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.
5 Reasons Why Minimalism is a Better Way of Life | No Sidebar by Brian Gardner. Being a minimalist means that you value yourself more than material things.
Aspirational Parents Condemn Their Children to a Desperate, Joyless Life | The Guardian by George Monbiot. Surrender your freedom, avoid daylight, live to work, and you too could join a toxic, paranoid elite.
Why I’m Breaking Up With the Apple Watch | The New York Times by Vanessa Friedman. “It’s not you, it’s me.”
The Pressure to Look Good | The New York Times by Jennifer Weiner. It used to be that, generally speaking, we all knew the occasions that required us to look good. Now? Every day is Class Picture Day.
After Losing His Father, Here are the 10 Life Insights This Dad Wants His Daughters to Know | The Good Men Project by Luke Martin. Be an experience collector.
M. A. Jika says
As a glutinous consumer I watch Josh on Full Frame and I was amazed how simplicity could help us enjoy life.
I was more convinced Josh when the Greek Referendum came not quite long after in the News.
Lets make it SIMPLE. Keep talking Josh! More would convinced.
joshua becker says
Thank you very much for the kind words. I appreciate them very much.
Pamela says
I was disgusted by the article ‘The Pressure to Look Good’. This is a mom who told her daughters that it matters who they are on the inside? Perhaps that’s the meaning of the article – the societal pressure has turned her into a hypocrite. Honestly, that is what has turned me away from reading most blogs – the loss of authenticity by bloggers when their blogs ‘make it’. They suddenly have gloss and polish on their lives that they didn’t have before.
Personally, I think if you are feeling so pressured to look good, you need to consider the company you keep. That’s also the advice I give my own daughters. There are people who will value, or de-value, you for the wrong things. Those people usually don’t make the best type of friends.
Lauren Jade Martin says
As a blogger, I can’t wait to read ‘ the pressure to look good’. This is definitely true for my industry and it’s so hard not to fall in the trap. Great links this week, can’t wait to read them all!
Xx
Lauren Jade
Lauren Jade Lately
‘Simplifying Life, Maximizing Happiness’
Tamara Swerline says
Thank you for publishing these sites, Joshua. I love the various perspectives and what I can glean and apply to my current situation.
Sadie says
The Weiner piece reminds me of a t-shirt from my college days: “Start a revolution. Stop hating your body.” It made me a little sad, just because its tone suggested that we need to stop the treadmill (body policing) before we can get off.
kariane says
Thank you for sharing these. This is one of the times when I read things and feel very glad that we’re raising our two boys outside of the norms of mainstream America. I love that we all (adults and kids in our family) have time to discover ourselves and our passions as well as time to just be. Our lives are simple, but wonderfully free.
Claire/Justalittleless says
Some great tips in the beautiful Luke Martin article and I find Jennifer Weiner’s piece quite disturbing. Thanks for such wide ranging reads.
Aloadofoldtat.blogspot.co.uk says
The Luke Martin article was truly beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Amy@MoreTimeThanMoney says
Thanks Joshua for another great selection of articles. I read George Monbiot’s piece earlier in the week.
It reinforces for me, as the parent of a preschooler, my decision to opt out of the corporate world for a simpler life.
I was really struck by the levels of fear (mainly of losing social status) Monbiot describes and the “dog eat dog” culture it perpetuated.
I do feel a certain empathy for the parents in the article – we all want “the best” for our children. However their ideas of “the best” and mine are poles apart.
I’ve always lived by “It’s not what you have in your house (or on your resume!), it’s what you have in your heart”. I am so grateful that we have spaces like this, where someone with my outlook can feel at home, get inspired and share ideas – a bit of an antidote to the world Monbiot describes.
I share thoughts like these at http://www.moretimethanmoney.co.nz
Rodger Browning says
Love your inspiration always Joshua. ..:-)
d jones says
The problem with minimalism is that the accumulation of things is what drives our economy. Eventually it will affect our economy.
Meryl @ Simple Family Home says
You know what? I’m more worried about what happens if our economy isn’t affected than what happens if we don’t continue to consume at the same unsustainable rate.
Simplify Life Blog says
I agree with you D. Jones our economy is based on consumerism.
We are expected to keep consuming even when we are broke.
When the economy takes it hit it is the consumers who bring it back while they go into debt further.
Amy@MoreTimeThanMoney says
I agree with you Meryl. Although minimalism is not the same as spending less. Also, I see as minimalism becomes more mainstream the market is finding was to cash in.
A. Nonymous says
d jones, I hear where you’re coming from but it helps to remember that minimalism does not mean spending no money. It means spending your money on the things that matter to you most, and that you get joy from. Many minimalists actually spend MORE money for one quality product than they would sending less money on several cheap versions of the same product.
If more people would pursue minimalism, the economy may shift but it won’t shut down. Perhaps there would be fewer mass-produced, cheap consumer products available, and an increase in quality made, lasting goods, and more experiential consumer offerings, such as an increase in restaurants, travel, etc.