In North America, our culture stresses consumerism as the pathway to
personal happiness and community prosperity. An increasing number of
people are re-examining their lives and asking themselves if there isn't a
better way. Many are opting out of the "rat race" and choosing a less
stressful and more meaningful way of life. Less time spent on acquiring
goods means more time spent with family, friends, children, and nature,
which leads to a more balanced and satisfying life.
Montreal Simple Living is a voluntary simplicity circle
initiated by Kim
and Didier, two members of the
RQSV, the Réseau Québecois pour la Simplicité
Volontaire. It is the first English group of its kind in Quebec. Our
goal is to gather people from all walks of life who are willing to discuss
issues and share personal experiences related to voluntary simplicity.
Some of the topics we cover include consumerism, work, money, happiness,
relationships, the environment, social justice, alternative
transportation, and fair trade.
Some participants may go on to develop creative, community-based solutions
to common problems. Others may just be interested in finding out more
about "simple living" to see if it is something they would like to pursue.
Of course, you can simplify on your own, but it's much easier in a
supportive group of like-minded individuals. As participants discuss
voluntary simplicity, they analyze their own experiences and the
experiences of others. This allows them to make informed choices about
what to purchase, how and where to work, how to slow down, and how to
enjoy life. But participating in such a simplicity circle involves more
than just the exchange of information. It is a form of gratification
wherein you are recognized and accepted for your heart and your soul,
rather than the image of success put forth by society.
As of October 2005,
Montreal Simple Living had about 50 people on its roster.
Our round-table discussions usually involve a dozen or so people.
These discussions revolve around a single theme that is explored from
the perspective of the people in the group. There are no right answers. We
are leaderless, non-political, and noncompetitive.
The people who come to our activities
share many of the following values*: They want to be involved in creating a new and better way of life
for themselves and for all
citizens.
They are concerned about what the big corporations are doing in the name
of making more profits.
They dislike all the emphasis in modern culture on success and
"making it," on getting and spending, on wealth and luxury goods.
They like people and places that are exotic and foreign, and enjoy
experiencing and learning about other ways of life.
They
tend to invest the time and energy freed up by simpler living in
activities with their partner, children, and friends, or volunteering to
help others, or getting involved in civic affairs to improve the life of
the community.
They
tend to work on developing the full spectrum of their potentials:
physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
They
tend to feel a compassionate concern for the world’s poor; a simpler
life fosters a sense of kinship with people around the world and thus a
concern for social justice and equity in the use of the world’s
resources.
They
tend to lower their overall level of personal consumption - buy less
clothing (with more attention to what is functional, durable, aesthetic,
and less concern with passing fads, fashions, and seasonal styles), buy
less jewelry and other forms of personal ornamentation, buy fewer cosmetic
products and observe holidays in a less commercialized manner.
They
tend to shift their diet away from highly processed foods, meat, and sugar
towards foods that are more natural, healthy, simple, and appropriate for
sustaining the inhabitants of a small planet.
They
tend to use their consumption politically by boycotting goods and services
of companies whose actions or policies they consider unethical.
If you share these values, drop
by and see us. It is free to join. The more we are, the more difference we
can make. We also have socials (movies, coffee, special
events) that may or may not be posted on this website.
Welcome to Montreal Simple Living.
* excerpts from Paul H. Ray & Sherry Ruth Anderson's
book The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the
World, and from Duane Elgin's book Voluntary Simplicity.
|
