Ways To Simplify

We all have heard the saying: The grass is always greener on the other side. Many of us go through life unappreciative of what we have, always longing for something better. There is nothing wrong with always striving to better oneself and one’s surroundings. But, the next time you find yourself unhappy with things, stop a moment and take a look at the beauty that there is right near you.

One’s initial statement may be to say, “Bah! There is nothing here! If I only were to move to so-so place, I’d be truly happy!”. Yet, that is not an entirely accurate assessment.

Take a look at some of the things around you; There is beauty here too. You do not need to travel to the far reaches of the earth to find Shangrila; Shangrila is already here all around you. Go outside, and take a look at the birds and flowers. Maybe you live in a big city? Search for beauty there too! Believe me, it is there!

Small towns, big towns, big cities, far away places - They all have things of beauty too. Some may be hard to find; some not readily apparent. Yet, if you look, you shall find.

It is true that a journey of a thousand steps starts with the first one; The journey to find that perfect place is the one that leads to you.

To quote Enya from her beautiful song Pilgrim:

One way leads to diamonds,
one way leads to gold,
another leads you only
to everything you’re told.
In your heart you wonder
which of these is true;
the road that leads to nowhere,
the road that leads to you.

Filed under: Spirituality on July 22nd, 2008 | No Comments »

I recently read an outstanding article from the LA Times about a gentleman named Pat Marfisi, who applies “no-dig” techniques to create a garden that he estimates produces enough food to feed three people daily.

Marfisi was not always involved with gardening. According to the article, he is a former consultant for big-name clients such as Sun-America.

I can relate to Mr. Marfisi’s story. I grew up enamored by technology. I thought of myself as the first kid on my block to get a personal home computer back in the 80’s. Being around computers was the thing to do for me, and I spent years involved with them..

That is, until not too long ago, when I began to discover that the more technologically savvy we have become, the more we have lost touch with the earth in some cases. Of course I am not advocating being a Luddite, and throwing away technology. On the contrary, technological advances have greatly benefited humankind. The fact that this blog can be read by someone around the world is a testament to the wonders technology can bring.

However, there are those moments of truly Zen-like peace and clarity that seem to only be found doing such activities as tending to one’s garden or flowers. When we are gardening, we are reconnecting to the Earth and the Great Spirit. We are becoming one with Nature and the Great Spirit.

Being involved with gardening not only brings you a sense of peace and tranquility, but you are also contributing to the concept of sustainability and care for the planet. In the afore-mentioned article, Marfisi sites author Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food. In this book, Pollan estimates that the distance traveled by food to the plate of an average American is 1,500 miles.

1,500 miles! Can you imagine that for a moment? We have truly lost touch with the earth if we are consuming food that has been grown 1,500 away.

By growing food locally, you are cutting down on fuel costs needed to transport food from one part of the country to another as well as contributing to a sense of community. One of my favorite pass-times is to visit the local farmers’ markets. I know the food I am getting there is the freshest it can be, grown with love and care by people who love doing what they do.

Nature is all around us; We have only to look in our own backyards. Maybe we do not have backyards; That’s okay! We do not need huge acreages - Just the desire to grow something and some ingenuity.

A very interesting book that deals with this concept of how the micro farm movement is changing the world is Micro Eco-Farming: Prospering from Backyard to Small Acreage in Partnership with the Earth by Barbara Berst Adams. In this book, the author demonstrates how people all across the world are doing what they love while at the same time contributing to the sustainability of this planet and bringing joy to their communities.

We have, I believe, come to a point in society where people are no longer satisfied with fake or genetically modified food. People are literally taking things into their own hands and contributing to the sustainability of the earth.

In the near future, I hope to start my own micro garden, which I will share with you via photos. We have only just begun, and the journey promises to be an enchanting, magnificent one!

Filed under: Gardening on June 17th, 2008 | 9 Comments »

It is break time, and I have gone outside to sit on a bench next to some beautiful plants. As I sat there, relaxing, I would watch the bees a few feet away pollenating the flowers. There were several of them, working together, doing Nature’s job. A hummingbird appeared overhead and visited a few flowers.

In the past, I would walk obliviously through this slice of Heaven on earth, not fully appreciating the magnificence of Nature’s creations. Yet, whenever one needs to, there is the beautiful simplicity of Nature all around, just waiting for us to slow down from our rapid lifestyles and admire.

One does not need to necessarily travel to exotic locales and far away places to find a slice of Heaven on Earth; It is all around us! In big cities and small towns; In far away lands and right next door.. We have only to open our eyes and spirit, and see that which was there all along..

Taking the time to slow down and be a part of Nature doesn’t require money, fancy cars, or fancy clothes. Anyone can do it if they are willing. The reward is a sense of peace and relaxation, and an understanding that maybe it’s worth taking the time to stop and smell the roses.

Filed under: General on June 16th, 2008 | 6 Comments »

I once heard a song by Sash titled Mysterious Times. The lyrics could not be more appropriate for what is happening today.

With gas prices well above $4, wars, rumors of wars, disease, and food prices skyrocketing, one would think that we really are living in the End Times, as predicted by certain cultures!

It does not take a rocket scientist to realize times are changing, yet on a daily basis I see people going about their business as if nothing is happening - More worried about their iPhones or the latest American Idol.

The fact of the matter is - Times are changing; What the future brings, none of us can know. But perhaps it is well worth becoming prepared for the changes to come? No, I am not saying we all need to move to a bunker in the middle of nowhere. Not at all.

However, perhaps certain rational steps maybe in order? One such suggestion would be getting to know your local farmers markets! You would be getting to know your local farmers. In addition, imagine if the national supply chain were to break down. You would not be able to get food from halfway across the country.

