If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. You can subscribe via RSS reader or email (right). Thanks for visiting!
Over the weekend I read the book Choosing Simplicity - Real People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World by Linda Breen Pierce. We live in a world where the predominant attitude is that money and the general accumulation of things brings us happiness. We are told over and over again that we should get an education, get a high paying job, marry well, invest wisely, do this, do that….and you have the recipe for happiness. All you need is more, more more! And then at some point you will be able to turn around and look at all you have accomplished and see all you have and be instantly happy. Check out this article on NPR that talks about how obsession with bigger and better housing is rampant today. But what about the people who never buy into that way of living or thinking? What about the people who look at the fast paced world around them and all the rats scurrying to better their situations, and say no thanks?
According to Pierce, the inspiration to write this book originated with her experiences living in a remote African village while in her twenties. The village had 400 people, no electricity, no running water, no convenience foods, no plumbing, and no cars save one the whole village shared. They lived in mud huts and they were often malnourished and suffering from skin ailments and ulcers. Pierce held dying babies in her arms. While most Americans might think this sounds like hell on earth, these villagers were the happiest, most joyous, most fulfilled people Pierce ever met.
According to Pierce it was difficult to distinguish work from play. They were always laughing, dancing, and singing. Huge belly laughs abounded all day long as they worked. They danced late into the night. They were happy.
Yet, even having seen this first hand Pierce made her way back to America and became a part of the fast paced, rat race. Many years later she read an article in Worth Magazine called Downshifters and it was all about simple living. She loved the article and quickly devoured other articles and books about the same subject but there was something missing. She didn’t want tips and advice for how-to live simply she wanted stories and experiences from people who were actually putting these concepts into practice. Could they sustain this lifestyle for a long time? Did they feel like they were missing out on things? Did they have regrets?
It was because Pierce was interested in finding these answers that she was inspired to start a study on simplicity and interview people who had accomplished a little of bit what those African villagers had. Was it possible? What did simple living actually look like within the lives of modern people? Frankly I find it kinda crazy that we have to wonder what simplicity looks like….that is how often we DON’T see it I guess.
This book has some amazing stories. It has the experiences of people from all over the world who have chosen simplicity. More than that actually, in my mind this is a collection of people of who have really evolved past and matured beyond the consumerism that most of us have grown up with. They have found a way to step past the smoke and mirrors and really see that the pipe dream being sold isn’t a recipe for happiness. These people are role models.
The first chapters explore some of the reasons why people evolve into a life of simplicity. Perhaps they became ill, they lost their job unexpectedly, they started a family, they were extraordinarily stressed, they lost someone they loved, etc. The in delves into personal stories of people living this life. The most surprising thing to me was that voluntary simplicity wasn’t all about being frugal or doing with less. Sometimes it might mean just getting a job closer to home so you have more free time. Perhaps it means selling a large house that sucks up your time with house cleaning and maintenance to buy a smaller one. Maybe it means that you stop spending your money on things and you are start spending it on experiences. It is really more about finding out what you want in life, drawing a straight line to your goal, and then finding out how you can resolve the zig-zaggy, going in circles path you inadvertently chose to get to the same place. It could mean living more frugally and learning to overcome materialism but it could also mean letting go of a fast paced, multi-tasking, way of life too.
It had stories of high powered corporate attorneys doing a 180. One dad decided to quit his job and simplify after his daughter drew a family picture with the back of daddy’s head showing because that is all she ever saw as he worked every night on his computer. A socialite and divorcee sold her McMansion to buy a tiny condo on the beach. Another couple moved into a commune to learn homesteading skills and then they bought their own 40 acre ranch where they could grow their own food and unschool their kids. There are many inspirational stories in this book. I really enjoyed it because this is an area that I struggle with.
I am amazed every day by how many choices we have to further green causes. It seems that businesses are are either getting hip to green marketing or they are trying to do their own own part…or maybe a combo of both. But more and more you help further green causes just by buying the stuff you would otherwise buy. Aka green cleaners instead of conventional, reusable instead of disposable, airline ticket from airline that offsets carbon usage, etc. It gets easier and easier to be little green.
Take this infrared sauna company. If you are in the market for one (uh not me.. but different strokes ya know) you can even shop a little greener. This company has taken action on the global warming front and they want every customer to know that a purchase from them is a purchase from a company that cares. Not only do they have a green office (offsetting five times as much carbon as they produce), for each order they receive, they offset between one to five tons of carbon based on the model ordered. As they say on their site, “Crystal Sauna is the first and only infrared sauna company that provides carbon free products and operates a carbon free business.”
Even this sauna business is doing their part to further all that is green. Would we have seen something like this even five years ago? Probably not. Green options are getting better every day.
