The simplicity/minimalism niche is among the most friendly, encouraging, and helpful communities you will ever find. There is a genuine understanding that any promotion of simplicity is good for society—and there is little concern about who gets the credit for it.
It is a pleasure to be part of such a wonderful group of people. I enjoy the 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 about finding more simplicity in your life today.
The Futility of Comparing Yourself to Others | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. One of the biggest reasons we are not content with ourselves and our lives is that we compare ourselves to other people.
The Simple Life | Huffington Post by Arthur Rosenfeld. Years ago, trend watchers began to say that less is more. Today, it is also clear that simple is better.
What Makes Us Happy? | PBS Newshour by Paul Solman. Does being wealthy make us happier?
76% of Americans Live Paycheck-to-Paycheck | CNN Money by Angela Johnson. There are a number of factors that contribute to this statistic, but consumerism ranks high on the list. We can do better… there is indeed, a better way to live.
Logos | The Minimalists by Colin Wright. You are an individual and completely unique—remember that, and aspire to be frustratingly unlabelable.
Image: basheertome
Logos. That hit home. I carry a Coach bag; I wear Levis jeans; I sell (and use) Mary Kay cosmetics. What does act accordingly mean to me? I’ll have to think about it.
I probably will not give away my jeans or my Coach bags (bought on Ebay, BTW) but I will have to think more about branding.
I like the post about logos. My parents couldn’t afford logo clothing when we were growing up. Being a naive teenager I was upset about it then, but as an adult I now appreciate the unintended lesson, logos do not make you who you are. The only reason I have a particular logo on me now is because that company’s products are made to fit me, literally. For example, certain sneaker brands are cut better for my wide feet so I seek them out in the interest of comfort and being able to workout with good support. Otherwise I don’t care what name is on your clothes, shoes, bags, etc…It’s how you behave and treat others. A logo sporting jerk is still a jerk.
I’ve just noticed the time showing on my previous reply – it’s 10.44am in England!
Leo’s posts always resonate with me. The Simple Life post was excellent – really hit home. Also now, because of your Weekend Reads suggestions, I’m enjoying reading through Marc and Angels blog – putting the kettle on again. Need more tea.
The paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle we live as Americans is truly concerning. I recently gave a speech on that topic and from my research I also found when Americans were asked if they could come up with $2,000 (to cover an unexpected expense), 28% of them said they would certainly be unable to (!).
My hope is through living a simpler and less consumer-driven lifestyle, we can both save and invest monetary resources so that we have things like emergency funds and comfortable retirements, while also bringing peace of mind, happiness, and less stress.
I agree. I saw friends and family get themselves into financial trouble and realized that I could easily end up like that if I didn’t wise up and make a plan to save. I looked very carefully at my spending/saving habits and made cuts wherever possible and put as much as possible into savings, even if it was just a few dollars. At first I focused on what I was giving up and that made it hard, but then I realized my attitude needed adjusting as well. Now I see it as gaining control of my life and that has freed me to enjoy myself more. As my savings grow, my anxiety has shrunk and that is priceless!