Last week, I wrote about Stoicism + its teachings on lessening desire. I read that book during a month spent especially focused on simplicity. I look forward to reading a bit more on different spiritual teachings + practices of simplicity in the weeks to come. This time, though, I thought I'd share a little on the teachings of my own faith...Christianity. I very much appreciate Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline, from which the following principles come. (Also, Freedom of Simplicity is a favorite of mine on Christian simplicity.)

Many of us have some idea of what Christianity or Christians look like to us. "Hypocrites" is probably the most common word I hear associated with Christianity...and I get it!  Christians are imperfect...sinners...is our word for it (not meant to be an excuse for it). We recognize that we need God's grace. We recognize that He is the only perfect being...our Creator...our King. God + love...that is our mandate. And oh, how I long for "love" to be the most common word associated with Christianity!

The inward reality of Christian simplicity involves what Foster calls a "joyful life of carefree unconcern for possessions". This statement almost takes my breath away. I stop often to contemplate what that could really mean or look like in my life. How can I get some of that?...and do I even really want it?

This joyful life does not mean that we don't value possessions or care for what we have. It involves ::
-viewing our possessions as gifts from God. We live by grace + recognize that we are dependent on God.
-trusting that what we have is cared for by God. Simplicity gives us freedom to trust God.
-believing what we have can be made available to others. 

The outward flow of this inward liberation can be practiced joyfully in these ways:
-buy things for usefulness...not status. Stop buying things to impress people. Impress them with a life well-lived.
-reject things that create an addiction. Learn to distinguish need from desire. A psychological need for cheerful surroundings is valid (yay). Simplicity is freedom...not slavery.
-develop a habit of giving things away. De-accumulate. Masses of things complicate life.
-refuse to be "propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry."
-enjoy things without owning them. 
-develop a deeper appreciation of creation. Get outside. 
-be skeptical of buying things on credit. Credit leads to bondage.
-use plain + honest speech. Follow through. Seek to inform + illuminate rather than impress + obscure.
-reject anything that breeds the oppression of others...and further...let us break the yoke of oppression.
-shun anything that distracts from Christlike living (with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness + self-control). It is easy to lose focus, even while pursuing good things.

Simplicity can sound a lot like austerity...a list of rules, but the words that stand out here are joy, freedom, liberation! It's a gift to be simple!

Like a beautiful closed loop cycle, our inward focus fuels the outward flow + in turn the outward practice deepens the inward shift. I strive to loosen my grip on "things" + at the same time allow God to help loosen things' grip on me. It involves trust + right alignment of heart, soul + mind. 

I love that there are practical principles that one can take from many spiritual teachings. It seems to point to some inherent (or divine) truths that humans have come to recognize regardless of time + place.  :)

Love,
​Jane

Chances are most of us have come across a "capsule wardrobe" or two. Advice abounds on how to create one. There are also plentiful lists of wardrobe "must-haves". Inevitably it all starts to look similar: a white button-down shirt, black + white tees, black blazer, jeans, black pants, and a wrap dress.

It's easy to see why these "classics" show up again + again in capsule or minimalist wardrobes. They are versatile pieces that stand the test of time. And while I love these simple choices...sometimes one wants to have a bit more personalized style.

I've spent quite some time (years) looking for just the right fair cardigan in the right shape + material + price...to add to my simple wardrobe. Lately I've returned over + over to a slightly different option than I had in mind...Black Crane's Square Shirt. I love Black Crane for their unique architectural shapes...reminiscent (in my mind) of 80s Issey Miyake. I love their commitment to American manufacturing + natural fabrics. 

And...I love that they have developed some of their own signature shapes to return to collection after collection. This speaks to a sort of minimalist sensibility...a resiliency of style...and a versatility of design. It takes a stand against the frenetic churning out of design after design in the attempt to hit upon a few that sell. It tells the customer that a piece bought three years ago is still relevant + valuable.

