Voluntary Simplicity

posted by Sophie @ 2:48 PM

Mark Burch.

Summary: Join Mark Burch author of Stepping Lightly: Voluntary Simplicity for People and Planet for a look at voluntary simplicity - a way of life that cultivates mindful attention to life's inner richness. This presentation explores how practicing simplicity reduces meaningless stress and complexity so that time and energy can be re-focused on the values that matter most to us. Simple living can also help re-direct energy toward financially realistic and
personally meaningful goals as well as reducing our ecological footprint on the earth.


I'm blogging this from the floor of conference room A. Although the best sign of a great session is SRO status, my tush has a different take on the story. I wan't originally planning on attending this session--when there's five concurrent streams going, there always seems to be something that absolutely needs to be seen, and somehow the session's title--invitation to simplicity--didn't scream "next big thing," but thanks to a technical problem at Michael Hohner's concurrent session, I find myself invited to simplicity, to a break from the norm, and yes, a break from normal seating. Call it voluntary simplicity.


First off, check out SPARC, Mark Burch's new initiative: www.simplicitycentre.ca

Voluntary simplicity is the choice to live simply; it is not the same as poverty. It is rooted in Volunteerism; the ability to make the choice to live differently, rather than accepting standard consumerism. The key is *voluntary*.
Freedom is an important value. Marketers have learned that if they link their products to freedom, it sells more. Freedom is thus conferred through a large amount of money and a large amount of property. "Just imagine the freedom", says the lotto 649 commercial. But gathering stuff becomes difficult behind all the clutter; stress builds in lives.

Burch gives an example: you're living in a cave, sitting on the floor. Somehow, you find a cushion, and you decide having a cushion is great. But then you decide that having another cushion would be better, and maybe ones in different colors, etc, etc. Suddenly you're ga-ga for cushions, and you've got so many, you need a bigger cave. This consumes a lot of your life.

Somehow, this stikes home. Now, I'd love to have a cushion. I might even go for a chair. But if I had too many cushions or chairs, I might forget the matter at hand, in other words, bringing this to you.

Living simply has benefits, if not monetary:

Freedom to pursue what is highest--the things that are truly worth doing in life--environmental work, working with the disenfranchised, writing books, making art--all these things are underpaid. But through voluntary simplicity, one can choose to work for higher goals, rather than higher pay.

The notion that simple living must be done rurally is contrary; the same goes for the notion that it must be done without technology. According to Burch, WHEN technology suits living simply, it is worth using. Burch gives the example of the renovations he's done to his house--intalling ecologically friendly devices, insulation, low-flow shower fixtures, better windows, all of which reduce the ecological footprint left behind. The upgrades cost money, but living simply is not the same as living cheap--sometimes it involves an investment. Spending little, finding sales, etc, is still an obsession with money.

I have a chair now--thanks to Marla O. for the luxury!--I'll accept this technology and use it to my advantage, because it turns out this presentation has an overhead presentation which I couldn't see before. I'm sure this simple pleasure will enrich my experience considerably.

Why would anyone practice voluntary simplicity? Burch presents a few good reasons:

Personal Benefits:
-Reduced stress, debt, clutter and expense
-Increased security, employment options, self-enrichment opportunities, life focus, personal empowerment
Strengthens relationships and community:
-time with family and friends
-time and resources for community involvement
Environmental sustainability:
It's all about reducing; recycling is associated with high-consumption, whereas reducing is much more powerful--it's easier to clean up pollution that never happened in the first place.

How to apply this to libraries:
-buying more durable, less wasteful materials
-buying furniture that lasts, buildings that self-sustain
-digitizing and bringing more materials online
-resource sharing

Some websites to consider:
Alternatives for Simple Living: www.simpleliving.org
The Affluenza Project http://www.affluenza.com/
Awakening Earth Homepage www.awakeningearth.org/simplicity.html
Center for a New American Dream (CNAD) http://www.newdream.org/
Clay and Judy Woods Reflections www.word-works.com/simple.htm
Context Institute www.context.org
David Clement Hompage www.emucities.com/au/member/davd/index.html
The Garden http://www.thegarden.net/
Horn, Particia--Article www.vineyard.net/awa/issue2/spending.html
Living Lightly www.scn.org/earth/lightly/vslinks.htm
Living lightly's biographies www.scn.org/earth/lightly/vsmodels.htm
National Waste Prevention Centre www.dnr.metrokc.gov/swd/nwpc
Natural Life Magazine www.life.ca/subject/index.html
Northwest Earth Institute http://www.nwei.org/
Seeds of Simplicity http://www.seedsofsimplicity.org/
Simple Living Network http://www.simpleliving.net/
Simple Living Oasis http://www.simpleliving.com/