I have had an eventful week here. It was my birthday and my 10 year wedding anniversary was yesterday. My oldest son’s 8th birthday is in 11 days so I have been busy prepping for that. We are going to Pittsburgh to celebrate. That’s a mom’s life I tell ya…no big to-do over MY birthday or our wedding anniversary but the kids always have the best birthdays.
Hubby and I got his homeschool area all set up last night with a brand new HP computer and printer, and all his other gear. There is a also a comfy couch and sitting chair in the area for reading aloud. His special touch was to put a strobe light on his desk, LOL. Here is a pic:
We went garage saling this morning and got a few math workbooks, a board game, and a talking Franklin Phonics toy for the younger kids.
Other cool stuff:
Nature2 Express - If you remember awhile back I wrote about pool systems you could install to purify your pool water without chemicals. Well, those systems cost a few thousand dollars but I just became aware of a pretty nifty alternative. Nature2 Express has a unit that attaches to the plastic plumbing of most in-ground and aboveground pool systems. During the regular pool filtration cycle, water flows through the Nature2 Express cartridge, where a combination of silver and copper minerals destroy bacteria. This process significantly reduces the need for large amounts of chlorine. The unit only costs $175 so this looks likea GREAT alternative if you want a more eco friendly and kid friendly pool. If you have a pool make sure to check these out.
rBGH - I have mentioned many times on this blog how I oppose Monsanto and their growth hormones and gentically modified seeds. Well, it seemed for a long time that they would win the rBGH battle and force us to drink that nasty hormone in our milk. Just a few months ago they were lobbying in my state of Ohio to make it illegal for companies to label their milk as rBGH free. They knew that if conumers had a choice between hormone laced milk and milk without….consumers would pick the latter! I wrote a pretty seething letter to my local paper about it. But 5 years of consumer pressure has taken its toll and Monsanto announced this month that they are getting out of the rBGH business! Woot! But the battle for clean, healthy, eco friendly food is not over. Consumers need to fight Monsanto’s other products…gentically modified seeds.
I found a CUTE toy set from Haba that my daughter would love. A set of cloth pastries for play kitchens. Don’t these look deliciously real? I may have to break my nothing new rule for Christmas to get her these.
If your looking for a great family friendly movie this weekend…I recommend Flicka. I just saw it this week and it is WONDERFUL! It also has some delicious eye candy named Tim McGraw, LOL. It is movies like these that make me wish I was back on the farm.
Other things I have written this week at other blogs:
My youngest child (2 yrs) recently tested out the Munchie Mug. It is a spill proof snack cup and it was sorely needed in this house and by this child. He hangs out in my home office with me quite a bit and it gets to be crumb city after awhile. I hate sitting down at my computer to find sticky raisins or dehydrated apricot chunks stuck in the carpet or on the couch. So I was only too happy to give him the Munchie Mug and see if this helped. It does!!! My 2 year old managed to use it flawlessly and I get to do less vacuuming and carpet steam cleaning.
The Munchie Mug is made in America with safety in mind. It is 100% BPA free and made with recyclable #5 polypropylene plastic. They are durable cups too. It is basically a 16 oz. plastic jar that holds 10 oz. of dry food. It has a hard lid but the genius of this product is that it has a cloth lid too. When not in use the cloth stretches tight over the opening so that food can’t fall out, but little hands can easily go in to retrieve the food. After they take a handful of food the opening closes behind them. The screw on top makes it difficult for children to open the cup to pour the contents out either…it has a locking mechanism of sorts. Very cool. All parts are dishwasher safe on the top rack too.
This product is very clever and I love that is is made with safe, BPA free plastics. It is a great solution for toddlers who aren’t the best candidates for glass snack containers or bowls. This one gets a thumbs up here. It is great for use at home and also in the car if you don’t want stray trail mix all over.
Over the weekend I read the book Choosing Simplicity - Real People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World by Linda Breen Pierce. We live in a world where the predominant attitude is that money and the general accumulation of things brings us happiness. We are told over and over again that we should get an education, get a high paying job, marry well, invest wisely, do this, do that….and you have the recipe for happiness. All you need is more, more more! And then at some point you will be able to turn around and look at all you have accomplished and see all you have and be instantly happy. Check out this article on NPR that talks about how obsession with bigger and better housing is rampant today. But what about the people who never buy into that way of living or thinking? What about the people who look at the fast paced world around them and all the rats scurrying to better their situations, and say no thanks?
![[del.icio.us]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Hugg]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/hugg.png)
![[kirtsy]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/kirtsy.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Email]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
TGIF! Have an awesome weekend everyone!
My youngest child (2 yrs) recently tested out the