tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437530886114278864.post5206310885751882277..comments2023-10-18T10:15:31.043-06:00Comments on MareBare Necessities: An Interesting Dialogue...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827718321802434964noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437530886114278864.post-49346694678629514492010-03-09T13:15:09.278-07:002010-03-09T13:15:09.278-07:00Thanks for the tip on the book - I just read a rev...Thanks for the tip on the book - I just read a review and it sounds like a must-read for me too!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05827718321802434964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437530886114278864.post-4591987185150615742010-03-08T20:32:49.461-07:002010-03-08T20:32:49.461-07:00Hey Maren,
Your comment about appearances made me...Hey Maren,<br /><br />Your comment about appearances made me chuckle. I didn't watch the oscars last night, but friends were chatting about the gowns and dresses, so I had to check out some of the photos. EEE-GADS! Hard to believe anyone would pay a designer to make them look so bad! The next library book in my queue is going to be Naomi Wolf's Beauty Myth!<br /><br />Thanks for your kind words and best to you,<br />:)<br />RebeccaRebeccahttp://open.salon.com/blog/the_almighty_becksternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437530886114278864.post-3940649611055860372010-03-07T21:45:37.338-07:002010-03-07T21:45:37.338-07:00Rebecca,
Thank YOU for sharing your very honest, ...Rebecca,<br /><br />Thank YOU for sharing your very honest, insightful and personal story about living simply. I completely agree with you about feeling 'a zillion' times happier and I have only been at this wholeheartedly for a few months. My husband and I have 'dabbled' in the simple life a few times in the past, but we were always removed from the 'real world' while we were doing it (living in a van, backpacking, etc.), but everytime we came back to live in the 'city', I honestly felt like I was having a personal crisis! It was ridiculous. I didn't feel like I was enough just being who I was. I found myself comparing myself to other people, women in particular, who I felt like I just didn't measure up to... and why? Appearances usually. Now, when I think about it, it makes me a little sad to think that I spent so much time and energy worrying about something so utterly STUPID! I am so much happier now than I have ever been. Letting go of wanting to be 'more' than who I really am, has allowed me to be just that, a better version of myself. Ironic hey?<br /><br />Thanks for reading and keep up the great tips and comments, I really appreciate your feedback!<br /><br />Best to you as well,<br /><br />Maren (aka Marebare)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05827718321802434964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437530886114278864.post-74425353098998588482010-03-05T15:23:54.819-07:002010-03-05T15:23:54.819-07:00I realize that I'm really late to this party a...I realize that I'm really late to this party as this post is over a month old, but I still want to offer my perspective as one who has been living simply for 20 years now.<br /><br />I didn't start down this road because I thought it was somehow "moral" or "doing the right thing". I got here because trying to live up to the expectations of the corporatocricy was killing me.... literally. I mean I was so miserable and felt so much like I'd never be able to measure up that I literally tried to kill myself. Granted it was a pretty laughable attempt, but it made me realize that if the lifestyle I was trying to live was making me so unhappy that offing myself really seemed like a viable alternative, then I had nothing to lose by trying a different path.<br /><br />I think I'm probably an extreme case. I have so little tolerance for BS, and social climbing, and all of the other "trappings" of modern society. But I can honestly say that living simply has made me about a zillion times happier than when I was trying to "make it" in the rat race.<br /><br />In fact, I'm able to not have a job (I have a few business ventures here and there to make a few bucks, but no bosses or people who "own" me in any sense). My time is my own, and I really don't want to spend it dealing with clutter, or buying things, or the hassle of traveling, or keeping up appearances, or any of that other stuff. <br /><br />I get to have a full nights sleep every night, I get to eat healthy, homemade and ususally home grown food every day, and I have the joy of living with freedoms that most people in this society will never know.<br /><br />Not that it's all been easy. In fact, one of the main things I discovered is that living in a frenzy as most people do is a fabulous way to not feel things that make you uncomfortable. When you strip away all of that stuff, you end up having to face yourself, and that can be the most difficult (although most rewarding) part of the journey. But there is enormous power in accepting yourself for exactly who you are and freeing yourself from the need to "measure up" or the need to stay busy so you don't have to feel uncomfortable things.<br /><br />So... I guess my answer to Cheryle's question is that yes... one person can most definitely make a difference, especially for the one person involved! <br /><br />Don't know if that makes any sense at all, but that's my take.<br />Best to All,<br />RebeccaRebeccahttp://open.salon.com/blog/the_almighty_becksternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437530886114278864.post-15047824403997131502010-02-01T08:16:08.987-07:002010-02-01T08:16:08.987-07:00Thanks for the great response, Maren! You are very...Thanks for the great response, Maren! You are very smart and insightful, and I appreciate you taking the time to go into more detail about this entire experience. Your honesty and candidness are refreshing, yet not naive; it's really too bad more people don't approach their child raising (and life in general!) with the same whole-heartedness and simplicity that you and Trent are doing. And your point about doing what you can, in spite of others' shortcomings (ie ensuring your recycle items are tidy and organized even if nobody else's are), is a point well taken. Sometimes I just plain run out of patience with the folks who don't give a second thought to anything. Maybe that's what has jaded me over the years! Heh heh<br />Again, kudos to you for seeing the world in such a positive light, and for taking measures to make it the best place possible for you, your family and your friends!<br />Cheers!<br />CheryleCherylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10064666271356698775noreply@blogger.com