The benefits of simple abundance are outside the box by Gwen Caldwell
(libertarian)
Friday, April 23, 2010
When we see the horrors of history repeating itself and continue to do the same things, expecting to reap different benefits, we have lost our what we hold dear again and again. Namely freedom and quality of life. In our ever changing economic, political and social environments we really need to stop responding from our places of fear. Our fear is killing us. Instead we need to go back and really grab hold of the pioneer spirit of our country. See our situations through new eyes. See our current lives as a blank canvas waiting for a new dream, new colors…bigger and bolder to light up that spark in the souls of our being. Sit in the comfort of a simpler life. Let go of the habits and ideas that keep us in bondage. Imagine a life that is less stressful and demanding. Imagine a life of quiet and peaceful abundance.
Over the years we have had a couple of different kinds of people that have emerged. Those that have an entitlement ideology and those that distract themselves with a lifestyle that requires them to work, pay taxes and credit themselves to death to create the illusion of the American dream. Both of these groups have done their fair share to contribute to the current state of affairs we find ourselves in today. We need to examine what alternatives and what direct actions change the paradigm. What stops the tide of history repeating itself? What improves our personal lives? What contributes to community stability?
Perhaps we have confused an over fed ego with the American dream turning nightmare with each stroke of the President’s pen across any given Bill on his desk. How can we stop the machine bearing down on us, from crushing us under the weight? Maybe it’s time to work smarter. Perhaps we need to reexamine our priorities, personally and politically. Is it possible that a few hours invested in some place other, engaged in some other activity, besides sitting in front of the television could transform our lives and save our country? When did we stop giving a damn about the legacy we leave our children and grandchildren? When we stop to review what we do…are we part of the solution or are we part of the problem? Who is the benefactor of our complacency?
I challenge you to pull yourselves up and take a good hard look outside of the box. Get up, pack a lunch and crawl out of your comfort zone for a day. Leave the tunnel where your vision can sees beyond the mundane and compulsive activities where you dwell day after day. Change your routine and every aspect of your life for one day. Just stop doing the same things. Be creative.
I have no fancy college degrees that leave capital letters after my name. I have a fairly uneventful life. There is nothing that I do that causes me to stand out in the crowd. I am not competitive. I don’t care what my peers think of me, my successes or failures. I am just your average, common American…or am I? I think, probably not. What makes me different is I took the time to dance in the rain and play in the dirt. I quit stressing my life out trying to make a profit in a Main Street business. I used my television for target practice. I took personal responsibility for my family’s health care, by learning about healthier ways to eat, about alternative and preventative medicine, growing our own food, we eat our meals together as a family…meals that I actually cook. I rarely, if ever eat fast food. I play board games and cards with my family instead of watching TV. I walk and ride my bike. I listen to the birds and take the time to stop and smell the flowers. I help the elderly. I pray. I take personal responsibility for my life. I home school, so that I am the one in control of my child’s education and social environment. I am active in local politics. I compost and recycle. I shop at garage sales and second hand stores. I downsized our living environment and sacrificed no quality of life to do it, but I sure have saved money! In short, I live MY life, on MY terms and quit trying to be or keep up with the Joneses. The result has been my quality of life improving and the Joneses…well they are at the stop sign of life, wheels are spinning the tread off their tires and they are going no where fast. All the while they are taking valium or drowning in a bottle of distraction to make through another day of their American dream. I see no joy on their faces, robotic, habitual lives acted out with no thought, caught up in the daily grind. Their children know more about their cyber friends and sitcom stars than the person in the bedroom next to them.
I started my journey with one small step after the other. It was absolutely painless. It was absolutely empowering! Here are some starting points:
Spiritual:
Gratitude, be grateful in always and in all things.
Pray, be specific we have a God big enough to handle it.
Love, it’s a verb, not a noun.
Faith, this too shall pass.
Financial:
Downsize, EVERYTHING!
Grow a garden
Buy locally whenever possible
Start or join a food buying club
Join a food coop or community support agriculture group
Eat foods that are in season they’re cheaper
Cook and eat at home
Have a garage sale
Barter or trade with friends and neighbors (services & goods)
Make gifts
Health:
Eat organic
No GMO’s
Exercise
Preventive and alternative medicines
Work out or exercise
Personal:
Take a walk
Enjoy a new hobby
Educate yourself in a new subject
Be addiction free
Host a neighborhood potluck
Take a candle lit bath
Volunteer at a local non-profit
Live the Four Agreements: Don’t take things personally. Always do your best. Assume nothing. Always be impeccable to your word.
Political:
Write editorials to local papers in support of your candidate.
Host a meet and greet at your home or in your community for the candidates you support.
Volunteer at a campaign office.
Make a financial donation.
Ask all the candidates the tough questions that you want answered.
Be an educated voter.
VOTE!
Be creative. This is your victory garden! Do not dwell in distress or worry. There are two things to worry about, 1) the things you can change and 2) things you cannot change. If you can change something, do it. Then that worry is gone. If you cannot change it, then let it go, because if you cannot change it, worrying is lost energy.
Live life on your terms. You do not have to sacrifice quality of life. Learn to live in and love simple abundance. Quit participating in those things that reduce your finances and quality of life. Be joyful in all tasks. Be defiant and stand in faith, in the face of those things that diminish your dreams, your finances, your health, your well being. Trust that outside the box there is an answer to the chaos that is all around us. The answer is screaming at us from our guts that we have been too preoccupied to listen to.
We are the answer, we are the solution. We are the legacy we leave our children. The time is at hand. Our victory over the looming critical situations facing this country is to stand up in our own rightful places and be counted, to take personal responsibility for our lives and our future. Our government was not designed to, nor should it be the master of our lives. We are a free and sovereign people, only as long as we take personal responsibility and behave free and sovereign.
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The views expressed
in this article are those of Gwen Caldwell only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
Gwen Caldwell is solely responsible for the contents
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Your advice is a gift to those trapped in the rat race and afraid or unwilling to simplify their lives to the detriment of their own health. Too bad people confuse quality of life with the fervent acquisition of stuff and shallow entertainment.
The only place I differ is on praying and voting, preferring to spend time on pursuits that yield real results. The societal change we seek is best achieved by reaching people, as you have with your writing and in day to day interactions. I don't share your faith in mystical providence anymore than I do in politicians with any semblance of integrity or reason.
That aside, I enjoyed the positive sentiments expressed in your happy family life.
