Let the low hanging fruit lie

Does an open day scare you? That's because you're a maximalist, living in a maximalist culture.

I fully believe that I better “use it or lose it.”

A good idea? I’ll turn it into a business plan.

An open day? Time to schedule out every single hour.

Low hanging fruit? Surely there is a way to monetize it.

I heard a wonderful expression about five years ago, and I wish I remember who said it (if you know, let me know). The concept was to “let the low hanging fruit lie.”

Crazy concept, right?

The low hanging fruit is ours to grab! It’s ours to monetize, maximize, take advantage of, and capitalize on the opportunity.

But… what happens if we don’t maximize something? Or everything? 

Someone close to me recently said “An open day with nothing on my calendar scares me.”

And part of me thinks this is a relatively new energy… due the maximalist culture that we live in now.

The goal of any day isn’t to simply have a good day, it’s to be as productive, efficient, successful, active, creative, and connected as possible.

It’s not enough to be good, we must be great (at everything). 

The maximizing mentality can be toxic… people give up when it becomes “all or nothing”, “great success or nothing at all.”

This happens with jobs all the time. If it isn’t checking every single box, we don’t want it anymore.

It happens in relationships. If our partner can’t be the perfect friend, and lover, and listener, and worker, and driver, you name it - we look for ways to make it better or give up.

So, people quit. And people break up.

Think about the last hobby or sport that you picked up. Did you stick with it, even when you weren’t good? Or did you throw in the towel?

If you couldn’t maximize it and turn it into something performative, did it still offer value? When the expectation and maybe even perceived requirement is not joy - but perfection - “losing it” becomes almost inevitable.

When I feel a strong emotion, rather than just feel it, I can’t help but think to myself… could this be a Liv Letter topic? I pull out the Notes app mid-walk and begin typing at warp speed, not wanting to miss a moment of my “genius.”

There was a beautiful sunset the other night over the beach, and every single person (myself included) has their phones out to capture content instead of simply embracing the moment. The thought is “How can I use this to show people how much fun I’m having? Or that where I live is the best place ever?”

“How can I use/maximize this moment and seize this ripe fruit!?”

There is no hate or shame here. I love where I live and am the first to show it off. I mean look at this photo!

Manhattan Beach, CA

But what if… sometimes we let the sunset be a sunset and not an Instagram post or a statement about the quality of our lives and experiences. 

What if, we looked at our open calendar and felt a sense of peace and contentment instead of any anxiety or stress?

What if it felt like enough to have a business that helped people and made money, even if it wasn’t on track to IPO?

Interestingly, I find that the most compelling and satisfied people are the minimalists:

1. My friend who shut down her trendy and demanding business, moved to Europe, and transitioned to a job and lifestyle that pays less but brings more joy.

2. My grandma, who gets the most fulfillment out of her garden and church. She wears the same clothes from 50 years ago and guess what, they’re back in style!

3. Europeans who work modest hours at a job that pays the bills, and spend a lot of quality time with the people they love.

My challenge to you is to see how it feels to BE rather than DO all the time. 

To exist in a moment and look at the low hanging fruit on the tree with interest and appreciation, without urgently grabbing every piece and shoving them in your bag.

To BE does not mean to settle. It doesn’t mean that you don’t push yourself. It doesn’t mean that you “lose it.”

Be-ing is where you can take a breath, look up, and appreciate things just as they are.

Fruitful Resources:

1. Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix. Spoiler: people who live to 100 let that fruit LIE

2. Breathwork for more daily calm

3. My favorite podcast for maximalist energy (when I need it)

With love and light,
Liv