Funny how everything timeless, at some point, is “on trend”. No shame in embracing this ageless wisdom! Sans hashtags or with. Mahalo for sharing your reflections! Aloha from Honolulu 💝
I think your authentic commitment to living your values has always come through more strongly than any hashtag, trend or movement with which you've been aligned. I'm trying to pull back from some increased consumption in the last year (and the mindset and behaviors that led to it) and I found this reflection very grounding. Thanks as always!
Thank you for this lovely and profound essay. Labels or hashtags confine by their limited nature; “sustainable “ is the most generous, but I fear also loaded and trendy. I appreciate your considered and intensional living and even more your thoughtful writing and beautiful photos of the #things in your life. Meditations that inspire and uplift me.
Lovely post, as always. the world runs on categorization, so generally, as long as “consumed” and applied judiciously, there is nothing wrong with labels (=hashtags) - especially if you need them to run your business. if I were to offer a label for your work, I would say your specialization is “things”;-) you may underconsume, find, repair, make or discard them, but still things appear to occupy a lot of your focus and time, - or at least your writing here, no? Things are the stuff our lives are made of, and I readily admit I love them. Specifically because I am not living in a monastic cell, I have always appreciated the thoughtfulness and consideration you inspire in me when dealing with the things in my life.
A really interesting parallel - would you ever say more about the material world ~ spiritual life relationship for you? I read it into everything you write because it’s my lens, but I’d be curious for a more explicit reflection. I see your slow/simple/minimalist work as a worldview relating to everything, but don’t hear the spiritual connection as explicitly (not a criticism, and of course skip it if it’s not for you, or for you on this platform!). Just always looking for more modern Shaker vibes in my life 😆
This is one reason I love knowing hippie old-school progressive Mennonites: they teach me about simple living as an ethic (with an accompanying aesthetic) that has a long history and the wisdom that comes with long histories. See: the classic cookbook More With Less. #LentilCore
I grew up with a father who owned one pair of shoes two shirts and one pair of pants. He loved spending his money on experience and not things. My mom was a high voltage consumer. I am trying to buy less and experience more. Reading your pieces always makes me think about it all especially this hashtag world we live in.
Well said, and thank you again for putting thoughts I've pondered, making them cohesive and put into well-written words! I come from a long line of slowliving/underconsumption people (though I seem to be one of the few minimalists-lol) before hashtags were a thing. It was just a way of life for those in the family before me, sometimes decided, sometimes necessary. I rebelled against it at one time briefly (oh teenagers!) but being a minimalist at my core, and learning to live on my own, I saw the light. I just wonder if it will ever catch on in a larger, meaningful way.
Funny how everything timeless, at some point, is “on trend”. No shame in embracing this ageless wisdom! Sans hashtags or with. Mahalo for sharing your reflections! Aloha from Honolulu 💝
Hi Erin! Would you mind sharing what platform you sell your clothes on ? :)
I think your authentic commitment to living your values has always come through more strongly than any hashtag, trend or movement with which you've been aligned. I'm trying to pull back from some increased consumption in the last year (and the mindset and behaviors that led to it) and I found this reflection very grounding. Thanks as always!
Thank you for this lovely and profound essay. Labels or hashtags confine by their limited nature; “sustainable “ is the most generous, but I fear also loaded and trendy. I appreciate your considered and intensional living and even more your thoughtful writing and beautiful photos of the #things in your life. Meditations that inspire and uplift me.
omg Erin this banger-- "I’m not suggesting we all fetch our hair shirts from our streamlined capsule wardrobes" STAHP lolololol. You're too much!
Never know if my lapsed Catholic references will land!
I am so very grateful that I found you and your writing…I feel so refreshed after reading your work
I think that I may reread “Simple Matters” tonight.
I just can’t thank you enough for all that I have learned from you…and continue to learn…🙂
Lovely post, as always. the world runs on categorization, so generally, as long as “consumed” and applied judiciously, there is nothing wrong with labels (=hashtags) - especially if you need them to run your business. if I were to offer a label for your work, I would say your specialization is “things”;-) you may underconsume, find, repair, make or discard them, but still things appear to occupy a lot of your focus and time, - or at least your writing here, no? Things are the stuff our lives are made of, and I readily admit I love them. Specifically because I am not living in a monastic cell, I have always appreciated the thoughtfulness and consideration you inspire in me when dealing with the things in my life.
#things
A really interesting parallel - would you ever say more about the material world ~ spiritual life relationship for you? I read it into everything you write because it’s my lens, but I’d be curious for a more explicit reflection. I see your slow/simple/minimalist work as a worldview relating to everything, but don’t hear the spiritual connection as explicitly (not a criticism, and of course skip it if it’s not for you, or for you on this platform!). Just always looking for more modern Shaker vibes in my life 😆
This is one reason I love knowing hippie old-school progressive Mennonites: they teach me about simple living as an ethic (with an accompanying aesthetic) that has a long history and the wisdom that comes with long histories. See: the classic cookbook More With Less. #LentilCore
I grew up Church of the Brethren (a peace church in the Anabaptist tradition like Mennonites) and this resonated with me too. Love More With Less!
I should add that I’m really grateful for your comments here, Erin. I think you’re digging into some v good compost.
Thank you for always being you.
I grew up with a father who owned one pair of shoes two shirts and one pair of pants. He loved spending his money on experience and not things. My mom was a high voltage consumer. I am trying to buy less and experience more. Reading your pieces always makes me think about it all especially this hashtag world we live in.
Keep writing i love reading it all.
Beautiful writing, Erin. Pulling our hair shirts from our capsule wardrobes!!
Well said, and thank you again for putting thoughts I've pondered, making them cohesive and put into well-written words! I come from a long line of slowliving/underconsumption people (though I seem to be one of the few minimalists-lol) before hashtags were a thing. It was just a way of life for those in the family before me, sometimes decided, sometimes necessary. I rebelled against it at one time briefly (oh teenagers!) but being a minimalist at my core, and learning to live on my own, I saw the light. I just wonder if it will ever catch on in a larger, meaningful way.