Start your own personal Revolution

VforvendettaBig Business would have us believing that we must posses things we don’t need. That we must have an automobile with 200+ horsepower even though we all share the same road, and therefore have to follow the same speed limit. That we must serve “such n such” brand of succulent chicken at our table, even though it is all GMO. That we must wear this outfit/makeup/bra to attract, because we are not beautiful just the way we are. That we must be put on medication to negate the effects of your illness (likely brought on by all the tainted food that they have been selling us our entire life).

I turn on the TV and for a 30 min program I get to watch two commercial breaks, each with twelve commercials throwing suggestions at me; both clear and subliminal I’m sure. I open up a magazine and 50% of the pages are adds; and three inserts. I can’t walk down Main St without seeing billboard signs everywhere with adds.

Government would have us believing that in order to stimulate the economy, we need to buy more. Govt can, and is being bought, and therefore does not act on the interests of all the people. Only 1% of the people (less than that even). So govt cannot be trusted to mitigate the problem. So it falls on US.

As if you needed another reason to live a minimalist lifestyle, how about you purify your mind and body of all these toxins. How about you do your small part in giving power back to the common man. Lose the TV that is feeding you informational garbage. Quit the impulse shopping that is having you buy things you don’t need, and don’t enrich your life. Shop local when you do shop, and help boost your local economy. That money creates jobs in your community, growth, and ultimately that money comes back to you. That’s right.  Money spent toward Big Business usually goes toward some “big shots” third summer home. Get your food from a local farmers market. That food is fresh, all natural, and has no GMO’s (most of the time).

If you make these simple changes in your life, then others will pick up on it too. Before long this will make a big difference on our economy nationally. Start your personal revolution.

Embrace the things you have ….. or just get rid of them.

LampPostI live in a very suburban area, and everyday to and from work I see many beautiful houses with lush well manicured lawns. Such wonderful properties people own. Their own small plots of land fertile with life and broad open space. And with all the times I have observed these properties on my commutes, do you know how many times I have seen people out on their lawn or even decks playing, barbecuing, or even just chilling out? NEVER. I have never seen this.

 

I’m starting to believe that nobody actually lives in these houses. There is no movement. The cars are parked in the exact same space as they always are. Sometimes I think that I am one of very few actors in a movie about me where there are no extras (ever seen the Truman Show). These people spend enormous amounts of money on mortgages for property they do not use. Such a waste.

If I had lawn property, I would always be seen on it. Not just mowing it, but gardening, chilling in a hammock, playing games. I would have friends over barbecuing. You would see a volleyball net set up, because that is what we’d be doing on Saturday. Now, personally I do not believe the maintenance of having a property like this is worth how little I would actually use it. That is the reason I don’t have a plot of land. But these people are not using their property at all, but they are still maintaining it ….. paying for it. Where is the value in that??
I am an outdoors kinda guy. I love to run barefoot in the grass. I love to feel the sunshine on my face. I love to feel the a cool breeze hit my cheek on a warm summer day. I even love the mud. And don’t even get me started on the smells (I’m really into scent). The earth is my playground. I enjoy all these sensations when I ride my bike, go hiking, go fruit picking at a farm, see an outdoor festival or concert. And I do these things constantly during the Spring/Summer/Autumn seasons. I enjoy all the outdoor fruits life has to offer, and I don’t even own any property to do it on. Ownership is unnecessary. On the other hand, these people DO own their own outdoor property, and they’re not enjoying any of it.
These properties are a wasted investment. Are they a valuable financial investment down the line? Most likely (Real estate usually pays off well). But our lives are happening right now. We should invest our time and money into activities and things that fulfill us right now. And unused property is not fulfilling anybody, it’s a waste.

Money is a means to an end, not the other way around.

Money-habitsSociety would have us believe that wealth is happiness. For so many of us, this is that we were raised to believe. Our parents told us as kids:

“You need to go to college to get a good job and make lots of money so you can have a big house, a nice car.”

Because this is what they believed success is; this is what they would have us believe is the definition of happiness. But this is deceiving.

A persons path to success/happiness must be decided from within. It is all subjective, as one persons path will be different from another persons. And it’s not until one knows their path, that they can they follow it. Will money be necessary to reach ones success/happiness? Probably. But when we think it through we may be surprised at how little we need. Also, it is important that we don’t get so caught up in money that we lose our way in the path. There will be many temptations and pressures that will try to deviate a us from our path, but we must always be focused on our goal in order to keep these temptations and pressures from getting the best of us.

So figure out what your happiness is. No one can tell you. And once you figure that out, then figure out the path to get there.