Self-Starters Needed!

Posted by: Simple Living Works! on: October 21, 2013

• In: SLW! resource
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At its zenith, Alternatives had a national group of 850+ volunteers in the Simple Living Community Network (also known as
SLOW Down). Although that network no longer functions formally, SLW! strives to inspire those and many other self-starters to give talks, lead workshops and discussion groups, organize events, all to promote simpler living and the five Life Standards of Living More with Less.

SLW! offers the free Simple Living 101 toolbook for activists shy or bold.

I had the pleasure of meeting many of those volunteers on speaking tours to 300+ spots in 40+ states over 2-1/2 years. Meet some of them and see their pictures. | Faces of Simple Living blog

SLW! provides most of the materials a willing (or even reluctant) person needs — text, audio and video. The materials can be used year-round, though most of them are meant for the Advent/Christmas season because that’s when consumerism is at its most tempting. (January 15 is Teachable Moment Day. That’s when the Christmas credit card bills arrive!)

Do yourself and your friends and relatives a favor. Screw up your courage and offer to lead an event. Or start with an Alternative Giving letter to your giving circle. People will thank you. Many are thinking, “This can’t be right, the way we celebrate, but I didn’t want to rock the boat. Thank you for speaking up.”

For Fall SEASONAL HELPS, including links to AV and Text resources, see the show notes for SLW! podcast episode 6. Most of Alternatives’ audio resources for Christmas are part of the “Whose Birthday?” podcast series.

Podcast Reminder

You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes either at SimpleLiving.startlogic.com/SLW-PODCAST or at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). LISTEN through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent). SUBSCRIBE through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service.

To access individual episodes: #1: Getting Acquainted | #2: 5 Life Standards | #3: Saga of Simply Enough | #4: Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle-1 | #5: Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle-2 | #6: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?-1, featuring Let’s Get Off the Christmas Roller-Coaster, inspired by UNPLUG the Christmas Machine | #7: Whose Birthday?-2, featuring Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Coming next episode: “What Does JESUS Want for Christmas?”

To LISTEN, click the player at the top or the bottom of the show notes.

Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same.

To learn more about SLW! – our MISSION, for example — please listen to our getting-acquainted episodes, especially #1 and 2. We produce a half-hour podcast twice a month, hopefully educational and inspiring for you, your family and your congregation or group. We blog three times a week.

We at Simple Living Works! believe that simple living really does work! Voluntary Simplicity, choosing to live simpler lives, is a faithful, satisfying and effective lifestyle. Through social media, we extend the mission and resources of the non-profit organization Alternatives, 1973-2011. Simple Living Works! web site home page | THEMES/Seasons Index | Submission guidelines for Whose Birthday? 2013 | Issues 1-24

Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter.

Peace, Gerald ”Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist

GRAPHIC: Spirit of Simplicity: ART Chap. 1: Voluntary Simplicity #1-A508.

Tags: Alternative Giving, Alternatives, celebrate responsibly, challenge consumerism, discussion groups, faith, five life standards, Gerald Iversen, iTunes, live justly, Living More with Less, Mission, organize events, podcast, simple living, Simple Living 101, Spirit of Simplicity, Stitcher, Treasury of Celebrations, voluntary simplicity, volunteer, volunteering, Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?, workshops