There’s more to life than buying stuff.
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.
Study: People Who Value Time Over Money Are Happier | Vox by Brian Resnick. People want both more time and more money. But unfortunately, there is rarely an opportunity to simultaneously gain in both.
My Year of Buying Nothing – Six Months In | The Guardian by Michelle McGagh. I felt isolated and lonely and I wondered daily whether I’d made a huge mistake in setting myself the challenge – but then something amazing happened.
5 Simple Steps to Getting Rid of the Junk in Your House | Dr. Oz by Tehrene Firman. It seems like everyone and their neighbor is kicking their junk to the curb, cleaning out every nook and cranny to get rid of the things they don’t really need.
What Makes A Good Life? Lessons From The Longest Study On Happiness | TEDxBeaconStreet by Robert Waldinger (12:46). As the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction.
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A Simple Year. For the last four years, Courtney Carver has been helping people simplify their lives through a year-long program called A Simple Year. To try something new in 2016, she has decided to open registration mid-year. A Simple Year focuses on a wide variety of topics: clutter, diet, mindfulness, gratitude, just to name a few. The registration price for the program is $240. So it’s not for everyone. But if you want help simplifying your life in a comprehensive way, I do recommend it.
Top one on my list has remained there for many years…The Four Agreements. Completely changed, and simplified, my life in 2004. Never going back there!
I read The Year of Buying Nothing. I respect her resolve, it’s an interesting and eye-opening experiment for her. Kind of fun, too, perhaps. But it saddened me that she was not visiting family that she really missed. I don’t think the sacrifice is worth it – I suggest that visiting loved ones should be exempt from this kind of “experiment”. I lost my father this year, and the reality is when the time comes, you don’t get a re-do or a choice. Time that is gone is gone.
Joshua—
Lots of changes…got a promising job interview on Wednesday!
Off-topic, but just wanted to add that I am so sorry for the horrible massacre/terrorist attack that happened overnight. This has got to stop! What is happening to this world? :(
Always read everything you post, rarely put my comments but really enjoy all the texts.
Thanks!
The photo a Delta Coffee from Portugal the best coffee in the world… my favorite expresso!!!!!
Tanks Joshua for yours writings, allways very inspiring thoughts.
Have a good weekend.
I’m retiring early this December to pursue painting and writing full time. If I stay in my current position I can enhance my pension more. But making do with less to have more time for creativity, family and exercise is the right recipe for me. And these weekend reads and videos only help support my choice. Thank you!
Good for you John! My husband and I left the corporate world early a few years back to be self-employed. It has moments of challenge but we wouldn’t change our decision for a moment. Though we make considerably less, we also spend less and have a lot more time together, time with loved ones and time for our passions and are considerably happier for it.
So, who is going to unload the truck? not any minimalist I guess.
I’m not sure I understand the question.
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Great weekend reads! Especially the time over money one as it has been something on my mind recently too. You can have either time or money, rarely both.
Blessings,
Emma
Thanks. I especially enjoyed reading about the study: people who value time over money are happier.