6th May
The stress and strain of modern life or ‘disorientation’ “is shaped not only by personal choices, but by the systems of power and wealth that tell us what we need to be happy, systems that tell us we need to consume for a better life.”(1)
Living simply is about choosing not to dance to the tune of advertisers, not blindly following tradition, not getting caught up in the system that says more – and bigger – is better. And therefore living simply may also be about challenging those systems and providing a counter story.
For example is the purpose of education simply to get a job or is it to be more engaged with life?
Is the purpose of a job just to get a pension so that you can then stop working? Is it necessary to buy a yet bigger house/ bigger kitchen/ bigger car? Will it make you happier?
Living simply is making choices that you have thought through for yourself, choices that are appropriate for you, choices that don’t cost the earth.
Of course it is possible that simple living itself will become a system!
(1) https://hazelnutcommunity.substack.com/p/the-life-we-miss-while-wanting-more?r=1r0y9l
The Green Tau 