Want to Get a Life? We Did! If you would like to lead a simpler, less stressful, more meaningful and ecologically sound life, we encourage you to explore this site to discover how. We’re not selling anything or asking for donations. We’re simply offering a path to a better way of living for you, the planet and future generations. We wish you well on your personal journey in Getting a Life! |
For Frugalists, Bargain Hunting is a Lifestyle A couple of months ago we were interviewed for an online article for MSNBC. As often happens, the slant of the finished product was off-point in our opinion. The emphasis on dumpster diving and scavenging, although catchy and even a bit humorous mostly misses the point of living simply and sustainably: to live a less-hectic, more fulfilling life while leaving a smaller footprint on the earth. See what you think. Link Final Book Blowout ! (As of June 2008 we have about 140 copies left.)
Note: Due to vacation, Book Orders received between June 30 and July 21 will not be shipped until July 22, 2008! . An Important Website to check out: http://www.footprintnetwork.org/
Simplicity Articles
Book Reviews Simplicity
Lessons: A 12-Step Guide to Living Simply Rational Simplicity: Setting the Course to a Simpler Life By Tim Covell Reviewed by David Heitmiller Nothing Left Over: A Plain and Simple Life By Toinette Lippe Reviewed by Jacqueline Blix Slow
is Beautiful:New
Visions of Community, Leisure and Joie de Vivre
The Ultimate Cheapskate by Dan Zak, The Washinton Post More Reading recommendations from gettingalife.org
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Elder
Ironies by
Gene Sager The key to the solutions, surprisingly enough, is the practice of various types of simplicity – outer and inner, material and spiritual. Aerobic Aging The
concept of productive aging is gaining popularity, and the irony
of this situation is extreme. We are in danger of spoiling our planet
because of hyper-production and hyper-consumption, yet we urge our
elders to maintain a high level of production/consumption just at
the time of life when their strength and energy is on the wane.
The message to our elders is, “After your 40 or 50 years of
productivity, we expect more of the same!” The 24 hour syndrome
symbolizes the situation: it is as though elders are encouraged
to work on through the night after a long and productive day shift...
Read More My Spiritual Journey by David Heitmiller
With
these questions spinning around in my head I decided to take a break
from the reporting and walk up to check my mail at the local mailbox
place a few blocks away. On my way home, I was guided to not return
the usual way, but to go straight where I would normally turn left
and take a slightly more circuitous route. As I walked, dazed from
the events of the morning, I passed an old wooden church. The structure
reminded me of the Oberlin Congregational Church in Steilacoom,
Washington; the church I attended as a child. I stopped for a moment
in front of the building and noticed the reader board which identified
it as the Interfaith Community Church.
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Aging
can be difficult in any culture, but it is especially problematic
in our culture today. In addition to health issues, there are explicit
and implicit messages from society that even the rugged individualist
cannot avoid. Some messages are confusing, even disheartening, as
when ageism leads people to assume that oldsters are incompetent
and have no viable role or purpose any more. A recent flurry of
messages promote an alternative perspective which I call “aerobic
aging”: elders are encouraged by “can do” slogans
to stay active through a whirlwind of activities, including employment
into very advanced ages. Pumped up with Viagra and hormones, elders
are to be “on the ball” and “on the job”.
Aerobic
aging – a perverse over-reaction to ageism – is known
in official circles as “productive aging”. NASUA (National
Association of State Units on Aging) and other organizations tout
this elder lifestyle to counter ageism. But the truth is that both
ageism and productive aging are caught up in the same extreme emphasis
so characteristic of our culture: an obsession with youth, vigor,
production, and consumption. Ageism idealizes youthful vigor by
disparaging the declining years, and production aging promotes youthful
vigor by trying to deny the reality of the declining years.
On September 11, 2001, like most everybody in the country, I was
glued to the television set watching the devastation in New York
City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. What did it all mean? How
could someone be so vengeful that they would take so many innocent
lives? Especially in the name of religion? Some warped interpretation
of religion to be sure, but still, how did we get to this point?
Someone had opened the doors of the small sanctuary and for some
reason I was called to enter this sacred space. As I entered the
double doors a bolt of lightning did not come down from the sky
and strike me dead. A good sign as I had not been a churchgoer (except
for weddings and funerals) for more than 35 years! As I took in
the space visually, a woman greeted me and asked if I had come to
pray. Somewhat embarrassed, I responded in the positive and sat
down in one of the back pews, asking myself why I was there. My
eye caught one of the tri-fold brochures in the pew pocket and I
took it out and read about the 
