This is 4yr-old Jessica. She can teach us plenty about positive self-talk.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Get the t-shirt.
Category: philosophy
be happy – by Monica Sheehan
… the illustrations and the captions are from the book “Be Happy: A Little Book to Help You Live a Happy Life.” by Monica Sheehan, dedicated to Andrew Kroon …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube
voluntary simplicity is trendy
It was 1990 when Keith Russell first introduced me to the concept of voluntary simplicity aka simple living. He was researching construction of a log house in rural Saskatchewan.
Soon after I adopted it as my personal philosophy.
Garth linked to a related article in the Globe and Mail. Some of the talking points:
… the recession has forced many people to re-evaluate their consumption patterns …
… “Right-sizing” is how she describes her efforts to purge her 1,200-square-foot home of “stuff creep” …
… have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful …
… Give Your Stuff Away Day …
… the Small House Society …
… Sheena Matheiken, a New York creative director who wore the same little black dress for 365 days …
read it – Keeping down with the Joneses
For one thing, we’ve got to get rid of some of these books! … Donate them to a library or something!
shout out for Climate Change activists
My buddy Morgen Hartford is on the road (by bike) …
… on a memorial journey through the Pacific Northwest. Honoring old friends, creating new connections. Learning about the systems that power and shape the way we live.
Here he is with a broken spoke on his most recent 1200mi ride.
His excellent blog – A Wild and Sacred Day – documents the trip.
Two of his causes are healthy food and Climate Action.
My main source of information from Climate Change activists is the excellent audiocast Living on Earth, Steve Curwood’s news, features, interviews and commentary on a broad range of ecological issues.
Personally I’m a Climate Change agnostic having done almost no research on the topic aside from reading The Skeptical Environmentalist.
My friend Brian Mason has done exhaustive research concluding that there’s almost no evidence (yet) that man has significantly altered climate. … My gut tells me that’s probably true.
Even if it is, Climate Change activists are doing far more good than harm. Improving Life on Earth. Kudos!
What inspired this post? … I started reading this book, Ectopia (1975) …
The book is set in 1999 (25 years in the future, as seen from 1974) …
Ecotopia, a newly formed country that broke from the USA in 1980. … The new nation of Ecotopia consists of Northern California, Oregon and Washington; it is hinted that Southern California is a lost cause. …
Though the book was a serious vision of ecologists in 1975, it reads as a most hilarious parody in 2010. Funny because the author didn’t intend it to be funny.
Cars are banned. Farms are run by collectives. Women run the government. They enjoy a 20hr work week. And marijuana.
Who today could believe that California would legalize marijuana?
… The link above is an Economist audiocast of Roger Salazar of Public Safety First and Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance debating California’s proposition 19, by far the best analysis of the issue I’ve ever seen.
overcoming adversity …
Dave sends out this inspiring clip from the TV show Glee.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Imagine …
State of the World 2010
Michael Bruce Sterling (born April 14, 1954) is an American science fiction author, best known for his novels and his work on the Mirrorshades anthology, which helped define the cyberpunk genre.
Bruce Sterling annually addresses the State of the World and Things Various and Sundry.
It’s very amusing, scary and thoughtful.
… the polarity of the world is changing, literally and figuratively; the climate’s wonky, the economy’s tumbling like a house of cards in a demented wind, political will is weak and the body politic is disfigured in ways that are gross and fascinating.
It’s a circus, and the tent’s on fire.
I asked around for thoughts about what we should discuss, and got this from science-fiction author, Internet maven, and new Dad, Cory Doctorow:
… If you were in my shoes, what concrete, discrete, individual steps would you take on behalf of your snoring little toddler? “
read Sterling’s rambling answer on The WELL
… The WELL?
Is that online community still around?
They haven’t moved to Facebook or Friendfeed?
happy birthday Dave Adlard
Dave sent me a year in review philosophical Novella today. (Everyone forgets his birthday, Dec. 26th.)
I’ve posted the entire missive – Voluntary Simplicity – Dave Adlard style – in the comments of this post. But here’s a summary of his Maui rules:
9) Speak softly and wear a loud shirt
8) Age is relative – when you’re over the hill, you pick up speed
7) Beauty is internal – looks mean nothing.
6) Never judge a day by the weather.
5) Tell the truth. There’s less to remember.
4) No rain, no rainbows.
3) He who dies with the most toys still dies.
2) There are two ways to be rich: make more or desire less.
1) The best things in life aren’t things!
I love it !!
Thanks Dave. Looking forward to seeing you and Lisa soon.
related post – Voluntary Simplicity
Shelter vs House
One of my favourite blogs is As The Crow Flies.
Long distance hiking, primitive cabin dwelling, hermit life
Crow actually lives my philosophy of Voluntary Simplicity. I admire her.
Here she explains why a simple cabin is far superior to a modern “home”.
… When it’s dark, you know it’s dark. When it’s cold outside, you know it’s cold.
If you want heat, you go chop wood. If you want water, you need to melt some snow.
If the cabin burns down, you need to figure out a new shelter. But that’s all it is—shelter.
Some people think my life is harder than for people who live in a house. I can tell you, from my house sitting experiences, that I have far more time and far less chores to do than a house dweller. …
read more – Shelter vs House
I rule my world
Seas rise when I give the word …
The mountains on a sunny day are a paradise. I’m enjoying the moment.
This is perhaps the most content I’ve been in a long, long time.
I know. One day I’ll sweep the streets I used to own.
… my castles stand
upon pillars of salt
and pillars of sand …
But for now. Let’s live in the moment.
I heard the most charming interview with Mr. Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay. It’s posted on a 60 Minutes audiocast (click to listen).
I certainly appreciate Chris Martin and the band a lot more now.
Click PLAY to watch the video for Viva La Vida on YouTube. It was the Grammy Song of the Year for 2009.
Rick McCharles 