Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show.
The simplicity/minimalism movement is a beautiful community. It is friendly, encouraging, and helpful. There is a genuine understanding that any promotion of simplicity is good for society—and there is little concern over who gets the credit.
It is a pleasure to be part of such a wonderful group of people. And I enjoy every opportunity to promote writing that encourages people to live more by owning less.
So fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea. Find a quiet moment this weekend. And enjoy some encouraging words to inspire more simplicity in your life today.
A Heart Filled With Love, Not Stuff | The New York Times by Jenny Qi. “I am finally detaching from my relics and moving toward a life that feels like my own.”
Opt Out: A Simplicity Manifesto | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. Our lives become filled, even controlled, by the things we think we need to do. We think we can’t live without these things, but actually, we can.
Why I Don’t Want Stuff | Sivers by Derek Sivers. “I haven’t received anything for Christmas or my birthday in almost 20 years.”
The Average American Today Is Richer than John D. Rockefeller | FEE by Donald J. Boudreaux. She is incalculably richer, in fact.
5 “Secrets” to Living the Good Life | Goins, Writer by Jeff Goins. If you want to live a good life, you have to explore uncomfortable questions like, “Why am I doing this?” and, “Just because I can do this, should I?”
DAMARU says
We are fashioned by the media from morning till we sleep .Media is centred around pushing us t buy eat travel do etc ie selling,selling .Almost always connected to vested interest.Misled the world . for vested interest It is hard to say no to all against the wave of reminders DO, EAT,BUY,BEAT , ETC.
Jeffrey Pillow says
I read Leo’s article earlier this week and, simply put, it’s sound advice. We should all go online with a purpose and set aside specific time to do so. Otherwise, the rabbit hole… you’re going down the rabbit hole. And, you probably won’t realize it until your dry, red eyes blue an hour later and remind you.
Jeffrey Pillow says
*blur
(Dag gone autocorrect)
Lauren says
Thanks for your roundup. I always love taking some time on the weekend to sit down and read through your picks – they always give me something to think about!
Stephanie L says
The Goins article was wonderful.
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com says
Thanks Joshua for your weekend reads. It is always nice to go through your list because they give me so many great ideas about what I can write about on my own blog! I don’t know about you but I can’t hear these suggestions enough. Thank you for helping to keep all things simple! ~Kathy
Debbi says
Great list! I liked the diversity of ideas and approaches you included – sometimes the ones that don’t resonate with my worldview actually end up being the most interesting and the ones that are by authors whose viewpoints are more similar to mine help me feel good about my choices even when they are a little weird.
Jim Roberts says
With regard to “The Average American Today”, the author, in my opinion, makes the classic mistake of confusing technological progress with general societal improvements. A slave lived better in 1850 than his ancestors did in 1650 due to technological progress. This did not make the institution of slavery any less odious.
The invention of dentures, breast implants and air-conditioning does not mean we have created a more just economy or a more just society, or that the wealth is shared to a greater degree now than it was at that time.
kddomingue says
Agreed.
joshua becker says
Thanks for the comment Jim. But I don’t think the author’s argument was that our system is any more just or fair. He was simply listing many of the luxuries we take for granted today that were not available even 100 years ago.
Jim Roberts says
Mr Becker,
Perhaps you should “google” the author and the Foundation for Economic Education. This is a classic libertarian argument. “Free Markets” are our savior. And they invariably point to technological advancement as “proving” their argument. To say this article has no political, economic or social agenda it is trying to advance is naive, at best. Again, in my opinion.
Alec B. says
I have less of a concern about the suggested political agenda for the article and more about some of the frivolities it advocates should be seen as progress. I think a lot of technical progress has made it much easier to live lives distracted by secular busy-ness and consumerism. But perhaps the right way to think about it is to try to use those technologies in a mindful way, rather than be concerned that they exist. I do wonder, though, whether society is more healthy, in spiritual terms and in how we live our lives, now than in the early 20th century,
I leave aside of course fundamental issues where progress is undeniable (e.g. the position of women in society). Anyway, just my 2c.
Catie says
My thoughts exactly. Well said.
Matthias says
Kinde of strange, Leo writes in an online article you should opt out of online reading…
joanna says
I think he’s saying we should less online articles. Maybe just higher quality articles such as his wonderful work.
Stephanie L says
I didn’t take it as a directive to opt out of reading (online or otherwise), but to determine what’s valuable and what’s just wasting time sitting down with an electronic device.