Choosing Presence Over Possessions: How I Found Freedom in Simplicity
When I stop to think about all the ways I’ve betrayed myself, I see it in the little things, scattered throughout my days.
Sitting here with a simple breakfast and the back door open, I’m reminded of mornings when I thought beauty meant expensive furniture, matching decor, and material abundance.
But now, with less around me, I can finally see what was always waiting—the trees, the flowers, the breath of fresh air.
And the subtle difference isn’t the setting. It’s me.
When Material Things Took the Stage
There was a time when my mornings felt “perfect” only if everything looked perfect. Matching furniture sets, new rugs, carefully curated decor—I believed this was the definition of a beautiful life.
But in those moments, I couldn’t see the trees outside. I couldn’t hear the soft hum of the world waking up. I couldn’t notice the small purple flowers near the ground or breathe in the scent of the garden. My focus was on what I had, not what was.
Those material things became the center stage, and in doing so, I lost my own presence.
Rediscovering the Beauty of Simplicity
Now, with less around me—furniture that doesn’t match, decor that isn’t brand-new—I notice everything.
The holly-like tree stretching upward. The palm tree standing tall. The brick that cradles the plants. The colors, the textures, the way sunlight hits the garden just right.
The world is the same, but my eyes are different. My heart is different. I finally see that beauty isn’t in abundance—it’s in awareness. It’s in presence. It’s in choice.
The Subtle Difference Is Me
The subtle difference is how I move through life now.
It’s the way I choose to manage the flickers of negativity that want to pull me back into wishing for what I had before. The moments when I feel the tug of old comparisons or habits whispering, you need more, you need better.
I’ve been there before. I had the abundance, and yet I didn’t truly see it.
Today, I do. Because today, I choose me. I choose to notice the flowers, the trees, the fresh air. I choose to experience life fully, no matter what surrounds me.
I am the subtle difference. I choose presence. I choose me.
Daily Practice
Every morning, I get to choose:
- Presence over possessions.
- Awareness over comparison.
- Gratitude over longing.
- Mindfulness over distraction.
These are small acts of reclaiming my life, of living fully in each moment. And they remind me: the difference is never outside—it’s always within.
I am the subtle difference.
I am the one who chooses how I experience this morning, this life, this world.
Every flicker of longing, every old habit, I meet with awareness. Every small miracle—the trees, the garden, the quiet hum of the morning—I receive fully.
Today, I choose me.
Today, I choose presence.
Today, I choose life in all its imperfect, beautiful, real glory.
In Power, In Purpose, On My Terms ✨ Luisa Anderson
✨ Soulful Invitation
If you’ve ever felt like your worth was tied to what you own, know this: you are the subtle difference. The choice is already yours.
✨ Join the Free Spirit Membership Club to explore reflections, tools, and a community for living a life rooted in presence, authenticity, and heart-centered creativity.
🎧 From Flying Upstream Podcast
In 086: The NEWS Formula for Wellness: A Mind-Body-Spirit Approach To Health, wellness coach and spiritual guide Kay Schnizlei explores how holistic health practices can help us show up fully in life. From using food as medicine and the NEWS formula—Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sleep—to daily gratitude, spiritual routines, and mindful living, Kay shares practical ways to cultivate energy, clarity, and presence. Kay emphasizes that true vitality isn’t about external perfection—it’s about connecting with your body, your mind, and your inner wisdom. This conversation perfectly complements the blog’s message: the difference in how we experience life comes from presence, awareness, and intentional daily practices.
