Jotting #22 Voluntary Simplicity

Prompt: React to Elgin’s ideas. How appealing do you find the Voluntary Simplicity Movement? Do you feel as if you could implement these ideas?

My Response: In short I find the Voluntary Simplicity Movement intriguing and I feel that I could implement these ideas. However, in honest self reflection I do not believe that I would want to implement the movements ideas for too long, or at least not all of them. It is hard to say no to a movement that promotes itself as “not self-denying but life-affirming”.

The simplicity moment had components that, in my mind, have not been equated with simplicity. So often possessions are the focus of a simple lifestyle. However, Elgin makes it clear that there can be simplicity in communication. The part of the analysis of communication simplification, in reference to silence, spoke to me. Our methods of communicating with one another can become so cluttered and redundant that they lose their significance and power.

I have never considered myself a very consumeristic person. However, I have found that I value having high quality things. There may not be many of a certain thing but they sure are good. I consider myself an informed consumer. I am not entirely taken over by the newest thing but if the newest thing happens to be the best thing for my life at that point than I will give consideration to buy it. For example, I spend a lot of time on my feet. As such I feel it is important to have good shoes. Good shoes support my back and in turn allow me to function better. Some would consider buying $100 dollar shoes out of the question, but when you are considering your overall health it becomes much more important to have what will make you most comfortable.

Despite which side you fall on I believe Elgins words ring true in that there must be balance. In a balanced simplicity our lives become “clearer, more direct, less pretentious, and less complicate”. The issue then becomes what is the best way in which we can achieve that balance. A balance in which you are the most in touch with the life you were meant to live.