Myth and Meaning

Andrews also points out that simple living doesn't mean giving things up, but rather, giving a quality of life to ourselves that isn't possible when we're overwhelmed with work in order to attain more and more goods which then rob us of our time as we scramble to maintain them. Simple living means a reduction in stress, not in life satisfaction and an increase in time to devote our energy to what really matters. "Living simply gives us a triple cure: it helps us reverse the degradation of the natural world we so love, it frees up scarce resources to help the world's poor, and it promotes joy and fulfillment in our personal lives."

While the simple life appeals to many, 'practical' questions often arise once the matter is considered carefully. One such question is, what would happen to the American economy if we all started living more simply? Wouldn't the United States be in trouble? Andrews responds that there are a number of ways that voluntary simplicity can actually benefit the economy including:

• More savings for investments and capitol formation

• A tendency toward economic activity characterized by modernization and sufficiency

• Reduction of debt, both personal and national

• Resources used to meet real needs vs. to reinforce overconsumption which leads to both natural resource as well as spiritual depletion

Approximately five years ago a quake hit very successful friends of ours. David and Elaine earned a joint salary that exceeded 100,000 dollars a year. They lived in a big beautiful house on Sebago Lake in Maine, drove two new imported vehicles, spent money without thinking twice, and were in debt. They didn't worry about their maxed out credit cards because of the large paychecks David brought home at the end of the week. There was always enough money to pay the seemingly endless bills the couple accrued. And then one day the bottom fell out. David's company downsized leaving David without a job. David and Elaine were terrified. How would they pay their credit cards, their car payments, and their mortgage? David sought in vain to replace his salary while the couple fell further and further behind. Their American dream quickly became a nightmare. The following year was a painful one for my friends, one that brought significant anxiety, loss, and disillusionment. It also triggered a great deal of soul searching.

Today David and Mary live in a Duplex, renting out the other half of their modest home. They share two older model vehicles, and their designer clothing has been replaced for the most part by bargain finds. Are they bitter as a result of all that they've lost? No way! In retrospect, David and Mary share that they've not only given up the luxuries that they used to take for granted, they've given up an enormous amount of stress as well. They no longer have to work long hours to pay for things that they found they never really needed. They both work part-time and have freed themselves up to pursue their passions. Mary has learned to play the guitar and even performs from time to time. David has begun running in marathons and taking pictures, proudly showing off his photo collection of breath-taking nature scenes. Their story is not ultimately one of loss and deprivation - it's a story of discovery and triumph.
When I was a young girl, a man whom I looked up to told me, "the guy with the most toys wins." I have no idea where he is now or how much he's "won." I do know that many of us look up to the wealthiest among us, while at the same time feeling envious and even resentful of them. We place many of our richest on pedestals, while at the same time paying lip service to the teachings of those whose memories stay with us the longest. Ironically, throughout the course of history, our most influential teachers are those who generally claimed the fewest possessions.

In an article first published in 1936, Richard Gregg coined the term voluntary simplicity. One of the issues Gregg addressed in advocating such a lifestyle was how civilizations grow. Gregg wrote:

"In Volume III of Arnold J. Toynbee's Study of History he discusses the growth of civilizations. For some sixty pages he considers what constitutes the growth of civilization, including in that term growth in wisdom as well as in stature. With immense learning he traces the developments of many civilizations, - Egyptian, Sumeric, Minoan, Hellenic, Syriac, Indic, Iranian, Chinese, Babylonic, Mayan, Japanese, etc. After spreading out the evidence, he comes to the conclusion that real growth of a civilization does not consist of increasing command over the physical environment, nor of increasing command over the human environment (i.e. over the nations or civilizations), but that it lies in what he calls 'etherealization'; a development of intangible relationships. He points out that this process involves both a simplification of the apparatus of life and also a transfer of interest and energy from material things to a higher sphere..."

Since the beginning of the Industrial Age our society has mistaken true growth for economic gain. In doing so, we've experienced enormous and in many cases irretrievable losses. At the deepest level, most of us are aware of what we've sacrificed to the "Gods of Economic Growth" and yet amazingly, we so often attempt to fill the current void with more and more material goods. As long as we do so, we fail to experience the degree of personal and spiritual growth that awaits us. Lacking substantive purpose and meaning, many greet the morning with resignation. Reluctantly rising from their beds to make a living, they find themselves deprived of time to enjoy the magnificence of life.

Catherine Leach and her husband read Voluntary Simplicity in the 1980's. In 1990, they moved to the country and made significant changes in their lifestyles, including pursuing more meaningful work. While the couple has by no means been spared challenges, Leach reports that the quality of their lives has been greatly enhanced. She observed: "We are now more connected than ever to what is going on - curious about what's new, what's good and new, what weaknesses we can help correct, and what others are doing to make a better world. We are overworked and underpaid (our choice) but we have discovered a real excitement about the next day and the next decade."