The Happy Minimalist

[BarbaraAnn22]

"We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without."                                                                                      -Henry David Thoreau    At 44, Peter Lawrence walked away last year from a well-paying job as a manager at Hewlett-Packard.  These days he does not work.  He lives without furniture or a bed, keeps one pot, one pan in the kitchen, and instead of surfing a television with 200 cable channels, watches the changing colors of the sky from his window. This article shares more about the contented author of the book "The Happy Minimalist".   from DailyGood.com Think of five ways in which you can simplify your life - starting right now.

[parrishsky]

Getting rid of the stress and clutter is something I need to do often. Once I get rid of those things that burden my mind (junk mail, things not really needed but make their way into my home) then I already feel better.

I also plant a big garden, the idea is to have less of a need for grocery shopping.

I eat mostly vegan. Making meals more simple makes me feel connected to the earth and not bound to cooking and the use of too many pots.

I lend and borrow books and cd's etc etc. Why buy when you can borrow?


Great post Barbara!!

[sungreen13]

I too like to sit and watch the trees.........

That was a great article. It is so true too, if everyone would simplify everything, get back to basics, happiness & good health would out weigh the stress & aggravation that now comsumes most everyone. So, now I think~ what 5 things could I do.......I live pretty simple already I guess~ very low maintenance, being very earth conscience I consume little & waste little. What I need is more time. Time to play. =o)

-The garden is one (like Maria, my thoughts are to less food shopping!) I'm starting small now and have quite a bit growing~ small since we do not own our home/land but oh when we do! It also is my place for alone time. I usually tend to them in the morning~ after filling my bird feeders so I get to think of my day ahead, and listen/watch the birds in peace.

-Organize. I've been on a mission for better organization & less clutter for a while- getting rid of the unnecessary, room by room. Some days I get farther than others. I've joined my local freecycle and that helps~ when I see somebody looking for something I have, especially if I haven't used it in a while~ I give it to them! But yea, de-clutter & organize = healthier & happier home/life!

-read a book. I've been so bad with this. It's probably been 8 months since I've read a book! I have tried a couple, but just never found that page turner to keep me interested! LOL but having even just 15 minutes of reading time, does so much good to your body & mind. I just picked up a book yesterday, and am excited to start it tonight.

-I need to create a 'paper center'. That's what I'm calling it anyway. (sounds odd for my 'need to simplify' list but it's my biggest problem). I guess this should go back up to my 'organize' spot, LOL. Here's our now mail/paper system. First it starts in piles on the table/desk/counter. This is junk mail+bills+kids school work+drawings & notes/lists, what have you. Then they become one big pile, usually on the 6th dining room chair (since we are a family of 5, we don't need that 6th chair). . . . until It is just out of control then I sit there & sort out the piles into a need, an oops a bill! and the recycle pile.
So I am working on a better paper system~ this will give me more time for the fun & necessary parts of my life =)

-menu planning. I've done this, then slack off. It helps out though, and makes the days easier. Planning meals week to week saves money.

so there I go. my list of things to simplify my life~ this all will give me more time to play & to enjoy life!

[DzineMama]

lol... this guy's living my dream.

[nacherluver]

#1 - put "clean desk" at the top of the "to do" list and don't keep bumping it back but actually tackle the ugly job!
#2 - don't let others make plans for me or change my plans due to the influence of others
#3 - say "no" more often
#4 - heavy duty de-cluttering of the house
#5 - I'm pretty simplicity based to start with so I can continue on my current path and deepen my practice of simplicity.