An Introduction to Simple Living
How to create an intentional, meaningful, minimalist, and struggle-free life
Since I was a young boy I have always been drawn to the simplicity in things. As I got older, and could make my own choices, this pattern didn’t change. I was naturally drawn to thoughts, words, and deeds that promoted simplicity in my lifestyle. When others collected toys, and had a tendency to focus on material possessions and physical comfort as a primary goal, I intuitively focused on mental clarity, emotional balance, friendship, and spiritual values.
Don’t get me wrong. I was never an ascetic. I liked my favorite foods, beautiful things, the arts, and sensuality. Still, my greatest pleasure was my favorite music, a great movie, and a trip to a museum or art gallery opening in Greenwich Village, and some Ethiopian food, served in some small basement restaurant.
Even in my most testosterone driven teen-years, I savore, and preferred a deep conversation on the nature of being, with a beautiful, bright, young woman, than the sexual conquests and bragging that was the pattern of my pimply peers.
I was wired for simplicity, and minimalism from the very beginning.
Surprizingly, early on, I was a bit of a pack rat. My hobby, was cutting out, and collecting newspaper and magazine articles that caught my interest. It was my way of organizing and storing knowledge. Of course, with the development of the internet this became less necessary.
Through it all, I was constantly drawn to any common practice, or information that might be tied to simple living.
Over the years, I have naturally reduced the number of possessions I own. I depend less on technology, and when buying or using tech, I repurpose it, buy it used, get it in a “dumpster dive”, or even as a second or third generation model.
I find I am continually spending less money on things than others might. I barter what I have for what I need whenever possible, and often shop at high-end thrift stores so, I could get more “bang for my buck!” I have also developed values, and a personal mindset that embraces simplicity and minimalism.
I even wrote a few books about my system…
Now, I embrace all aspects of the simple, intentional, and minimalist life. I get my tips, hints, and resources wherever I can. I always do this with a positive and collaborative mind set.
I live well, by knowing what I need. Ultimately, my personal motto is “Know what you need, and then do what needs to be done.”
I also live a happy and meaningul life with my amazing wife, and thanks to the many incredible people I have met on this continuing, collaborative journey…
- Urban Preppers,
- Life hackers,
- Survivalists,
- Off-grid types,
- DIY experts,
- Thrifters,
- Self-sufficiency proponents,
- … And Homesteaders.
In all this I always remember to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Looking Back…
From my teen years, into my early twenties, I did not yet have an overriding philosophy about all this. Over time, however, as I began to map out my life path I developed a greater understanding of why I had chosen this way of life. Of course, there wasn’t just one reason.
I chose simple, and minimalist living for a variety of reasons, such as…
- spirituality,
- work–life balance,
- financial sustainability,
- health,
- increase in quality time for family and friends,
- environmental sustainability,
- personal taste,
- increase in my ability to do philanthropy,
- … and common sense frugality.
During the process of intentionally creating a simple, minimalist lifestyle, I was introduced to various subcultures, ideologies, and activist philosophies.
Among these was:
- economic materialism,
- anti-consumer culture,
- sociopolitical activism,
- environmentalist,
- freeganism,
- prepper culture,
- Do-it-yourself (DIY),
- Wildcrafting for herbs,
- self sufficiency,
- sustainability,
- cheap-skate philanthropy,
- natural healing,
- the monastic mind,
- conservation,
- degrowth,
- deep ecology,
It was my exposure to these ideas, and communities, that guided me to to become a simple living minimalist. A person who learned over time; the art and science of intentional living.
Again my mindfulness mantra became, “Know what you need; do what needs to be done; and watch miracles manifest.”
None of this was motivated by reactive or negative thinking. It was all proactive, and in alignment with principles I was learning as I studied Mystic Taoism, Essential Zen, and Positive Psychology.
My Journey into the Simple Life
I began my intentional journey into minimalist simplicity in the late 1960s. It was at that time that I read the book, Living the Good Life, by Helen and Scott Nearing.
The Nearings were one of those important teachers way back when that are mostly forgotten in popular culture, even among advocates of minimalist and simple living. They naturally, and with intention became pioneer advocates for minimalism and simple living.
Scott Nearing (August 6, 1883 — August 24, 1983) was an American idealist, political activist, radical economist, sustainability advocate educator, writer, vegetarian, and off-grid living expert. His wife, Helen (February 23, 1904 — September 17, 1995) had studied the violin internationally and as young woman, had a romantic relationship with the renowned spiritual teacher and philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. I would study directly and independently with both of them towards the end of their lives.
Helen and Scott began a relationship in 1928 and married nearly 20 years later, in 1947. She was 43 and he was 64. They began their journey in New York City and in 1934, left for the simple life in rural Vermont. There they bought large tract of forest and a moderate-sized farm. Aspiring to improve their health, live a more simple, and “purposeful” life, while disassociating from modern society, they changed their ways completely.
They decided to homestead, living off of the land, though they had plenty of financial resources, due to inheritances that both received from their respective families. In time, continually simplifying , they intentionally created and lived a largely ascetic and self-reliant life.
Growing much of their own food, they put up nine stone buildings over the course of two decades. They earned some cash from producing maple syrup and maple sugar from the trees on their land. Scott, was fairly well-known and took on occasional paid lectures. Simply put, much of what they did was explore and experiment with self-sufficient living. Their intention was to live completely off grid on every level and they explored, experimented and documented their successes and failures.
When I was twenty-one, spending much of my time smoking weed and exploring Eastern mysticism, I passed on an opportunity to meet and volunteer at the Nearing’s homestead. Four years later (1976), I met Helen Nearing, and had the opportunity to spend some time with her discussing her and Scott’s work together over the decades, as they organized and shared their philosophy and skills with the world.
Now, some fifty years later, after studying and applying the Nearing’s work and philosophy I have created a series of Medium.com stories about minimalism, simple living, prepperism, survivalism, going off grid, and intentional living.
Much of this also comes from a personal interest in how people lived before the industrial revolution. I am no Luddite, still I can see the value of a simpler life.
Here is a great article @rmeaguirre
Here’s a story from my archives @LewisCoaches
Author: Lewis Harrison is a Wellness Coach, teacher, writer, and seminar leader. He was the director of the Health Associates Naturopathic Clinic in New York City, from 1972–1996.
He is presently the Executive Director of the International Association of Healing Professionals, a philanthropic and educational organization that distributes free life lesson classes, mental health awareness vlogs, prepper guides, and self-improvement programs around the world.
Lewis is also a best-selling author and former host of a radio show on an NPR-affiliated station.
“Please reach out to me. I want to help you transcend your challenges by helping you to get clear on your intention and your desired outcome by increasing effectiveness, efficiency, precision, productivity, accuracy, and self-awareness”.
You can read all of my Medium stories at [email protected].
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