David Shi’s Primary Attributes of the Simple Life

In my experience simple living is like yoga in practice - both are supremely adaptable to any person and situation. 

Having said that, there are also grounding principles, guideposts to aid practitioners to the better life they steadfastly strive towards. These basic principles give us direction, meaning, and purpose.

For example, simple living, yoga, and meditation all share an emphasis on mindfulness, self-discipline, and personal growth.

More broadly, what are the foundational principles and values embodied by this mind-expanding practice we call the simple life?

David Shi, historian of the Simplicity Movement, admits that "the simple life is almost as difficult to define as it is to live".

But, he forges ahead bravely anyway, and defines what he sees as the primary attributes of living simply: 

- thoughtful frugality 

- suspicion of luxuries 

- reverence and respect for nature 

- desire for self-sufficiency 

- commitment to conscientious rather than conspicuous consumption 

- privileging of creativity and contemplation over possessions 

- aesthetic preference for minimalism and functionality

- sense of responsibility for the just uses of the world’s resources

In an overall assessment which elevates simplicity to the loft heights it deserves, Shi calls voluntary simplicity  ‘enlightened material restraint.’

Developing that restraint is the antidote to consumerism, and the ticket to clarity and freedom.

When pursued diligently, the attributes of simplicity lead into a joyous and beneficial daily practice that brings the practitioner into the present to cherish the moments  with kindness, peace, and gratitude.

While simple living is a challenge to define, I think that  David Shi’s attributes do a great job of summarizing how most of us think about this beautiful way of living. 

How does this mesh with your ideas of simplicity as practiced in your home? Let us know in a comment below.

This is a Net Zero Crap Blog

Most consumer products are crap we don’t need.

You could call this blog a net zero blog, but not the net zero that most people are thinking about these days.

Our net zero is about reducing dependence on the system’s capitalist consumer crap complex to zero.

Why is this important? Because ninety percent of everything is crap. At least, that’s what science fiction writer, Theodore Sturgeon, opined in 1957.

 

His revelation has been dubbed “Sturgeon’s Law” ever since, even though this reality has probably been known since forever.

The way I see it, Sturgeon wasn’t being ambitious enough. Many would put the amount of crap at around 99%. On a good day.

Living a not buying anything life helps achieve a balance between the amount of this crap that flows into our lives and the amount removed, resulting in no net increase in crap levels. 

Our net zero way of living typically involves eliminating purchases, and therefore potential crapification, as much as possible through measures like reducing, refusing, replacing, repairing, and rethinking. 

It also means learning to do things yourself, while offsetting any remaining crap intrusions through actions like decluttering, downsizing, and other marvelous minimalist methods.

And it also means living according to the ''one thing in, one thing out’’ rule, which leaves the crap level neutral overall. 

Consumer crap is harmful to children and other living things, and is more harmful to life as we know it than CO2. Actually, the consumption of consumer crap   creates CO2 in large quantities, so when you reduce the crap you also reduce the CO2. 

Considering this, you would think that governments would be promoting simplicity and minimalism, but I don’t see this happening. 

How curious this callous crap conundrum. 

I still think the best solution is to go net zero on the crap continuum, and simply not buy anything you don’t need.

What do you think? Are you part of our net zero crap community, or do you think you might like to join us? 

We are a gentle, compassionate and kind group, and our goal is to make life great again for all the world's children, and all other living things. Not through the banks and elite controlled systems, but by individual personal changes, and community efforts from the ground up.

Let us know where you stand in a comment below.