A Year of living lightly
I have always been driven to live lightly; practicing non-materialism and non-attachment. But there is something about this year that seems to be demanding of me to live lighter than I have before. Can you relate?
If you have been affected by recent economic disruptions or anticipate that you may be, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, we are being nudged to reassess what is essential in our lives.
These times are unprecedented. It reminds me of those days immediately following 9/11. The air felt heavy, we proceeded with our day with cautiousness and instability. We looked at the empty skies, knowing our lives were forever changed, knowing the life we took for granted was gone. But this time, it feels like the hits keep coming daily and we may be disassociating just to survive. We are reminded that we can’t take our security for granted, in many aspects of our lives.
So, we are now being called to be even more intentional with all our resources; emotional, physical and financial. We are being challenged to reclaim control over our lives and assets. We might want to consider going back to basics.
Where can we start? I personally feel overwhelmed as I realize most of my daily activities are governed by one of a handful of mega corporations. Apple provides tools, Meta provides the social network and business promotion, Starlink provides internet connectivity (for many people), Amazon controls purchasing, and multiple corporations are competing with AI. Now those same conglomerates are directly influencing our freedoms, our livelihoods, our media. Even if you disagree with that, you have to admit that they have infiltrated our daily activities. Our food supply is being threatened by our government terrorizing those who work in the fields. We have spit in the faces of our friends and welcomed our enemies.
What can we count on?
We have to get better at relying on ourselves and each other. Our communities are disconnected and now is the time to make reconnections and go back to basics. We are our own safety net.
So, I am sitting with this thought: If I were to cut those 4 corporations out of my life, what would that look like?
I would wake up, stretch, brush my teeth and make coffee. I would meditate, read a tangible book or take a walk before breakfast.
I would turn on my computer for work. If I do not have internet, I am not able to work.
I would call my friends instead of texting and I would make plans to see them in person.
I would realize that I need to buy laundry detergent, some summer shirts and books. I would spend more time going to the grocery store, thrift stores and local retailers. I would leave my house.
While all of that takes time, it occurs to me that an added benefit is that these things force me to get out of the house and possibly meet people. I admittedly have been avoiding the grocery store for many years, and I like ordering things online because it frees me to do more things that I want to do. Or at least that’s the concept. I wonder how many times the time saved is spent on meaningless activities. I can guarantee that not much is spent on real-life social interactions.
I would finish work and walk my dogs. I would cook my meal- a from-scratch meal. I would wash my dishes -like the Zen koan style: when you wash your dishes, wash your dishes. I would read an actual book that I own. I would write. I'd turn off the lights and go to bed. No tv.
I would find a farmers’ market or I would find a local food collaborative.
What significant changes would l have to make? What conveniences would I lose? What level of attachment do I have to these things (1-low to 10-high)?
Internet on my phone (10)
Apps I like- Spotify, maps, app to start my car remotely, camera, FaceTime, Kindle, Notes, news, shopping- too many to count… (10)
Movies and tv shows that I have purchased on Prime. (9- I have one I watch every night on repeat to fall asleep)
AppleTV shows (8)
Shopping on Amazon (9)
News on Apple (1)
Shopping at Whole Foods (2)
My internet doesn’t come from Starlink and I will make sure it doesn't.
I have decided to incrementally walk through some major simplification in these areas over the course of a year. Why? So I feel less dependent on the “system” and I feel more connected to myself, my values and my community.
Where could I start today?
Today, I am going to delete 50% of the apps on my phone.
I will research DVRs. What makes me laugh about this is that my 26-year-old son has a VCR and loads of tapes. He prefers to be retro. But think about it, if we have purchased our favorite movies and tv shows from Amazon or Apple- do we really own them? They could be gone tomorrow.
So, this is where my minimalist value comes into play-do I now need to own more things? Maybe just the things I like and use the very most. I can borrow the rest.
What are your thoughts about all of this? Where can you start to live a little more lightly? I would love you to share your thoughts with me.
Until next time.