Suppose you wake up to find one day that gas has hit $10/gallon or more. In lockstep, the prices of food will go up as well. A more locally-minded economy would be of great benefit to us. Not only would it allow us to reconnect with each other, but it would be something that could sustain us in the troubling times to come.

I am sure the accepted method of thinking is, “Everything will be fine; It can’t happen to us”. Think about for a moment how many of the cultures that are no longer in existence had thought times would never change and all would always be well too?

Filed under: Earth Changes on June 10th, 2008 | No Comments »

Life is a growth experience for everyone. Various events in my life have been, in my opinion, spiritual lessons to learn from and grow.

Ironically, certain events that occurred focused on the spirituality itself - Namely, the need to be aware and wary of spiritual materialism. The author Chogyam Trungpa does an outstanding job in describing this Spiritual Materialism in his book Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism.

Basically what I have seen throughout the years is - One will find spiritualism or religion and embark upon this path towards enlightenment. Often times, however, the ego takes over and the spiritual quest becomes all about the ego rather than the true nature of spirituality. It becomes almost a sort of contest; a “my spirituality is better than yours”, or “I am more enlightened…”

That is missing the entire point!

I believe the true nature of spirituality is that silent understanding you have when you “just flow”.. When you are connected to the Great Spirit, and you feel as one with the things around you. It is almost impossible to put this understanding into words, yet all of us have felt it in our lives.

I have discovered that as I progress upon my quest in life, it is very important to be ever vigilant of the ego in matters of spirituality. I am not out to prove my belief is better than anyone else’s; Only to understand what the Great Spirit has communicated.

Filed under: Spirituality on June 5th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Imagine if you could get most of the same types of things you would by at any other supermarket, but many of these for only 99 cents? There’s no reason to imagine - 99 Cent Only Stores can be found in many parts of the country.

What an excellent way to save money on day to day items! You can find pretty much everything you would find at your local supermarket here. Of course, the difference being, the items are only 99 cents. What’s more, the store sometimes lists items as 2 or 3 or more for 99 cents!

For the cost-conscious person, 99 Cent stores are a great way to go. Why would I, for example, spend $2.99 or more for paper towels if I can get the same or similar paper towels at a 99 cent only store for .. well.. 99 cents?!

For a list of 99 cent only stores around your are, visit their website. This is not the only chain, however that offers products at discounted rates. I will post of other such stores in the coming days.

Filed under: Frugality on June 5th, 2008 | No Comments »

I would like to take this time to share my travels with you in the form of a photo slide show set to the beautiful music from The Lord of the Rings. Once in a while, I will go on what I call a Vision Quest to the great American West and Southwest.

It is truly remarkable the beauty that is to be found in nature. All we have to do is pause for a moment to stop and enjoy the beauty the Great Spirit has already created for us all. It is all around us - Equally available to all.

Whenever I have too much on my mind, I go outside and sit near the flowers.. Watching the bees and hummingbirds and it fills me with a sense of peace. It is like catching a glimpse of the Great Spirit - The energy that is all around us.

And now, the videos.. Please enjoy!

Into The West Part I - Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana

Into The West II - Western Montana, Yellowstone, Colorado

Filed under: Travel on June 4th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

It is amazing to me just how many things get thrown out on a daily basis. It is equally sad that the “flavor of the week” fashion item or latest toy is purchased by the avid consumer, only to be discarded shortly thereafter. Imagine the amount of natural resources that are wasted just to satiate unquenchable desires to have the latest and the greatest?

Uncontrolled consumerism is, in my opinion, not only detrimental to society and the world but to the individual as well. Buddhism, a spiritual practice I hold in high esteem, teaches that desire is the cause of suffering. This could not be closer to the truth. Imagine a time when you really wanted something; You thought of nothing but how to attain this coveted object. Then what happened when you finally attained it? You were no longer interested in it.

A very interesting article on MSNBC caught my attention recently: For frugalists, bargain hunting is a lifestyle. In this article, the author writes, “It’s no secret that American culture is a consumer culture. We like big cars, big houses and big bags of things bought at big malls and big-box retailers. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the few people who call themselves anti-consumerists, freegans, frugalists or just plain Dumpster divers. Whatever the moniker, these people delight in drastically reducing their consumer spending, finding life’s essentials at bargain prices or paying nothing at all.”

I salute these so-called “freegans”; They are people with the insight to realize that our limited resources are strained and are already running out. Maybe collectively, we can make a difference in the world. Instead of being consumers, perhaps we can work together towards taking only what we need and letting the rest be?

Filed under: Frugality on June 3rd, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Welcome to my site, Ways To Simplify!

Life..

It seems with each day passing, it increases in complexity. Traffic jams, meetings, 9 to 5 job schedules.. And everything has to be done right way. No. Yesterday.

Each of us, when we have a moment of peace, probably has had a time when we questioned, “Is this really worth it?” By this, I mean the rat race; The constant struggle to get to some imaginary top.

Don’t get me wrong - There is nothing wrong with having goals in life and to strive for something. But often times, I have come to realize that, while some goals are worth striving for, just how much else is wasted effort? Just how many other things are we doing that keep us unhappy?

And so, the purpose of this site is to awaken myself to the reality of life and, as Henry David Thorough once said, to Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.

On this site, I will be posting my ideas and suggestions on how to make life simpler and happier, how to live a more frugal life, how to enjoy the things we already have, and how to get back in tune with our innate spirituality and connectedness to the earth.

Filed under: General on June 1st, 2008 | No Comments »