Cast a stone in the lake and the ripples spread out. The stone remains unaware of the ripples. That might be you at this moment, because your choice to live a “simple life” is sending an impact out across the world.

I have been struggling with whether or not I can continue my homeless outreach as I struggling to hold onto my own housing. I haven’t quite been able to allow myself to quit but worry that I am not doing enough this year. My mom just reminded me that it’s not what we do or how many people know us, but how we touch the lives we pass through. A man in a documentary she watched told a story about how he was going to McDonalds for a lay meal before killing himself, after years of being treated cruelly by strangers and those close to him. For some reason, the woman ahead of him prepaid for his meal. That small act gave him hope and he remains on this planet today and continues to pay forward his gratefulness. That makes me cry every time I think of it. So, just know your life isn’t small and doing what works for you is encouraging to others.

I am 45 and without children and on occasion I regret it, but most of the time I know I made the right choices and don’t regret that it never happened, because it has allowed me the time to love, connect and nurture people (also plants and animals) whom are already here.

The big things I wanted to do and probably will not because of time, money and the current state of the world are to visit Thailand, Russia, Morocco and revisit certain European countries I fell in love with. I also wanted to own a food truck and travel across the US, preparing vegetarian foods for people. I still hold out hope of seeing more of my country and photographing all the beautiful things, as well as sharing some of my father’s vegetarian recipes.

I do moving meditation when I can’t sit still. Which happens a lot even though I grew up meditating and doing yoga. So, when able, I put in my ear pods and dance or walk in the forest, which is my happy place.

Going to check out the language program, thanks! I have been learning French, Spanish, Navajo and Russian for a year, now. Would be great to connect with others and get accent assistance.

I too would have loved to own my own house.
By the way I am also improving my high-school German at the moment. I like "Easy German" here on YouTube for conversational German. And they are fun too, and teach about German culture.

Inspiring as always Ana.I think whenever your are taking care of someone you are a mom.

Hi! I, a 40 year old Dutch woman, have been following your channel for a while now and I love your videos. I too have things that are probably not going to happen in my life as well, many the same as yours. My number one was having a little garden, but alas. I have some house plants 🙂

I will keep watching the wonderful videos, they are much appreciated! sending warm greetings from the Netherlands

The comment section of your videos brings me nearly as much inspiration as your actual content. Extraordinary people are drawn to extraordinary people ❤️

You are such a beautiful soul, Ana. I wish you all the best. ❤️

John 3:16

Your hair cut is stunning on you.

11:14 this made me cry with gratitude. Today I am really struggling because my long and quite successful career as a translator seems to be in a unexpected rut all of a sudden and I was feeling very lost thinking about the future, especially given the current economic crisis and soaring prices. Thank you for your inspiring words and for that quote. You are the gentle friend I desperately needed tonight ❤

Ana,i don't know if you are aware of how helpful and important your Videos are.
I love the way you think and the way you talk to us,feels like a friend is talking to me.
Watching your Videos helps me with my depression sometimes,because I can relate to so much you are talking abaout,thx💚💚💚
Vielleicht kann ich dir helfen deutsch zu lernen wenn du willst?!
Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland 🙂

languages, haha, what you learn as a bored child paying no attention sticks, what you learn as a forty year old who works hard vanishes when you close the book

if you use contraception, you keep your eggs. I didn't so i became infertile age about 30. I'd say, have children, because if you don't, all that happens in your forties, fifties, sixties, is watching your family and friends get ill and die. Children have future and tie you into life. You can find out how many years fertility you have left, it costs about £200, they look up your ahem with an ultrasound scanner and count the eggs. The blood chemicals are easily injected even if you are low, have PVC etc. Adopption is (too) easy in USA, whether Americans or foreign.
In terms of immigration to USA, studying for postgrad will help, if you can get a free/cheap course, it gives you points

i dunno, you can get pretty sick of someone's sense of humour (this is a joke about my parents)

I loved your video so much ❤ I am so much in a hope that I can revive my channel soon and videos like your makes me very very very excited to do so. I think it is completely okay to have regrets over the things that cannot be re-played or changed in our past. I think it is okay to cry over them. Because making choices is a fucking hard job when you actually don’t know the outcome that could be if you made it other way. And it is sometimes excruciatingly hard when the mind starts all these “what if…” type of mental chewing gum. I send you hugs. Also chances are we will be a bit closer to your parts soon. Maybe there is a chance we could meet this year or the next, if you fancy such meetings. Nobody knows how our life might turn. Hi to Brian❤

Indeed a meaningful life does not have to contain "loud acheivements".

👏👏

I love your perspectives on life! Your videos are so cathartic and pleasant to watch 😊

Do what you love and do it well.
Become a master in those skills and attributes you have. This way you will keep on learning, improving, creating and inventing. There are many a graduate, master and Doctor who is full off the knowledge but lacks the heart and will to actually work at going forth and helping to make their enviroment and therefore the world a better and happier place

Dear Ana, we all have a vision of how our life will be. There is no reason why you should not fulfill your ambitions and dreams but if you don't that's ok too.
As long as we are true to ourselves our achievements, which are just benchmarks set by society, are just the icing on the cake.
Just continue to do what you love.
Take care x

Sending you much love and a big hug ❤️❤️❤️

First of all thank you very much for being so honest . I can related to everything you talked 🤗

Thank you for your insightful, important video considering what is happening in the world. I have been talking to a lot of people lately about their thoughts on the economy, the environment, housing, the war in Ukraine and other pressures that seem to be pressing in on every one. I am trying to keep my fears and anxieties about the world at a level where i can still make plans for the future, and try to continue to improve my land and small hundred year old home in a city in Canada.
I decided when I was 30 to buy my own home and when I was 35, I decided that I was ready to have my own child. He is now 17 years old. I am ready for him to leave my nest and go and make his own life. I was talking to other mothers of very young children and I remember those days of intense needs for food, warmth, and touch and I could not then imagine a day when I would be ready for him to leave. I have tried to make choices to keep my home life simple, to be a buffer from the challenges of the world. I hope this simple way of living can help my son to venture out, to keep his happiness quotient low, and take small pleasures.

As a fellow HSP, I love your channel!!! It is so important after leaving an exhausting career , to realize the simple life I have now chosen, has value. The depth of my inner growth since "retiring"has been exponential. But, since I left my career before having enough to retire in the way most Americans live, the guilt about living on a meager amount of money, haunts me. I think I should be trying to make money, but my inner voice, says, no , you are done with that. I see the way I live now, as disavowing consumerism…which is essential if this planet is to survive. I must learn to stop using gasoline now as it is too expensive and my inner voice, says, yes this is good, to live simple. I am happier knowing I am not depleting the earths resources. HSPs like you, are visionary….never forget your value is huge!

Ana, thank you so much for sharing your heart with us. As you spoke I prayed for you and Brian. ❤️🙏🏼