Simple Living Works!

Feeling Bullied by Consumo? Ask Slim.

Slim made his first appearance in the skit Consumo Must Go! There Slim was the common sense character, the antidote to the anti-superhero Consumo, the Overlord of Overconsumption.

A recent question from college classmate John Herrmann prompts me to start the hopefully interactive blog “Ask Slim.” I’ll give my reply to questions that are broadly about simpler living and invite you to add your responses.

John wrote:

Gerald, Does Simple Living have any accumulated wisdom on necessity of Cable/Satellite TV and Internet/Smart Phone — where to stop etc.? Seems like it takes a chunk of change, and increasingly so, to keep all this stuff. A lot of it seems to be habit that one has gotten used to and now “can’t live without.” But surely there is an alternative . . . John

Slim says:

Several simple living propositions apply here.

1. Needs trump wants. If you really need Cable/Satellite TV, Internet and/or a Smart Phone, get one. If you just want them, don’t get them. Simple living is not about deprivation. It is about conscious living, being aware of our real needs and their consequences for us and the Earth.
2. If you decide to get it, consult Clark Howard. He has a daily radio show, also available as a podcast. Clark’s motto is “save more, spend less and avoid rip-offs.” He’s goal is thrift, not the large view of voluntary simplicity. ClarkHoward.com has many cost guides – travel, for example – which his staff keeps updated. In this case, I’d consult his site about recent cell phone plans.

3. Life Standard #5 of Living More with Less is “Non-conform Freely.” This pertains to many things, such as fashion fads. I use it primarily to avoid the lure of advertising on commercial media, especially TV (and the internet, which has become so targeted).

Now it’s your turn. Post comments, ideas, questions and confessions on this blog or email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com. Yes, my blogs are moderated by me.

Yes, Slim is an acronym for “Simple Living Is More.”

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What’s NOW with SLW

• Simple Living MUSIC. Earth Mama’s music is fun and enjoyed by all ages, while teaching important messages about sustainable living, recycling, and eco-activism. Perfect for teachers and Cultural Creatives, Earth Mama music spreads the word about sacred ecology and simple living. NEW – songbook for her new Blessings of the Universe CD!  My blog about her recent CD: A Sense of Place.Earth Mama provides the opening theme music for SLW! Podcast. For her version of “Simple Gifts: ‘Tis a Gift to Be Simple,” listen to episode 2. John Pitney’s complete “Live Simply So Others May Simply Live” (closing podcast theme) | website.MUSIC Collections: Sing Justice! Do Justice! | Carols with Justice | more
• I interviewed Tom and Christine Sine at Mustard Seed House for SLW! podcast #28. I’ve published my notes of our group discussion (Post #293) at Mustard Seed Associates, as I did with the notes from my speaking tours through 40+ states (including my first visit to MSA, post #168).Tom is the author of the best-seller Mustard Seed Conspiracy. He gave me a copy of his recent The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time. He blogs. He also wrote a series of Advent/Christmas reflections for Alternatives. Christine wrote The Search for Meaning: Beyond a Commercialized World (available in text or podcast). She has written several books about faith formation and gardening.They are building the Mustard Seed Associates educational eco-village on an island on the coast of Washington state.

• Simpler Living Alternative Daily Calendar – September
• Check out a few of these thought-provoking, timely resources that might meet your personal, family or congregational/group needs. They’re all FREE.
  • Treasury of Celebrations*: Create Celebrations That Reflect Your Values and Don’t Cost the Earth Earth – Sept.-Dec.
  • Worship Alternatives: Pentecost/Ordinary Time
  • Spirit of Simplicity: ART | QUOTES
  • 10 Tips for Simpler, More Meaningful Celebrations | Spanish: 10 puntas
  • Alternatives’ Seasonal/Thematic Index

What’s Coming

• Sept. 15 SLW! podcast — Brian “Wolt” Wolters and the  Overflow Project | 50-Day Challenge | my blog SIMPLIFY + GIVE + CHANGE = WATER
• Oct. 1 SLW! podcast — Paul Canavese, head of GospelLiving.org. Paul and spouse Ann contributed to the Wedding Alternatives Supplement. They hosted Rita and I on a speaking tour. Read the notes of that visit at Post #58.
• Oct. 15 podcast — Bob Sitze, author, blogger

What’s Happened

• New “Simply Advent” eResources. It’s so encouraging when someone uses or re-issues some of Alternatives’ resources. World Vision Canada has repackaged our Simply Enough DVD of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne as Choose Justice with an extensive Conversation Guide. Wood Lake Books — publisher of The Alternative Wedding Book and Treasury of Celebrations — has included The Christmas Game in their popular curriculum Seasons of the Spirit. Now Paul Canavese of The Pastoral Center has incorporated some of Alternatives’ Advent/Christmas resources in its new Simply Advent eResource series. (Or see all of their Advent eResources.) Although their market is primarily Catholic, their four inserts for the Sundays in Advent are quite ecumenical. Their goal is to continue including Simple Living into future resources. So, you have the choice — if you have the time and inclination — to design your own resources using Alternatives’ elements, or to pay someone else a bit to use their Alternatives-inspired eResources.
• Tony and Shane Uncut Finale — Tony Campolo & Shane Claiborne’s complete dialog on simpler living and global justice, in eight parts. To LISTEN visit the Episode Index.  Complete Endorsements by Jim Wallis, Author of God’s Politics & President of Sojourners; Aiden Enns, Geez magazine, BuyNothingChristmas.org; Walter Brueggemann, author/scholar; Justo L. Gonzalez, Author of The Story of Christianity; Tom Sine, Author of The Mustard Seed Conspiracy; John de Graaf, Co-Producer and Co-Author of Affluenza: the All-Consuming Epidemic
• Simple Living Humor? What’s That? 
• Alternative Pentecost & Ordinary Time

What Others Are Doing

• Memorial 911 Prayers – A Resource List
• The Common Good Podcast episodes 50-51 – Colin Richard on Permaculture
• Seeing Systems: Peace, Justice and Sustainability – New Course from Northwest Earth Institute
• Interviews, Book Groups, etc. – Spreading the Conversation about The OneEarth Project and the book, Blinded by Progress: Breaking Out of the Illusion That Holds Us, by Lee Van Ham. | TheCommonGoodPodcast.com, episode 42 | Lee’s new Slide Show
• Summer of Peace: Transforming Conflict in Your Heart, Your Relationships and the World, a free online event, June 13-September 21 | Spring of Sustainability: Turning Crises into Creative Solutions [Since this series is over, you can only access it by subscribing. Or hear two free samples.] — both series from The Shift Network and Sustainable World Coalition

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).

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

*GRAPHIC – Consumo: Spirit of Simplicity Quotes and Art #1-A501

We do not solicit or accept donations, nor do we sell anything. All our resources and services are free of charge. We’re an all-volunteer organization. Instead, we urge Alternative Giving. Give away at least 25% of what you spent last year on all celebrations – Christmas, birthdays, etc. — to local, national and international causes.

Copyright: Creative Commons non-commercial attribution share-alike license.

*Treasury of Celebrations: published by Northstone, a division of Wood Lake Publications, BC, Canada, best known for its Seasons of the Spirit curriculum.

Through social media, we extend the mission and resources of the non-profit organization Alternatives, 1973-2011. Simple Living Works! web site home page | Theme/Seasons Index. 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 several times a week.