Here in America, we live in a consumerist society that depends on people spending money to keep the economy going. And with a recession looming, it's often portrayed as downright anti-American not to spend.
Yet, with concerns over global warming building, many Americans are calling for a new kind of patriotism: voluntary simplicity.
The movement for voluntary simplicity (or simple living) is still somewhat under the radar, but it is growing in strength. The basic philosophy is to "downshift" from a high-pressure, high-cost lifestyle to one that is more spiritual, humble, and less materialistic.
For example, a person who is practicing voluntary simplicity may give up a large, expensive "McMansion" to move into a smaller home that needs less energy to heat in the winter and cool down in the summer. Instead of driving a luxury car to work at a distant office requiring a long commute, a worker might take a cut in pay to work closer to home or telecommute. Then, instead of needing to spend large amounts of money on gas and car payments, public transportation or bicycling could be used for travel.
As you can see, voluntary simplicity is a wonderful way to help the environment while helping yourself. With the volumes of garbage we collectively create, any way that we can cut down on unnecessary "stuff" and energy usage is a positive for the planet.
There are many ways to express the philosophy of simple living. For some adherents, this means growing their own vegetables in their home garden. For others, it means not running out and buying a new cellphone or television set the minute one hits the market.
Critics of voluntary simplicity suggest that it requires too much "sacrifice" and as such, is unappealing and counter to the "American Dream." Others hint that simple living could hurt the American economy, which is dependent on consumer spending to run effectively.
Yet, for those who practice voluntary simplicity, the rewards can be more free time, better family relations, and an enhanced spirituality. Additionally, many in the movement are working to create new models of sustainable business that are human-oriented (instead of bottom-line driven), responsive to the environment, and good for the economy.
"Simple living means different things for different people; for me, it's enjoying a minimalist environment, relishing the littlest pleasures, and appreciating each moment with my family..." writes Megan Peddle in the Simple Living News.
Yet, with concerns over global warming building, many Americans are calling for a new kind of patriotism: voluntary simplicity.
The movement for voluntary simplicity (or simple living) is still somewhat under the radar, but it is growing in strength. The basic philosophy is to "downshift" from a high-pressure, high-cost lifestyle to one that is more spiritual, humble, and less materialistic.
For example, a person who is practicing voluntary simplicity may give up a large, expensive "McMansion" to move into a smaller home that needs less energy to heat in the winter and cool down in the summer. Instead of driving a luxury car to work at a distant office requiring a long commute, a worker might take a cut in pay to work closer to home or telecommute. Then, instead of needing to spend large amounts of money on gas and car payments, public transportation or bicycling could be used for travel.
As you can see, voluntary simplicity is a wonderful way to help the environment while helping yourself. With the volumes of garbage we collectively create, any way that we can cut down on unnecessary "stuff" and energy usage is a positive for the planet.
There are many ways to express the philosophy of simple living. For some adherents, this means growing their own vegetables in their home garden. For others, it means not running out and buying a new cellphone or television set the minute one hits the market.
Critics of voluntary simplicity suggest that it requires too much "sacrifice" and as such, is unappealing and counter to the "American Dream." Others hint that simple living could hurt the American economy, which is dependent on consumer spending to run effectively.
Yet, for those who practice voluntary simplicity, the rewards can be more free time, better family relations, and an enhanced spirituality. Additionally, many in the movement are working to create new models of sustainable business that are human-oriented (instead of bottom-line driven), responsive to the environment, and good for the economy.
"Simple living means different things for different people; for me, it's enjoying a minimalist environment, relishing the littlest pleasures, and appreciating each moment with my family..." writes Megan Peddle in the Simple Living News.
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