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Simply... living simply for me is one step at a time. Realistically, my family can't live like the Zero Waste family. We just don't have the resources to do that.
And
do we want to? I don't really think so. I think many of the ideas are
great but as a whole, I'd like to fall somewhere in between Zero Waste
family and Crazy Consumers.
Balance, friends, it's all about it.
But just recently, it struck me. Simplicity looks different for each person.
So, some will live on one end of the spectrum, but most float somewhere in the middle, finding their way in our crazy world.
One friend sees it much like I do, living life really well without having to buy new, buy expensive, buy lots.
Another just tries to max out her family's fun time with the least amount of money as possible.
And still another considers carving out distraction-free time to spend with her husband.
huh.
Simplicity can be as easy or as complicated as we make it, but I'm pretty convinced that the philosophy of living simply doesn't equate with definition of the word "simple". It isn't easy, especially since life in the US doesn't always lend itself to this somewhat counter-cultural way of living. It takes work.
But it is rich. Full of life and wonder.
And I choose it. Just one little step at a time.
___________________________________
More resources on living simply:
SimpleMom.net
Simple Living Manifesto
Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster
Do you have any resources on living simply? More importantly, what is simplicity to you?
*a philosophy I want to live by
But just recently, it struck me. Simplicity looks different for each person.
So, some will live on one end of the spectrum, but most float somewhere in the middle, finding their way in our crazy world.
One friend sees it much like I do, living life really well without having to buy new, buy expensive, buy lots.
Another just tries to max out her family's fun time with the least amount of money as possible.
And still another considers carving out distraction-free time to spend with her husband.
huh.
Simplicity can be as easy or as complicated as we make it, but I'm pretty convinced that the philosophy of living simply doesn't equate with definition of the word "simple". It isn't easy, especially since life in the US doesn't always lend itself to this somewhat counter-cultural way of living. It takes work.
But it is rich. Full of life and wonder.
And I choose it. Just one little step at a time.
___________________________________
More resources on living simply:
SimpleMom.net
Simple Living Manifesto
Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster
Do you have any resources on living simply? More importantly, what is simplicity to you?
*a philosophy I want to live by
I like how you approached this topic by category - food, time, etc. You've put some thought into how you want to live these parts of your life, while many people just let them happen without really thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteThese past three years I've lived a simple life just because of where I am. Biking around, eating fresh, eating local, living without, making things last... they are all part of this culture. For example, I can get a pair of shoes repaired for about 30 cents. Who in America even bothers to repair shoes?
Sometimes when I think about how little I consume compared to the average American, I'm tempted to get cocky. But then I realize my flights alone every year make my carbon footprint bigger than almost anyone else's.
Anyway, thanks for a cool series.
Thanks Alison! I hadn't thought about your lifestyle (well, mostly because I haven't actually seen you in action in China) as simple, but I like it. And your perspective - it is WAY too easy for me to get cocky as well about living the "right" way or "better" than someone else.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!!