After a brief round of introductions and explanation of the meeting format, the group listed items for open space discussion:

• Fear & anxiety associated with dealing with money. Will you have enough?
• Re-wall chart -- why is "enough" at the top of Luxuries? Why not at the Comfort level??
• If everyone reduced their excess spending, would a downward economy indeed cause human suffering in the lower end of the work force (good for the earth, bad for humans?)?
• Managing health care costs while reducing income/consumption
• Eating living and raw foods
• Valentine's Day alternatives?
• Careers -- aligning passions with your job
• Kate Maver looking to form a Simplicity Group in Northwest Suburbs

The group reviewed, arranged and combined the items, deciding to discuss three topics concurrently, in two separate sessions. Here are some highlights from the open space discussions…

NORTHWEST CHICAGO SUBURB SIMPLICITY GROUP...
In addition to the monthly VS Chicago meetings, a Northwest Suburb is getting started.

FEAR AND ANXIETY DEALING WITH MONEY &
WHY IS ENOUGH IN THE LUXURY AREA OF THE FULFILLMENT CURVE?...
Good group discussion revealed there is not enough attention given to the relationship between emotions and realities such as money. There is a need to define enough for yourself -- it is different for each person, based on your priorities. By understanding what is enough for you, you can reduce your anxiety.

EATING LIVING AND RAW FOODS...
Todd relayed his experiences six years ago with bodily aches and pains. Many visits to numerous doctors did not provide relief. He had been following the Standard American Diet (or SAD as Ross pointed out) and didn't think it could be a cause of his ailments. Todd traveled in the middle east for 14 months and was exposed to different diets. He gradually became a vegetarian, then vegan, then a raw fooder, eating mostly green vegetable drinks, sprouts and seeds. Soon his ailments disappeared. Today, he remains pain free and makes sprouts myself -- a great source of highly nutritious and organic foods that are easy to do and are extremely inexpensive. In the summer, he finds wild foods to eat in a nearby forest or in his own backyard. These gradual changes in his lifestyle has led him to a simple and more rewarding lifestyle. He also has come to be in tune with his physical, intellectual, and spiritual needs, while also becoming in tune with the environment. In addition to no longer spending money on big dinners, Todd's new lifestyle has also led him to other ways of saving money and enjoying life. Discussion followed on specifics of Todd's diet and learnings about foods, nutrition and our food system.

VALENTINE'S DAY & ALTERNATIVE GIFTS...
Valentine's Day advertisements resemble those of Christmas. How did Valentine's Day get started, why is there a need for gifts, and alternative ideas for expressing love and intent were discussed.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE ECONOMY IF EVERYONE REDUCED THEIR EXCESS SPENDING?...
Kim led a discussion based on an Money Section article in the Sunday, February 4, 2001 Chicago Tribune. The article talked about collapsing world governments, social changes in just emerging third world countries, and struggles for entry level US workers should US Consumers continue to reduce their spending. Could voluntary simplicity adversely impact our global economy, especially as our ranks seem to grow? What would happen if everyone reduced their spending?? Discussion ensued and included thoughts that perhaps reduced demand would reduce/eliminate demand for cheap and exploitive labor -- young third world workers may be able to return to previous ways of life. In the US, those learning to live more simply consequently have to work less to support themselves. Jobs are then freed up and available to others. Also learning to live with less dependence on others and other resources, is a strong base for true freedom, and could reduce the need to use force to take from others.

MANAGING HEALTH CARE COSTS WHILE REDUCING INCOME/CONSUMPTION... Discussion included health care needs deemed as essential today were nonexistent just a few years back. How do you handle costs? Comparison shop for doctors, lab tests, prescriptions and procedures like mammogram -- prices very widely. Taking care of yourself is cheaper than getting care for a sickness, but what happens when you do get sick? Do you go without certain services?? Social systems as in Canada seem good, but shortages of services and products abound. The group noted that health care is an ongoing topic at the VS meetings, indicating there are still many unresolved issues.

ALIGNING PASSIONS WITH YOUR JOB/CAREER...
The group that formed under this topic discussed how to work in a negative job environment and how to make it work for you by working on yourself.

Books mentioned...

• An Unquiet Mind
• The Artist's Way (book and workshop)
• The Dark Side of the Light Chasers

Web sites noted...

(Posted by: Mike Lenich)