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| Live simply - be free. |
Living simply is good for all sorts of things. Like escaping The System.
The less you have to consume to live a rich and contented life, the less money you need to finance that life. Many find that once emancipated from the high stress work-to-get-ahead lifestyle, things actually get better.
A simple life affords one more self-directed time to go to the places where your heart leads.
Yes there are many considerations that come into play once you quit your unsatisfying job, but these can be mitigated with planning and the support of your community.
I have always wondered why people were attracted to the system in the first place. It never really appealed to me. Growing up and reading writers like R. Pirsig in Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance made me feel like I was on the right track.
“He felt that institutions such as schools, churches, governments and political organizations of every sort all tended to direct thought for ends other than truth, for the perpetuation of their own functions, and for the control of individuals in the service of these functions.
He came to see his early failure as a lucky break, an accidental escape from a trap that had been set for him, and he was very trap-wary about institutional truths for the remainder of his time.”
- Robert M. Pirsig
I like that simply consuming less benefits the environment, but my favourite thing about simple living is not being forced to participate in the system that is destroying the environment.
I will not work in support of that system, and as much as is currently possible, I will not buy the products produced by it. The more simply I can live, the less dependent I am on greedy individuals and harmful practices.
It is comforting to know that an increasingly large group of people all around the globe are consciously choosing similar ways. I am happy to say that many of them are regular visitors to this blog, and often share their experiences and wisdom. They all share one core nugget of truth.
Resistance is not futile. Escape is possible, and it is good.
I often say I would like to live in a cave to get away from this mad life, but then I realise it is my choice how I live and what I spend. Trying so hard to save money and be self reliant and reuse what I already have.
ReplyDeletelivecheaperdaybyday,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right - it is a choice that we make. We have to make sure that we make the right one. It sounds as if you have. Keep on trying - it is worth it.
Yes, we totally agree! Staying mindful and awake to all the consumer messages around us is a challenge, but it makes us feel alive! Resistance is fertile!
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