I love the idea of embracing a few personal classics. There are some indisputable classics...like those listed above. But what if each of us were to choose a few of our own personal classics that we embrace year after year? Think Bill Cunningham's personal classic blue jacket or Chanel's signature suit. This embrace of a single versatile style encourages us to happily wear our clothing over + over...to keep them in use + out of the landfill...to search for enduring, versatile shapes...and helps us develop personal style!  :) I think the square shirt shown above (in different seasons' lengths, fabrics + hem variations...styled by different stockists) could be just such a personal classic for me.

All lovely photos via links. 

Love,
Jane

In the USA, we've been hearing about a proposed "Green New Deal" for weeks. It's been debated as unrealistic, impossible + the stuff of utopian dreams. The thing is...a few decades ago...the current predictions for the near future of our planet would have been viewed as unrealistic, impossible + the stuff of apocalyptic dreams.

This weekend's viral video had me thinking about the Green New Deal again. I went in search of both the actual proposed Green New Deal + the alternative Feinstein offered...rather than personal opinions about them. The personal opinion of Bill McKibbon, however, articulates pretty closely what I'd like to communicate (+ with better words than I could hope to write)..so I'll keep my words short in hopes that you will read his.  :)

Love,
Jane

"To be able to be satisfied with little is not a failing,
it is a blessing-
​if what you seek is satisfaction."
​~William B. Irvine

Fair clothing can be traded, thrifted, made, bought...can be lovingly altered, repaired, refashioned...there are so many choices. When it comes to dresses, I love the option of taking the fabric from a thrifted dress that is maybe the wrong size + remaking it into a new dress. Dresses can easily be shortened in length or sleeve length...or even made from a top...with a little length added from different fabric.

Here, we're looking at two options for dresses. Fair brands (on the left) + sewn from independent pattern designers (on the right). I love that a sewist can appreciate the craftsmanship of a ready-made dress...and that anyone can learn to sew! No need to choose all or nothing, one way or the other.  ;)

I'm looking forward to dresses again this year. One piece dressing is my favorite. While layering over + under dresses is great...bare legs + plimsolls, sandals or bare feet are my favorite accessories for dresses...which makes dreaming the best option right now.  :)

​Last time in fair/make...jumpsuits. All lovely photos via links.

Love, 
Jane

I was a student who loved my college philosophy class. It was so interesting not only to learn about the ways people explained + viewed the world, but also to realize that the way I viewed the world was not the only way to see it. This week I've been exploring the ancient Greek + Roman school of philosophy called Stoicism through A Guide to the Good Life {the ancient art of stoic joy} by William B. Irvine.

I've been on a mission of sorts to figure out how to continue to lessen my desire for more, and Irvine offers some practical, Stoic techniques. But first, a few things to note about the Stoic school of thought:

-Stoics strive not to be devoid of feeling, but to prevent the onset of negative emotions such as anger, greed + anxiety.
-Stoics strive to enjoy life's pleasures, but not to be controlled by them.
-A Stoic learns that joy comes from deep within + craves no joys greater than these inner joys.
-Stoics work to master desire.
-A main goal is to exist in a state of tranquility or peace of mind.

"One wonderful way to tame our tendency to always want more is to persuade ourselves to want the things we already have." But how? A bit of advice from the Stoics:

-Periodically consider what it would feel like to lose what is already mine...possessions, home, work, people. The thought is that we will be less likely to take these things for granted + will derive more affection for + joy from what we already have.
-Be aware not to cherish possession with "over-much love". Be "the user, but not the slave of the gifts of Fortune." ~Marcus Aurelius
-Ask the question: Am I living the life I once imagined for myself? My past self would be exceedingly grateful for what I have now.
-Consider how our ancestors lived + how others in the world live today (the less fortunate ones). This reminds me of the quote that goes something like, "Someone else is happy with less than you have." ~unknown

It "is foolish to spend your life in a state of self-induced dissatisfaction when satisfaction lies within your grasp, if only you will change your mental outlook."

