Episode 52: Grateful that Less is More
“We live in a society whose whole policy is to excite every nerve in the human body and keep it at the highest pitch of artificial tension, to strain every human desire to the limit and to create as many new desires and synthetic passions as possible, in order to cater to them with the products of our factories and printing presses and movie studios and all the rest.”
―Thomas Merton
I’ve tried touching on this theme a few different ways with my writing and the podcast. This external pressure and message that gets reinforced nearly everywhere of how we should live, who we should be, how we spend out time, money, and our very lives. The message is so loud and incessant. Whatever we have, it’s not enough. We should strive for more. To have more, to be more…forever and always more, but…more WHAT? If what we have today is more than 5 years ago, and it’s not enough, why would still more be the answer?
I was very aware of this in my 20’s and 30’s and the problem solver and planner in me gave those decades of my life trying to solve this “problem”. To fix my “lack” for the the world. To work harder, try harder, learn more, so I could earn more. The more I earned the more I had to earn because life became more expensive. The crisis I went through helped me see, the HOLE wasn’t in me. I am WHOLE, and so are you.
More What, Exactly?
I as gained the confidence…no, the Audacity to simplify, I was shocked that the comments and judgment I got from all kinds of unsolicited sources. “Are you happy in that little apartment. Are you happy in the city? Are you happy in that area? Do you think you’ll move back (to the county)? Over time I learned to not worry about what other people think. I learned that the more I live my life in alignment with my values that I would find and attract folks into my life in alignment with my new path and that some people were happy to come along with me. More so than anyone, my kids.
I told my story in AfterLIFE about how simplifying me world from material and financial perspective opened up time and resources to focus on on my personal growth and interests. This gave me the time, experiences and space to redesign virtually every aspect of my life.
This past year I’ve focused even more on simplification. I’ve given away 4-5 truck loads of stuff to charity. Even more when I think about my old office.
And, I’ve been super focused on my consumption. Since covid started I’ve only purchased 1 pair of shoes, 3 pairs of socks, and a T-shirt from a clothing perspective. My closets and storage spaces are so much emptier. My cabinets are suddenly useful again…but I still feel like it’s too much. I’m very aware of things in my space and life that aren’t serving, and likely won’t serve any purpose, so my hope is that in the year to come I can continue this process of shedding things. Lightening the load, as Sam Gamgee said.
I’m doing it with my things, relationships, experiences, career, and every other aspect of my life that I can.
I took some time to do this solo episode to ponder these things in a way that I hope is helpful for you.
Thank you for reading and listening.
Stay well,
Carlo