by Roxanne -

Living the Minimalist Life

It’s very interesting to read about the choices he is making regarding how he wants to live his life. I admire him for questioning the cultural assumptions that we should work, buy a car/house, get married in our twenties – and other cultural myths. I also admire his desire to include many rich and varied relationships in his life and “un-include” materialism.

On the other hand, don’t try this if you need health insurance (there isn’t any) or if you have a serious medical emergency. Likewise this is not a lifestyle conducive to pets or children – though many women are forced to live as Joseph does with their children. Nevertheless, read on. I hope we hear more of his story in the months to come.

Itinerate writer talks of living, and dreaming, on $20,000 a year

By Joseph Fonseca

“I am a perpetual stranger, moving to a new city every year.  I’m not a businessman, or an international superstar for that matter. I’m a writer. My average yearly income hovers just north of $20,000 and comes from waiting tables and manning the till at bookstores. I live on little. I plan and I save.

When my itinerary was loosely designed six years ago, my main motivation was to gain greater life experience to inform my fiction. Much like people who save money to buy a house or to pay for their children’s education, I budget to live a writer’s life.

Seattle will be my seventh city in seven years. I have never before set foot in this bastion of coffee and computers. I arrive with only a few contacts in my phone and a roommate whom I’ve met through e-mail and Facebook.  There is no work lined up for me, and my bank account holds just enough money to last me a couple of months before paying rent becomes a crisis.

This is where you panic. This is where I get started.”

To view the entire article, go here.

You may also like Be A Tourist in Your Own Town, Other Options – Alternative Living Choices and The Richness of Simplicity.

by Roxanne -

Yoga Wisdom – Is It Stealing?

Photo Yoga Journal.com

This post is about what it means to live ethically. For example, what constitutes stealing? In the Ten Commandments, as in one of the yamas of yoga –asteya, there is the admonition “You shall not steal.” Is this only referring to taking something outright? That is a literal and shallow interpretation. As North Americans we may prefer the shallow interpretation because it suits our lifestyle. But we can go deeper. Stealing means having more than one’s fair share, when others have nothing.

Who decides what is my “fair share” or what is too much for me to have? Those living on less than $2 a day – two thirds of the human family – get to decide.

The gifts of our planet are for the use of the entire human family (and other species too). Morally and ethically, having more than we need when others have nothing is stealing. If society values human life, then based on that value, we provide social safety nets that meet basic human needs when necessary. We should speak about our refusal to meet other human beings’ basic needs truthfully.

The truth is that much of what I have has been stolen, then, from others who need it. This bothers me very much. I hope it bothers you too.

Again, language shapes how we understand. For example, we say “under privileged” but then we refuse (or are loath) to say “over privileged” because that would imply having what we did not earn or receive fairly.

And of course we like to refer to our stolen goods as “blessings” although they aren’t. Some of us are simple benefiting from an economy (set up by human beings – not by God) that privileges us over others.

We need to speak about reality as it really is so we can understand and think clearly. Then we can make choices that will bring true integrity and inner peace.

You may also like Truth or Consequences, Power of Reframing and Are We So Different?

by Roxanne -

“Age-Friendly” Means Friendly For ALL

Photo R. Meshar

There’s so much we can do – even in our own local communities. Check out all of the innovative ideas in this article with excellent resource links at the end.

Here are just a few good ideas from the article –

It will take some creative steps to make New York and other cities age-friendly enough to help the coming crush of older adults stay active and independent in their own homes.

“It’s about changing the way we think about the way we’re growing old in our community,” said New York Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs. “The phrase ‘end of life’ does not apply anymore.”

With initiatives such as using otherwise idle school buses to take seniors grocery shopping, the World Health Organization recognizes New York as a leader in this movement.

But it’s not alone.

Atlanta is creating what it calls “lifelong communities.” Philadelphia is testing whether living in a truly walkable community really makes older adults healthier. In Portland, Ore., there’s a push to fit senior concerns such as accessible housing into the city’s new planning and zoning policies.

The key is understanding this (bold emphasis mine):

. . . if you make something age-friendly, that means it is going to be friendly for people of all ages, not just older adults,” said Margaret Neal of Portland State University’s Institute on Aging.

DH and I are actively looking for places to live in retirement that would allow us to use no car, public transportation or only one car. Walking is paramount – to the library, volunteering, faith community, grocery store, restaurants, coffee shops, museums, health care appointments and more. It is healthier, active, you meet more people and it’s easier to stay involved in the community. Check here for a list of most walkable cities in the U.S.

Because we have simplified our lifestyle we don’t need much space for stuff/things (a large kitchen or dining room isn’t necessary, for example). But we do know from our own experience that diversity in people and activities greatly enhances our quality of life.

What do you think? Would you consider adding diversity in people and activities to your life? Would you move to a place where you could easily use public transportation and then actually use it?

You may also like Live a Little, Prairie Walk and Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.

by Roxanne -

InnerPeace – Don’t Live Small

Photo R. Meshar

We often hear the term “live large.” But what does it mean to “live small”?

Professor Reginald Ray offers a good description in his book Indestructible Truth. In writing about motivation or the intention with which we pursue various activities in life he says:

“The small level of ordinary motivation refers to beings whose focus in life is on being happy and content within their one lifetime, trying to make themselves secure and comfortable. They seek a good family situation, health, an ample income, a fine dwelling, social status, and so on. They . . . are not concerned with what happened before . . . or what will happen later.” (Ray, 314)

It seems to me that to live a middle class lifestyle without any concern about how that lifestyle exploits or impoverishes others is truly a very small life. It is difficult to learn how many ordinary things we do affect others around the globe. But it is necessary in living an examined life.

I love this quote from Marianne Williamson in A Return to Love: A Reflection on a Course in Miracles,

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

My one life is a very valuable gift. Living small devalues that gift.

I do not want to live a small life.

Children in Juarez, MX

You may also like Question the Culture, Poverty is a Luxury We CanNOT Afford and Difficult People.

by Roxanne -

Coat Check

Photo R. Meshar

Fall is approaching. A good time to assess my front hall closet. How many coats and jackets do I really need? How much is enough?

Currently I have four coats & jackets that you can see here in the photo on the left. I have a white denim jacket, not shown here – so really five coats/jackets. I am checking resale shops for one mid-length, hooded jacket with a lining that could be used as both a raincoat, lightweight jacket and warmer jacket. Then I could donate my both the lightweight jacket and the raincoat.

In addition I have 2 pairs of winter boots and assorted gloves, mittens and scarves. How much is enough when so many have nothing? How much is too much?

You may also like Closet Check, Simplify, Simplify, Simplify, and The Richness of Simplicity.