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Many Americans Opt for Voluntary Simplicity
May 20, 2008 08:00 AM
A new generation of Americans is embracing voluntary simplicity by giving up their possessions in search of a less complicated lifestyle.
30-Second Summary
According to The New York Times, the voluntary simplicity movement, which gained popularity in the extravagant 1980s, is reemerging in the United States. Having determinedly purchased cars, homes, clothes, furniture and toys, many young families are now finding joy in downsizing.
The Times profiled the Harris family, Texans who are “chasing a utopian vision of self-sustaining life on the land,” by donating most of their possessions to charity and relocating to Vermont to live as organic homesteaders. “We’re not attached to any outcome,” said Mrs. Harris.
Detaching from possessions and outcomes is a concept touted in “Voluntary Simplicity,” a book written in 1981 by Duane Elgin that launched the movement at a time of greed and consumerism.
By the 1990s the movement had become a top trend, as Americans grew disillusioned by a life of too much work and too little time, and experienced anxiety over the environmental effects of consumerism.
Consumerism comes at a steep price, according to National Geographic. Happiness and health are not heightened by financial prosperity, while high debt and long hours at work contribute to deteriorating personal relationships.
Consumerism is also tied to an epidemic of hoarding in America. Immeasurable junk has piled up in closets across the country, writes Psychology Today. The aforementioned Harris family is struggling to rid themselves of cars, toys, clothing and furniture before they can begin their simpler life.
The Times profiled the Harris family, Texans who are “chasing a utopian vision of self-sustaining life on the land,” by donating most of their possessions to charity and relocating to Vermont to live as organic homesteaders. “We’re not attached to any outcome,” said Mrs. Harris.
Detaching from possessions and outcomes is a concept touted in “Voluntary Simplicity,” a book written in 1981 by Duane Elgin that launched the movement at a time of greed and consumerism.
By the 1990s the movement had become a top trend, as Americans grew disillusioned by a life of too much work and too little time, and experienced anxiety over the environmental effects of consumerism.
Consumerism comes at a steep price, according to National Geographic. Happiness and health are not heightened by financial prosperity, while high debt and long hours at work contribute to deteriorating personal relationships.
Consumerism is also tied to an epidemic of hoarding in America. Immeasurable junk has piled up in closets across the country, writes Psychology Today. The aforementioned Harris family is struggling to rid themselves of cars, toys, clothing and furniture before they can begin their simpler life.
Headline Links: Simplify, simplify, simplify
According to The New York Times, the voluntary simplicity movement, which gained popularity after the extravagant 1980s, is reemerging in the United States. Having determinedly purchased cars, homes, clothes, furniture and toys, many young families are now finding joy in downsizing. “If you think about some of the shifts we’re having economically—shifts in oil and energy—it may be the right time,” said Mary E. Grigsby, of the University of Missouri.
Source: The New York Times (free registration may be required)
The roots of voluntary simplicity are linked to Henry David Thoreau’s 18th century work, “Yankee Frugality,” which urged simplification. Bookstores today are stocked with titles like “Simple Abundance” and “The Simple Living Guide,” but there are varying levels of the movement, and austerity is not necessary to reap the benefits of simplicity.
Source: USA Weekend
In 2004, a growing number of young Americans were attempting to slow down and cut back on work and stress, reported the Associated Press. Rather than follow in their parents’ overworked footsteps, Generations X and Y were reassessing and prioritizing in hopes of having more time to enjoy life, said the article.
Source: The Times of Northwest Indiana (AP)
Background: Elgin’s Voluntary Simplicity Movement
Duane Elgin wrote “Voluntary Simplicity” in 1981, sparking what would become a significant movement in the United States, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. His official Web site presents Elgin’s speeches and writings, with essays, articles and book excerpts.
Source: Awakening Earth
The Voluntary Simplicity movement was named a top trend of the 1990s by Trends Institute, according to The Seattle Times. The movement suggested a growing disillusionment among overworked Americans with no time for personal pursuits, and experiencing feelings of disconnectedness and worry over the effects of consumerism on the Earth, said the article.
Source: The Seattle Times
The collapse of the “greed is good” credo of the 1980s gave way to a class of corporations looking for change in the late 1990s. In response to employees seeking economic freedom and “ways to become better stewards of their own resources and the environment,” companies began pushing frugality and conservation, cornerstones of voluntary simplicity.
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Related Links: Consumerism and hoarding
National Geographic News reports “the increase in prosperity is not making humans happier or healthier,” and “increased consumerism evidently comes at a steep price.” High debt and long working hours to pay for “the high-consumption lifestyle” typically result in less time for meaningful relationships, said the article.
Source: National Geographic News
An article in the magazine Psychology Today explores the hoarding epidemic, which has resulted in “lots and lots of junk” in America’s closets. In most cases, hoarding reflects anxiety, sometimes tied to “the virtue of saving.” The article presents tips for getting organized at work, at home, and in your mind.
Source: Psychology Today
FindingDulcinea has a Web Guide to Home Organization with tips for organizing your home, guidance for deciding whether to part with an item and advice for maintaining an organized home.
Source: findingDulcinea
The PBS miniseries “Affluenza” focuses on the epidemic of consumerism that stems from Americans’ efforts to keep up with the Joneses, and “addiction to economic growth.” Learn about the show, find out if you have Affluenza, and then learn how to get over it.
Source: PBS
Reference: Blogs, books and video on voluntary simplicity
Cage Free Family is the blog of the Harris family, who were profiled by The New York Times in the previously mentioned article about voluntary simplicity. Follow the family as they give up nearly all of their possessions and journey from Austin, Texas to Vermont, where they plan to live simply off the land.
Source: Cage Free Family
Duane Elgin’s 1981 book “Voluntary Simplicity” is considered by some to be the bible of the movement, and is available in the Dulcinea Media Store.
Source: Dulcinea Media Store
Surfwise is a documentary film about Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, who abandoned his medical practice and took off in a 24-foot camper van with his wife and nine children, traveling and surfing. The family embarked on its journey before the Voluntary Simplicity movement began, but the Paskowitz’s nomadic lifestyle embodied the movement’s ideals. The film is playing in New York, and opens in select theaters across the United States later this summer.
Source: Surfwise
© 2009 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
