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Quote of the Day: Melissa Coleman

July 1st, 2012

The pulse of material needs began to slacken. The less they satisfied the urge to buy things, the more the craving – as with sugar, carbohydrates, and alcohol – began to wane. The drugs of the modern world were only a mirage of need easily forgotten in the absence of fulfillment.

Melissa Coleman – This Life Is in Your Hands: One Dream, Sixty Acres, and a Family Undone

A fitting quote as I spent the day yesterday getting rid of the stuff we no longer wanted/needed. No doubt as I’m packing all of our belongings up in boxes I’ll be happy that we’ve simplified!

Even though Mr Chiots and I live fairly simply we still have so much in comparison to many others around the world. Though I appreciate the simplicity of having fewer things I’ll always have my computer, my camera, and a few good books – Oh yeah and a good cup of coffee!

What is one thing you’d never want to live without?

19 Comments to “Quote of the Day: Melissa Coleman”
  1. Sue on July 1, 2012 at 6:30 am

    I’m with you: Coffee, camera, computer books, and also canning and dehydrating equipment. I’m having the urge to simplify, too. I really have too much stuff!

    Reply to Sue's comment

  2. Beegirl on July 1, 2012 at 6:37 am

    I just finished reading that book and loved it!!
    Huge congrats on your new place! So very excited for you!!

    Currently reading ‘wild’ by Cheryl Strayed. I think you might enjoy it..

    Reply to Beegirl's comment

  3. jennifer fisk on July 1, 2012 at 7:00 am

    The one thing I hope to never be without is a German Shepherd.

    Reply to jennifer fisk's comment

    • Mich on July 1, 2012 at 8:10 am

      We are on our fourth GSD, a fab breed of dog :)

      Reply to Mich's comment

  4. Joan on July 1, 2012 at 7:54 am

    I agree with Jennifer – a dog. I have my favorite breeds, but any dog will do. Next on my list would be a good book, and in the winter a woodstove with a window to see the fire through. With those things and my family, I’m happy!

    Reply to Joan's comment

  5. Mich on July 1, 2012 at 8:08 am

    Its too hard to just to pin down the one thing I couldnt do without!
    So…top of the list is my German Shepherd, the coffee machine and my Aga.

    Reply to Mich's comment

  6. Andrea Duke on July 1, 2012 at 8:21 am

    After going through the storm we just did and being without power for awhile, I thought about this a little. For me, it’s not being without a materialistic item. It was more about not wanting to live without the knowledge of how to take care of ourselves when something happens.

    There was a time when I would have acted helpless, but we were just fine.

    I’m so glad I have a child that has been raised without electronics. When I hear parents say their kids are going crazy without their video games, it makes me wonder why they don’t hear how stupid that sounds.

    Luckily, power is back on, but we would have been fine for many more days, due to just being prepared.

    Reply to Andrea Duke's comment

  7. Nebraska Dave on July 1, 2012 at 9:02 am

    Susy, you got me to thinking about just what wouldn’t I give up. I have learned to be quite content with very little. However, just living in one place for 27 years will have a tendency to pile up good stuff that will be used some day. Yeah, well some day have never come so you have inspired me to start giving it up and cleaning it out to give away or haul away to the landfill. Thanks for making me really take a look at the simple life even more closely.

    However, I haven’t answered the question. I do like my folgers in a cup morning, noon, and evening but I could live without it. I do kind of like those flush toilets and hot showers but I have lived without it up until about 10 years old so I could live without it. I would miss media but we all have lived without it and could again and go back to writing letters. Having said all that, I guess my answer would be relationships. Friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances would be top of the list.

    Have a great moving day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  8. tami on July 1, 2012 at 11:08 am

    Electricity.

    As I sit in air conditioned splendor during this heat wave, I remember growing up without AC. Cold showers, sweaty sheets…Yick!

    Reply to tami's comment

  9. Maybelline on July 1, 2012 at 11:44 am

    Chapstick

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  10. Bettina on July 1, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    Books, my computer, my dogs (or pets in general), yarn and fiber (and the tools to process them, i.e. spindle, knitting needles). Oh… and seriously good food – which does not mean expensive!

    Reply to Bettina's comment

  11. Texan on July 1, 2012 at 3:49 pm

    Honeyman (my DH) :O). My canning jars and canner. My garden seeds. The computer.

    Reply to Texan's comment

  12. kristin @ going country on July 1, 2012 at 7:33 pm

    At the moment–the very, very hot moment I’m in right now–I can’t imagine doing without a fan. Then again, people with air conditioning can’t imagine doing without that, so I guess it’s all what you’re used to.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  13. whit on July 2, 2012 at 12:13 am

    I agree with Nebraska Dave…the loss of stuff of our lives would palr in comparasion to loss of loved ones. Of course, i’d miss reading your blog everyday if i had no device to read it on. :)

    Reply to whit's comment

  14. KimH on July 2, 2012 at 5:27 am

    Running water & electricity..

    When I was a teen & a young adult I thought it would be fun to go live wild on a mountain somewhere My grandmother thought I was nuts.. Now that Im some 30 years older, I agree with her.. haha.

    Reply to KimH's comment

    • Susy on July 2, 2012 at 7:03 am

      Having lived without both electricity and running water – I agree. Though it wasn’t bad at the time and you certainly get used to it – they are nice luxuries that I appreciate having!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  15. Sherrie on July 2, 2012 at 9:00 am

    I think I need to read that book! Almost a year ago we decided to move back to my home town after being gone 30+ years. I was ready to downsize — at least I thought I was — and letting go of a lot of possessions was very liberating. We’re just about to the point of having all the things gone that we (I really) haven’t used in a long time. I’ve always been someone who enjoys crafts, so that has been the biggest challenge: getting rid of all the craft project materials.

    At this point I’m happy with our much, much smaller home (less than half the size) and living more simply. We could easily live without the television because we don’t have time to watch it anymore.

    Bare bones: The equipment I need to do my job and my kitchen.

    Reply to Sherrie's comment

  16. Turling on July 2, 2012 at 9:53 am

    Beer.

    Reply to Turling's comment

  17. Leanne on July 2, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    I think the list would include our dog, my iPad, my library card, my garden, a good latte, a good cider or rye drink now and then, and my bikes (road race bike and vintage cruiser). Can’t believe no one said a bike!

    Reply to Leanne's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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