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I enjoy living a life without luxuries, and don't even mind severe simplicity from time to time. I don't view the concept of austerity as harshly as some people - I am all about austere living, but not if it is done as illustrated above.
My austerity is not an extreme or harsh form of self-denial, not that the world couldn't handle a bit more of that. Rather, it is a way of cutting costs and distractions, so as "to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life", as Thoreau said.
Ultimately, I want my austerity to help make the world a better place. If ostentatious, excessively indulgent, extravagant living got our planet into the mess it is in right now, then self-control and simplicity is how we will get out of it. But this is a project we all need to work on together.
Austerity should be to help provide equality among all humans, heal the environment, and improve the quality of life for everyone. It should not be so that the rich can take an even greater share of the wealth while pressing global problems continue to be ignored.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I found your website. I'm down with a mild fever, insomnia, and tiredness - it's actually the junk from all the months piling up. Not just physical distractions but mental ones as well. Just reading this article has calmed me tremendously and I feel I am about to embark on a major change in my life. Thank you very much.
I should be seeing a major improvement in my mental (and bank) balance with this simple approach.
Wonderful to hear someone speak about the value of austerity. Praying if I should join the Bruderhof?
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