I have to speak at a women's conference next month and the topic is simply living to be more in tune with God.

So tell me what you do to live a simple life and what is your motivation?

How is your life better for your decisions to simplify?

And practical suggestions would be helpful.

There is one thing that always comes to mind when this topic comes up, one very important way to simplify you life, be thrifty and connect to the sacred. Stop shopping for recreation....I know it seems crazy...how can that one step cover all three? Let me explain. I was raised to shop as a form of recreation. I first stopped as a way to save money as we were in debt for DH's education. Later when I went back I realised that most shopping malls and outlets (Walmat, costco, etc) are pretty toxic, they are loud, overwhelming places that push you through marketing to buy things you don't need. We come home feeling overwhelmed, overspent, guilty for spending money which could have been MUCH better spent, and more often than not add our purchases to a overstuffed home that becomes harder and harder to keep orderly because it is bursting at the seams with STUFF!! All of this wears away at ones soul disconnecting us from what is really important. The third factor is the time wasted, time I could have spent creating things instead of buying things, time I could have spent with friends and family, when I make clothing for my children I feel inspired and proud of my accomplishments, when I bought clothes for my kids I worried about overspending.

So as crazy as it sounds at first I think that stopping shopping for recreation was one of the best simplifications I ever made.....that and getting rid of tv!

great thought on the shopping. you kind of summarized what i have been coming to for some time now.

i want to add learning to say no without guilt -- be it a request for your time, a request for a new toy, whatever.

I find that many people are thrifty when they begin to just simplify what their needs are.

I think the Shakers said it best:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight

'Till by turning, turning we come round right.



BTW - by "turning" - they meant prayer (they typically danced when they prayed)

Otherwise, I think B'sknees said what I would have said (but, of course, better than I would have said it :) )

In the last 2 weeks I have read or am reading 3 different books that talk about simple living and how it ties to god. They have been an inspiration to me.

They are pretty easy reads and you should be able to get them through interlibrary loan.

Richard A. Swenson, M.D.

-Margin

-The Overload Syndrome

Doris Janzen Longacre

-Living More With Less

Thanks for the book titles, I am going to try to get those through my library. I read a book several years ago that really influenced me "Downsizing".

I have several ideas about what I want to speak on but I wanted some other peoples perspectives that were "living" a simple life. I know that there are alot of area in this I can improve on too so it is nice to have every ones input.

I think one of the things I want to emphasize is how "things" take the place of God in our lives. I think that we have so many things that the thought of caring for them overwhelms us in such a way that we don't have "time" to focus on God whether it be focusing our energy, time or money.

Thanks, I will probably be posting to get more ideas in the next few weeks. You guys are all great.

My simplicity stems from a need to feel as though the world and I have balance in what I take and what I give. It is not as though I do not shop... just the places that I shop are better for the earth (or at least I have heard, and justified them so. ;) Buying second hand is my first choice, and I think it is always better for the earth.). The earth is my religion, and my main focus when dealing with a simple life. When I look at all of the people I know with extra, (and I mean EXTRA... because we all have more than we need in this country.) But as in EXTRA I mean, the boats, and campers, the two huge gas guzzlers, the big house with wasted land, a spot to burn diapers along witht he unread newspaper (Yes I know some who do this), the 25 Strawberry shortcake dolls, the 20 toy guns, the 500 Polly Pockets, and 60 Videos, and 100 DVD's, the discount Sam's Club food that "fills your belly" but is terrible for you, those are the things that I avoid like the pleage. I sound millitant don't I?

When I think of a simple life, it is not without a couple of those recreational vices... it is conscience of them. Even if I do have them. We have a television, we have DVD's, but we do not have cable by choice becuse we want to be able to shut off the tv at a moments notice to go to Alex's baseball games, or step out for a walk on a sunny day. We refuse to be run by the media schedule. ~ I could count on my hands how many clothes my children have that are new... becuase the worlds population is wastful enough with out us adding to it... and I think shopping for the "Treasure within the Trash" is fun. I take $10 and get my recreational retail thereapy AND some good bargins too. ~ I cook from scratch, and buy organic, becuase I feel more connected to the way that I eat if I know exactly what is in my food, and I feel achomplished if I make it myself. ~ I read books with my children, and spend time in my garden, connecting to the Mother Earth and welcoming her plants and creatures to come and join me in thanking her for all of the sacrifices that she has given for us, and all that she has to teach. ~ I give blessings to the beautiful places in the world, and invite my children to do the same... because so few of the ones that I knew as a child even still exsist. And less will for my children as they grow older... it is best to give love and thanks when you have the opportunity, and I practice this with the people I love as well. I would rather say 'I love you' too many times for comfort than have someone think that I don't care. ~ These lessons I have learned from years of feeling as though I disereved more. Feeling as though I needed more. And constantly feeling as though I was not doing enough to diserve it, really. So justifing my habits by saying that the world owed me. But I do enough, I have enough, and I am enough. I find peace and simplicity in the idea that I need nothing more than the love I have, food in my belly, and the roof over my head. Every thing else is a blessing that I attempt to tresure, (well I do my best... lol).

Love Val

For me living Simply means living day-by-day, hour-by-hour.