live simply

That is really how it is for me. I would prefer if it was the other way round. I stopped consuming (in terms of shopping) a long while back yet there is a part of me that is an avid consumer and once I have turned my awareness off even for a second, it grabs everything it can. I have tons of goals, I pile up work, I pile up aspirations, I have a great amount of wanderlust, I pile up favourites/bookmarks (!)... I need to enable myself to have a perspective of simplicity and calm and I need to ‘tame’ this desire – the urgent need to ‘have’ or ‘collect’ and the need to search for things to have and collect. Maybe I cannot get rid of it but maybe it can be tamed if applied properly.

some music, an easy chair, the ocean lapping in the background

When making this goal you often think of the “stuff” you need to weed out of your life. As I’ve stated before the “Live Simply” I think of the life choices being made in comparison. Eventually the two will meet and become one, but for now it’s how I need to categorize it to make my way toward the goal of peaceful living.

Sometimes I think we over complicate life in dwelling on things too much rather than living the moment simply and beautifully. Perhaps we are always expecting more or over think things to the point everything takes on a hyper meaning when it shouldn’t.

Live the moment. I’m trying. It gets complicated at times though. In my minds eye my moments and needs don’t always reflect the same needs as those around me. Whose needs should take the center stage? Should one win over the other? Should there be “turns”? Or should you surround yourself with like minded people? This way there is no choice. The same goal would be the center. Then again would life become dull if this were the case?

Live loudly. Does this go against the grain of peaceful living? I want to live simply, peacefully, loudly and authentically. I want to have a true life, not one where I am constantly bowing my head down in acceptance. Turning the other cheek for the sake of peace. Is that an expressive life? A life lived? In my mind no.

I’ve always lived to hold the peace, yet I feel no harmony in my life. I live trying to accept things around me, yet I feel I am closing down and those around me out. I’m in search, and the search keeps leading me away from the way I have lived and now I feel more discord than I ever have.

What is the answer? Is there an answer? Or am I just over thinking it all. Perhaps I am.

My family is very well off (I am a freshmen in college) and I’ve realized what things do to people. It’s the concept of having the most money, better TV than your neighbor, impress someone with my car, have the perfect lawn, and it’s just not for me. While a lot of things may give entertainment value, most of them are not needed. I want to learn to not need much to retain happiness, as having good and expensive things is just a mindset of happiness. I would be perfectly happy with just a car, nice house, loving family,a job I can manage to enjoy, and need not much else.

I just realized this morning I have not had the tv on in a week. It seems more peaceful here due to that.

i just did a big craft purge recently and will be sending all the craft stuff to an online friend who wants it and will probably have use for it. and its just been sitting around forever going unused.

i also cleaned out a bunch of papers, and books. i will be getting rid of the books very soon as well.

i also have another huge box i am getting ready to either send to another friend or take to her next time i am in her area.

To me living simply and simplify my life are two different things.

Simplify means to downsize, reduce the stuff cluttering up your existence. Taking care of the historical stuff. Cutting yourself free from past connections that may be consuming unwarranted time.

Living simply is the day to day life of what I am doing from this point forward. It’s the actions of the day, not the stuff. I.E. Do I go shopping at a local small store that is more expensive or do I drive a distance to a larger store and spend less money. In the end what brings me more peace and gives me back my time? For me it’s the smaller store.

I think I have been making progress on this goal. I will continue to work on it for another year (Summer 2010).

I’m trying to simplify my goals at the moment:).

I will simplify my thoughts by focusing them on the Lord and I will try to DO LESS, but to be present and enjoy each activity.
I’m challenging myself for 5 days..

I was just thinking about this goal and about all of the changes I have made in my life this year and I realized that it is one that will never be complete. Though it seems obvious to state it, one can always live more simply.

Sure, I’ve decluttered (both objectwise and socially) in order to devote more attention to the meaningful things/people, overcome dependencies on cosmetics, hair dyes and my straightening iron (and enjoyed healthier skin and hair as a result), started recycling daily and using at least partially biodegradable products, started trying to reduce my footprint, gotten rid of my car and become a pedestrian commuter, started trying to save money like a miser so that I can pay off debts and give to charity and I try to focus on what I’m doing several times every day to make sure that I’m on the right track.

My heart feels lighter as a result of all of these successful small endeavors, but this truly is a lifelong goal. Living simply is a constant process requiring deep consideration and constant readjustment. That simple fact in itself is actually surprisingly reassuring. Just a rumination…