Simply Live

It’s becoming fashionable to talk about how we all want to live more simply.  Less stuff.  More meaning.  Fewer distractions, but more moments of real joy.  I heard a podcast the other day with someone who is part of the minimalist movement where one counts the number of things you own.   Among that group, books and blogs tout owners with fewer than one hundred total items owned or twenty-five pieces of clothing.  That sort of thing.

All I can say is “Yuck.”  I still love some of my things.  This new laptop, for one.  I finally crossed over from PC to MacBook Pro and I love it.  My cat Lipstick has almost twenty cat related items (not counting toys and balls) so I’d never win in the minimalist world.  But I am always searching for some more moderate way of simplifying to help de-clutter my life, clear out my psychic attachment to things, and simply leave less of a consumer footprint on the world.

In that vein, I came across an interesting daily mediation site, which is loosely based around the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi and his followers.  No living in a yurt or trying to exist outside the system of production and consumption (the true nature of a vow of poverty) but some easily adaptable behavioral changes to help me simplify stuff. Here’s the link if you want to go deeper, but below are my favorite suggestions, most of which I can start to incorporate today with little or no negative consequences (my favorite kind of behavioral change).

(1) Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status or prestige.
(2) Develop a habit of giving things away.
(3) Enjoy things without owning them. For example, take advantage of public libraries and parks.
(4) Nurture awe and appreciation for nature. Spend more time outdoors!
(5) Use plain, honest speech. Say what you mean and keep your commitments.

I’m ahead of the game because I borrowed, rather than bought, a necklace for the big shindig this past weekend.  That was awesome.  I also love the suggestion about simple, honest speech.   Say less but mean more.

Join me in trying a few of these and let me know how you like them!