Moderate Simplicity

Before I start with my Radical Simplicity response, I wanted to put in a plug for my roommate’s awesome blog. She started this blog project for Earth Day and she is going to blog about something green or sustainable every day until Earth Day 2011. I thought it would be extremely fitting for this class so if you guys followed it that would be great! Here’s her link:
http://everydayearthday.blogspot.com/
Now it’s time to get down to business…
I was not expecting to enjoy Radical Simplicity as much as I did, and I definitely didn’t think I would take much from it. Before reading this book, I didn’t put a ton of thought into my lifestyle and how it affects the earth. I knew recycling was good and that I should conserve water and electricity whenever possible, but I always just kind of figured I would leave the tree hugging to other people. I also thought the green movement was primarily to curb global warming. I never thought of it in the terms of ecological footprint and resource preservation, so Radical Simplicity gave me a new perspective on going green.
The first time I sat down to read it, I decided to try being vegetarian. My diet has been meat free for almost a month, and I’m going to do it for the rest of the quarter. It won’t be a lifetime deal, but I will be more aware of what I eat and try to make more sustainable choices.
The more I read, the more I started to feel like a horrible person for consuming as much resources as I do. I felt pretty lame compared to the people of Kerala who have nothing, are totally happy, and have so few needs.
Before I read this book, I envisioned myself in the future as having made tons of money, living in a fatty house, and driving a cute little Maserati. I won’t lie, I still want my sick car, but I do realize that an enormous house is completely unnecessary, impractical, and totally eco-unfriendly. I’m more aware now that extravagance does not equal happiness, and that I can be very fulfilled by appreciating simpler things. This doesn’t mean I’m going to drop everything and live in a hut in the forest. I’m not exactly the nature type. But I will implement some things into my lifestyle to scale down my footprint.
In comparison to the American mind set, Merkel is basically an insane hippy. Who lives like that voluntarily? Talking sticks? Vision quests? I think the Amish live more extravagantly than he does. Having said that, I think it’s great that he is increasing awareness about sustainable living, and I really appreciate that he truly practices what he preaches. His lifestyle might seem radical to us, but in other parts of the world, it is perfectly acceptable. Merkel put things in perspective for me. I think I “need” so much, when in fact a lot of it is really unnecessary. I’m not willing to make the sacrifices needed to live on 1,3, or 6 acres, but I am willing to be more aware of what I use and try to make that reflect what I really need. I’m not going to adopt full radical simplicity, but moderate simplicity couldn’t hurt.