through high school and my early years of university this desire drove me, even inspiring a little arrogance at points which I’m not overly proud of. To this day, humility is still something I’m working on.
For a long time, I found joy in the simplicity of learning. Discovering new ideas and applying them in the real world, it gave me a sense of belonging. It made me feel like I was contributing rather than existing. It made me want to give back to a community that had sustained and cared for me.
Finding utility in life’s simple joy of learning - something available to everyone - evidently made me want to be a better person.
Then … everything changed.
My Struggles with Mental Health:
In late 2022 I came very close to attempting suicide.
Firstly, the NQ Cowboys lost the NRL prelim. But, beyond this lighthearted grief, I was also at a point in life where I felt utterly adrift.
I had a relationship that broke down, my passion for study was replaced by meaningless compliance or “doing it because I had too” and feelings of inadequacy - of loneliness - began to envelope me.
By this time, I’d been living away from my immediate family for 3 years at an on-campus “all male” college. I loved it — the culture, the mateship, the opportunities. But what I struggled with was the invisible stigma against those who didn’t quite fit the mould.
After leaving, I put a podcast together exploring the state of men’s mental health in 21st Century Australia. On it, I interviewed a senior representative of the college who said something that stuck with me.
“Young men, they may embrace those who are different. But they do not celebrate them.”
This resonated. I was never the type who could easily switch off my brain and just have “stupid, young fun.” This didn’t come naturally to me as it did for many of my peers. So, when those feelings of inadequacy began creeping in I seemingly had nobody to rely on.
The worst part? I accepted it. I let the loneliness take root.
Soon, I found myself utterly secluded in how I approached challenges. I was withdrawn, disconnected from those around me, lost in doubt and far removed from the values that once made me distinct.
The blanket of loneliness had wrapped around and only Doubt’s whispers were there to provide encouragement.
As my mindset deteriorated and self-harm’s beacon began to brighten it was thoughts of my family’s needs - mum particularly - that kept it shrouded. Eventually, when I finally reached rock bottom, I turned to an old school teacher for advice.
He helped me immensely, guiding me forward and providing a path to self-rediscovery.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Overcoming Doubt: The Simple Joy of Connection
My story isn’t unique. Around the world, millions of people grapple with loneliness and its quiet pull. They get caught in the busyness of life, taking little time to stop and just … breathe.
For a long time, I was at a standstill. I was fighting and it was only upon taking a step back to reflect that I found my path forwards.
One of life’s greatest simplicities is this: we live in a world brimming with connection. People are inherently good. Without goodness, without an inclination towards care, compassion and nurturing, humanity would not have made it this far.
There is joy to be found in this connection. If you’re alone, someone will always be out there willing to offer company. If ever in doubt, another will be there to reassure you.
You don’t need to earn this connection. It’s free. It’s everywhere. It’s readily available no matter where you are in life.
The key to reaping its benefits – is as simple as just taking the step and saying “hello.”
What Comes Next?
We can’t keep dancing to life’s frenetic rhythm forever — not without breaking. Sometimes, we need to pause. To reflect. To find comfort in life’s simple joys.
My hope is that more people can embrace that idea. We’re not destined to spend our lives scraping for survival. Through life’s simple pleasures — a good conversation, a shared laugh, a moment of quiet — we can all grow, together.
There is joy in life’s simplicities.
As the world continues to spin faster the difficulty in discovering these simplicities responds in kind, moving at cohesive speeds. It’s the intoxicating dance that defines our generation.
But, we can’t keep dancing to life’s frenetic rhythm forever — not without succumbing to exhaustion’s callous embrace. Sometimes, we need to pause. To reflect. To find comfort in life’s simple joys.
My hope is that more people can embrace that idea. We’re not destined to spend our lives scraping for survival. Through the joy of life’s simple pleasures — a good conversation, a shared laugh, a moment of quiet — we can all grow, together.
And maybe, just maybe, we can help make the world a little better.