A different perspective: Chris and Cherie's take on the nomadic lifestyle, where they explain that minimalism is not their goal. Minimalism, for them, is a means to an end - living in a mobile small space. I get that. For me, minimalism is more than a means, and this thing we're doing/about to do fits into a simple lifestyle that already feels good, just stagnant where we are. I want to be pushed to take simplicity further, and this is doing that. How simple must my life become before I am faced with my real self? Cover the mirrors! I want to see places, things, and myself more clearly.
In an earlier quest to become crazy rich without working much, I stumbled upon Your Money or Your Life.It's written to guide you into self-sustaining wealth, whatever. That part was interesting and a bit inspirational, but the real bang happens before you get to treasury bills and wealth charts ZZzzz. Somehow these people make you understand the real connection between your money and your LIFE. How much of your life you're giving away in order to purchase this lunch out, or that magazine. How many hours of irretrievable time you're offering in order to purchase a new car, or the required wardrobe for your career. Are you making as much money as you think? And, would you need to buy so many new things if you weren't so stressed out and worn thin by your job? This was also the book that introduced me to the concept of voluntary simplicity. Before that, I only knew it as laziness, aimlessness, and lack of ambition.
When I read Choosing Simplicity, I knew these were my peeps.
Have their been books, movies, or other defining moments for you?
23 comments:
Copy that. Those are 2 motivating books alright. I also recommend A Journey of One’s Own by Thalia Zapatos. And, of course, Walden - the orginal simple living journal.
Thanks for the links. I'm gonna go see what the cowboy has to say right now.... Kim
"I want to be pushed to take simplicity further" wow, that was such a great line. it gave me shivers!
i really get what you mean when you wrote "....the concept of voluntary simplicity. Before that, I only knew it as laziness, aimlessness, and lack of ambition"
sometimes people look at me and think, why isnt she working? the thing is, the money that i could bring in would barely, IF AT ALL, make up for the time lost with my husband and the animals. doing massage i could make 60+ an hour, but the driving, the prep, the time away, gas, advertising....its not worth it to us. i joke when people ask me why i dont work, i say that if i dont spend a lot of money, there is no need for me to go out. by staying home i am supporting my husband in his business. by NOT bringing home stress i am creating a better homelife for our entire (err...animal) family. so...lol...what im trying to say is..... I GET YA!! we dont need all that extra stuff! im actually kinda embarrassed by how much i used to spend on stuff i didnt need.
this was a really great post, i enjoyed every word of it. feel free to do more just like it!! i grant you permission:):):):)
Thank you ladies for the book plugs, I've queued up "Choosing Simplicity" on my kindle as a result.
Nice! I want to lay my hands on the Zapatos book, too.
Aw, thank you!
I totally get it. It's as though our entire function in life must be to make money, no matter how unworth-it it may be. As though that's the source of our value. Make it, spend it, make more, spend more. The treadmill becomes the only "normal" way to live. Gross!
oh and as for what books changed my life, i liked "eat to live" and i also liked most of the anti-aging/hormone books by Suzanne Somers.oh i also liked "the tao of poo" ...an eclectic bunch of books:) OMG IM SO SLOW!! the one that changed MY LIFE was a book on what vegan was and why.! duh! lol that was a long time ago! i need to find out what the name was!
also i finally saw that pink video! my video player works for a few days then it the whole computer needs to be restarted in order for it to work again. but i saw that cow part! i didnt know pink was veg! thats really neat! thank you for thinking of me!!!
i forget if quorn is vegan, its made out of mushrooms though right? lol mushrooms sounds better than fungus! you two are so brave trying all sorts of things!! it took me FOREVER to try mock meats!..like years!
I'm going to look for that - thanks!
Aw, thank you!
I totally get it. It's as though our entire function in life must be to make money, no matter how unworth-it it may be. As though that's the source of our value. Make it, spend it, make more, spend more. The treadmill becomes the only "normal" way to live. Gross!
The Tao of Poo ... is that like The Humanure Handbook? Because, that's a pretty great book, too.
I didn't know she was, either, but that video certainly implies it strongly. I had to watch it several times, it was so compelling.
I looked up Quorn after I asked you that. I don't think it is, any of the varieties, unfortunately. They use egg whites, or dairy. They ought to tinker with the recipe because it would be a runaway favorite if they veganized it.
Our favorite Thai restaurant offers "mock chicken" (seitan), and it makes me feel like I'm poking fun at the chicken.
I'm going to look for that - thanks!
I spent most of my life looking for "the answers" in books - never found them.
That's Bennie's bad influence. Books aren't for finding answers, they're for finding the questions!
Those books sound great. Any suggestions on where to find them?
Just trying to figure out how to get my name up as a hyper link. Think I did it.
Haha! You're funny, and poking me at the same time!
Yep! Good job. It even goes to your blog.
Defining Moment.... When my father died and I remembered my grandmother (his mother) telling me "your mother has never had a life." I asked her "what do you want to do for the rest of your life?" That is why we are on the road. Book that changd my way of thinking Party of One: The Loners' Manifesto. Good Post. This is Pepper from Little House On Wheels.
first of all, i left the "h" off of pooh LOLOLOL pooh as in...tigger and piglet and owl....
im not sure, the tao of pooh goes through and profiles each each character (like piglet and tigger) to a certain characteristic in life. like tigger is unresponsible and pooh is unsure of himself..it was actually really good.
sorry about that spelling!!!
Okay, you made me cry. And, what your mom wanted was the hit the road - amazing.
Haha! Okay, I get it. What is Piglet's tao?
I think poo must have a tao, too, right? Poo is misunderstood, yet has a lot to give back to society and the Earth?
i read it about eight years ago...i left the last chapter...it was at a guys house that i was dating and i would read while i was there....lol....then i moved to CA and havent been able to find it since.
Just found your blog through a link to mine...wonderful to meet you guys! One of the books that changed my life and eventually got us on the path we're at now was "The Simple Living Guide" by Janet Luhrs. Shortly after that I discovered "The Tightwad Gazette"...the "lighter" side of simple living and a really fun read :) Nina
Hi Nina! Good to meet you, too! I was happy to find your blog.
I'll look for that book by Luhrs. I was recently thinking how the "best" books on any topic are not necessarily the ones that change our lives, they just happen into our vision at the right times. And, the ones with great reviews are not always the ones that will speak to us. I found "Choosing Simplicity" on a $1 pile at the local big-box bookstore. Which was a perfect fit, because I was already living on Frugal Street.
I own the Tightwad Gazette, and haven't read it yet. Even volume 2! It's one of the few books I haven't jettisoned already.
Roxanne
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