I recently spent a weekend hiking in the Ticino area which is the southern most tip of Switzerland. It is a magical area with so many wonderful hiking trails and picturesque villages to explore. My time here made me think quite a bit about what I will call The Simple Life.
The picture below was taken in a small village called Rasa which is perched at 900 metres high in The Centovalli region. The only thing linking Rasa to the outside modern world is a gondola cable and a few walking paths. There are no roads and therefore no cars. It is a place where time appears to have almost stood still.
The population is very small with just a few quaint homes dotted on the mountain top and a village church. The locals manage the village farm, local forest and produce their own solar and wood powered energy. They appear to be entirely self-sufficient. What struck me about this place was the peace and serenity. The lack of noise and pollution was liberating. I felt a complete sense of freedom and calm as I walked around Rasa just observing their way of life. I observed the locals pottering in the farm garden, sipping tea in each other’s back yards and chatting quietly to each other. All looked so peaceful, content and connected with each other and their way of life which seemed so far removed from the endless treadmill of modern living which seems to bring so much suffering to people.
Rasa reminded me yet again about the effect noise has on the human body. Reducing external and internal noise is a wonderful way to balance the nervous system especially when you are feeling overwhelmed with life responsibilities. Heading out for a walk in nature or sitting by a lake or beach fully observing the present moment brings a wonderful sense of calm. Try to make this time to connect with nature and your breath as you will surely benefit.