RESOLUTIONS: Simplicity

In the next three weeks I will be looking at environmental resolutions that you can make. Each week will feature a different theme. If you are feeling brave choose which of the themes appeals to you most and attempt to put it into practice for the year 2001. If you want less of a commitment, then simply put some, or even one, of the suggestions into practice thoughout the year. Don't worry if you occasionally break your resolution. The aim is not perfection but small differences over a long period of time.

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This week's theme is: SIMPLICITY

The world is our Mother. Should we drive our Mother into destitution by our theft of her property? No. Rather let us tread softly while we live in her household, taking only that which is needful and giving of our own time and effort in acknowledgement of our debt to her.
Anon.

Our harshest impact is caused by our own greed. Rather than working out what is important to us, physically, mentally and emotionally and limiting our aquisition of things to those that truly do help us to be who we are, we become confused. Suddenly we do not know who we are and reach out to things to confirm ourselves.

No-one can simplify their lives unless they have a true understanding of who they really are. Therefore, you need to do a bit of soul searching. Here are a few questions to help you. Jot down your answers in a notebook.

1. If you could only have 25 things which ones would they be?
   
2. If you had one week's wages and an empty house, what would you buy?
   
3. If you could only take one possession with you because your house was on fire, which would you take? (In this exercise all your family plus pets are safely outside.)

Look at the things you have written down. Ask yourself why certain things are important to you, why certain things repeat themselves. I would find it difficult to be entirely without books, for instance, as I usually read every night before I sleep. If I could not get internet access, I could not work, so I would always look for some way to get online, then there are certain 'comfort' items which remind me of home and family and 'fun' items just for me.

Now let's do another exercise. Look around the room you are in and find some of your own items that you have not touched for a week, a month, a year, five years. Ask yourself why? Are these really occasional items (like Christmas Tree lights and snowboards) or are they ordinary items that you would expect to use more frequently? If the latter, try to work out what it is you don't like about them. I, for instance, have a perfectly good silver charm bracelet. I never wear it because it was a huge disappointment - what I really wanted was an engagement ring.

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