“Happiness is not found in things you possess, but in what you have the courage to release.” —Nathaniel Hawthorne
There are many wonderful people pursuing and promoting simplicity. Fortunately, some of them are gifted in communication and choose to encourage and inspire us with their words. I enjoy reading their unique perspective. I’m sure you will too.
So fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea on this beautiful weekend. Find a quiet moment. And enjoy some encouraging words about finding more simplicity in your life today.
A Guide to Living With Less | Relevant Magazine by CaReese Rials. How to eliminate excess and declutter your life.
Dear Kids: It’s OK to Be Bored | Huffington Post by Bunmi Laditan. Being bored is like sitting in front of a blank canvas. Boredom is infinite possibility.
Why Are We So Busy? | New Yorker by Elizabeth Kolbert. After an initial period of excitement, the average consumer grows accustomed to what he has purchased and rapidly aspires to own the next product in line.
A Call for Revolt: Advertising is the Anti-Minimalism | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. The biggest obstacle to a wonderfully minimalist life is advertising.
Child Entertained For 5 Minutes By Plastic Toy That Will Take 1,000 Years To Biodegrade | The Onion. Short. Funny. Sad.
Clutterfree with Kids | Amazon. The promise of living a clutterfree life sounds attractive to many. Unfortunately, with kids, discovering and maintaining a clutterfree home can be difficult. But living clutterfree with kids is entirely possible. We wrote this practical book for parents who just need a little help getting there.
Sebastian Aiden Daniels says
Thanks for this list. The posts on boredom are interesting. I don’t kids these days know how to feel boredom, which is sad. They always have to be distracted. I remember I was on a plane sitting next to an 11 year old girl and during take off, when she couldn’t have her phone on, she literally was twitching because she was bored.
BrownVagabonder says
These links that you provide weekly are my favourite part of your blog. The fact that you scour the blogosphere for interesting articles for us (and for yourself) is gratifying. I like coming back to this blog over and over again, but especially so for these links. Thanks for taking the time to give us these gifts of words.
Mel says
Just got my copy of Clutterfree with Kids! I’m so excited to read it. We are starting this journey and are already feeling the benefits of reducing the crap in our home!
Dear Kids: It’s Okay to be Bored–> I love boredom. Always have. That’s when I have my most creative ideas! Build boredom into your days.
Darlene Ramos says
It’s becoming easier (in my neck of the woods) to connect with others who immerse themselves in “less is plenty” thinking, and to thrive with mutual support and encouragement. While we do not find it SO hard to resist consumerism urged on us via multiple sources of media marketing, or even through noting the latest material acquisitions by our neighbors, we DO find it difficult to even purchase/use what is NECESSARY, without “more” being foisted upon us against our will. Can we buy “simple” anymore? No, because “simple” means we could probably fix something ourselves, and God forbid that! Let’s make it complicated, hard to fix or not practical to try, “throwaway” if you will. Then people will always have to buy again and again. And while we’re at it let’s make things so “feature” packed that bells and whistles become the new normal and we can charge accordingly while brainwashing everyone that to want anything less is just plain un-American, or stupid, or stubborn. Give me the liberty to be stupid, please!! I would love to change a television set manually again, or crank down a car window, or make ice in an ice cube tray…but no doubt if my wish were granted, the price for asking would be outrageous. Don’t want the bells and whistles? We’ll have to charge you, more, M’am…..
michelle t says
This is my first comment. I’ve been slowly decluttering and absorbing the lessons of simple living. Regarding the Zen Habits column, he is absolutely right. I figured out advertising was part of the problem. I cancelled or didn’t renew magazine subscriptions. Not only the advertising but the articles themselves were a problem. I wanted to do every cute project, cook every fancy meal, etc. Not taking into account what fits in my life. I am changing my mindset. My mantra is, “only what I love”. Thanks for the very informative blog, I’ve been learning so much. Michelle t
Rebecca says
The guide to living with less link doesn’t work. :( Looking forward to reading it!
I love the article, “Dear Kids, It’s ok to be Bored” How do we convince them it is true?
Tracy B. says
I thought that maybe the “Guide to Living With Less” was intentionally blank. :-)
joshua becker says
Thanks Rebecca. It was an error on Relevant’s site. The link is working now.