Irvine offers many more Stoic techniques for increasing tranquility + decreasing negative emotions in various areas of life throughout this book. While I don't agree with everything, I think there is plenty to appreciate about this philosophy of life. 

Love,
Jane

Three years ago I tried on a dress. It was a beautiful dress in a color that I wouldn't usually have picked out...but looked surprisingly lovely on. The details were well done + the fit was flattering. The only problem was that I wasn't buying clothes with untraceable origins anymore. I reluctantly walked away...without the dress.

Recently, that same dress showed up used...on Poshmark. I had tried it on, so I knew the size would probably still be right...that I loved the color + the cut. I bought it...and I can't explain how happy I was to receive it.

This tiny chain of events still makes me wonder if finding a dress second-hand redeems it as a purchase. I mean...the fact that someone other than me purchased it first erases the fact that the makers may not have been paid a fair wage? Again...imperfection. Here I think the main argument for earning an ethical "stamp" is that this dress is getting worn + not ending up in the landfill. I'm becoming part of its story...just as the farmers, garment workers, and original purchaser (+ possibly the subsequent wearers) of the dress have been. I don't know that that makes me more ethical than the person who bought it from the store. We are a sort of team...like in a relay race...handing off the baton + keeping the race going.

It will be a little while before I can wear this dress with bare legs + a breeze, but I'm looking forward to that day + all the other days that I will happily wear this dress. 

Love,
Jane

"It's about deciding what's important to you. Everyone is different. It's not about being a minimalist. You've got to know yourself. Understanding your needs + your choices + really digging into personal preferences helps with those choices." 

"We're calling for a law to ensure that all manufacturers put a standard label stating how long they expect the product to last under normal usage on their appliances." ~Tara Button 

My turn with Tara Button's book, A Life Less Throwaway, came a few weeks ago, and I enjoyed reading it. The interview from which the quotes above come is a good taster.

Love.
A racial equity habit building challenge.
Looking back on a year of depth. (hopefully the website will be fixed soon)
​What is all that plastic doing to our bodies?
On cooling the earth.
​Follow the clothes.
Hemp shoes + boots.
Learn to repair broken electronics!
​Crafting to raise awareness of modern slavery. (thank you, jo!)

Hoping this weekend offers you plenty of warmth + happiness!
​
Love,
Jane

Tuesday was the day that my shampoo bar ran out. My feeling is that one bar would last me approximately two months. I started this bar on January 1...and cut the bar in half to share it with Julia about two weeks ago. 

If one bar would work for two months for one person, I would need to buy six bars per year for myself. My bar cost $16 per bar, so would cost $96 per year for one person. For Julia + I that would be $192 spent on shampoo per year. Another concern with this bar is that reviewers say it melts quicker in warmer months.

The bulk jug of shampoo that I was using cost $45 and lasted a year with three of us using it. That means that one year's worth of shampoo for one person cost $15 (versus $96 for bars).

As far as waste goes, the shampoo in the jug is made in the USA. It ships in a cardboard box that I can reuse + can eventually be recycled. The jug itself gets recycled + is part of buying shampoo in bulk in a store as well. The shampoo bar was made in New Zealand. It came (from within the USA) in a paper box in a big plastic bubble wrap envelope. (The conditioner bar I ordered at the same time came in a second plastic bubble wrap envelope....ugh!) I could order a year's worth of shampoo bars all at once to cut down on the number of envelopes used, but that would be a large expense all at once. The envelope can be reused, but will eventually become waste.

I'm glad that I did this experiment. It is somehow satisfying to know that I found a shampoo bar that works for my hair. Neither of these shampoo options is perfectly zero-waste, but my simple budget tells me which choice makes more sense for me (the jug). Sometimes it is worth it to pay more for a zero-waste option + sometimes it just doesn't make sense in my simple budget.

Love,
Jane