To me simple living means decluttering and frugality. It is synonymous with contenment. It means having less, not in a minimaliste sense of having empty space, but having carefully and purposefully chosen items that are fewer and suits our life better…
Which means simple living is also deeply linked to anticonsumption, at the antipodes of a life style where we always want more of things we don’t really understand and where we don’t really enjoy what we have.
I wouldn’t say I’m super great at living the Simple Life myself, but I do try. To me it means opting out of the hype cycles and rat races that the media pushes, appreciating and trying to get better at simpler things. Enjoying what I can do at home instead of seeking outside stimulation and entertainment.
The other day I took a bath because I had been gardening and gotten completely muddy. I pulled the plug after and realized I still enjoyed watching the water swirl around the drain the way I used to when I was a child. It’s a small thing, but I try to stop and breathe whenever I remember. Just doing nothing for small periods at a time helps center myself and remind me of what’s important.
I also find this important. These days in don’t watch anything recent in films and movies. I find old ones that are not talked anymore, I rewatch the one I already know and love and I’m really proud of how I decorrelated my media consumption from algorith recommandation. It made my live quieter, my watching experience more divers and less rushed. I still got a long way to go before optiong out the hype cycle but that’s a big win for me.