Living Simply, Living Peacefully

I haven't read her book yet, but reviews of Kate Lawrence's The Practical Peacemaker: How Simple Living Makes Peace Possible have rung all my bells and I'm looking forward to getting a copy. 

In a letter to my favorite daily read, Shambhala SunSpace, Kate summarised her approach to living simply, and thereby living peacefully:

“Simple living involves 3 things. First, we must use less of the world’s resources. This doesn’t mean deprivation, but noticing the waste and over-consumption we have come to consider normal—and instead, forming habits that will free up more resources for people elsewhere in the world. Second, we need to open up time in our daily schedules. No one can act peacefully when rushing around, feeling frustrated, trying to do more than is possible or even advisable. Third, we need to pay attention to the present."

Several times in the past few months I've heard myself saying to people that I prefer my life and myself when I make time and space in my days for quiet, still reflection. Yet still I say 'yes' to this, and 'okay' to that, I sign on to this and turn up for that and before I know it I am rushing about my life according to the timetables and priorities of everyone but me. It doesn't work for me, I know that. But I forget, and I get caught up in my culture's obsession with "productivity" and I fall for the myth that the busier you are the more useful and/or important you are.

I read an article the other day about a successful business women in New Zealand. The key message of the article was that she made sure that every moment of every day of her life was productive. She had no time to 'waste' and she was relentlessly active and proactive. I felt the familiar feeling of guilt at my longing for daily doses of 'unproductive' silent stillness. And yet I know that those times settle the murky, swirling waters of my mind long enough to see clearly for a moment. I know all this, and still I get so busy that I can't remember where I'm supposed to be sleeping tonight.

I have learned to embrace the part of me that knows what works for me and to embrace the part of me that gets myself caught up in busy-ness nonetheless. But it does help to sit still for a moment this morning and remind myself just how good it can feel. So, here's to a little more simple living in the weeks to come.

PS: this review of The Practical Peacemaker caught my eye in particular, because I'm as overfed as the next person but still want a just, peaceful and sustainable world:

"In The Practical Peacemaker, Kate Lawrence explores the root causes of ongoing unrest and dysfunction in our world. Because we're overfed but undernourished in so many different ways, our eyes are not on the prize: a peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Lawrence shows us how to shift our focus and our actions to these things that really matter."—David Wann, coauthor of Affluenza and author of Simple Prosperity

Comments

[John Mullis]

I think we all struggle with this one. i try and follow a monastic 'rule of life' that programs in practices of quiet to each day. When i follow the rule i achieve more and am much happier. Still the temptation is to skip the quiet time in favor of the quick buzz. It's hard to live out of an Eastern world view in a Western cultural environment, it's like swimming against the tide. Hellllllllp!!!

[Molly]

Hello ZenPeacekeeper,
If you ever wish to do some writing on SunSpace, let me know.
Thanks so much... Molly DeShong, mdeshong@shambhalasun.com

[aj bush]

I love your writings and I love your peaceful mind. I am a 62 year old woman and I would have given anything to be as insightful as you at such a young age. You give me hope in these crazy times...

[Di]

I'm almost sure that NZ writer, Keri Hume said that, writers are working even when they appear to be simply staring out a window at the view.

Sam Hunt, the poet ... he also laughingly complained about the fact that musicians he knew would leave their instruments at home and walk away from work while he took his writers mind with him where ever he was and there was no holiday for the writer ...

I think you're doing just fine.

[susanna]

Interesting books you are writing about here, Marianne. And I agree with Di, I think you're doing just fine. Just do what YOU want to do in your life. I'm guessing that the business woman in NZ feels the need to take a break once in a while, too.

[Di]

Look at the comment a lovely woman left on my site this morning, I 'ran' over to pass it on to you :)

"Yet it is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top."
- Virginia Woolf

[LobotoME]

Looks like a great book!

Thanks,
jenny :)