A Lesson in Living with Less

Today, during our homeschool lesson, my son and I read The Miller of the Dee, an old ballad about a humble miller who lived by the river, content with his simple life. The miller, despite having little wealth, was rich in joy. He sang while he worked, grateful for the river that turned his mill, the bread on his table, and the love in his heart.

At the end of the poem, a king observes the miller’s happiness and envies him. Despite his power and riches, the king sees that he carries burdens the miller does not. My son looked up at me and asked, “So, the king had more, but he wanted to be like the miller?” And just like that, my teaching him turned into a lesson for me.

I thought about how often we overlook the wealth hidden in simplicity in life. Our world teaches us to measure value by accumulation—more money, more possessions, more achievements. But what about more peace? More laughter? More quiet moments with the people we love?

Since moving to my current home, I’ve noticed how nature teaches this lesson in small, quiet ways. A single tree, standing alone in a field, still provides shade and shelter. A bird, with nothing but the sky, still sings as though it owns the world. Flowers grow unnoticed and bloom in full color, asking for nothing. There is a richness in these things, even though they are easily overlooked. They remind us that joy is not in having more but fully seeing what is already there.

 I think the miller understood that being grateful is key. He was thankful for his home, his work, and the steady rhythm of the river. He didn’t need more to feel full. And maybe that’s the key—finding home in what we already have, instead of endlessly chasing what we don’t.

After we finished the poem, I asked my son, “What do you think the miller had that the king didn’t?” He thought for a moment before answering, “He had happiness.” My takeaway was he had joy and enough. 

Isn’t that the wealthiest thing of all?