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"Evolved Individuals do not accumulate.
The more they do for others, the more they gain.
The more they give to others, the more they possess."
Tao 81; The Tao of Power, R. L. Wing
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Jill, Linda, Don, Bazil, Marlisa, Jeff, Mark, Dave, Ceilia, Gerry, Dave, Mike, Dave, Vicki, Jenny, Laura, Bob and Susan, welcomed Matt, Maryanna, Amy, Mary, Gordon, Joe and Richard to their first meeting.

Mike opened the space with a brief round of introductions. The group then created the following list of discussion topics:

* Ideas for Living Green / Sustainably (& Why) - (Gerry)
* Take Back Your Time Day - (Mike)
* Feeling that life is in Limbo / Defying a Culture of Success (Maryanna & Mark)
* Investing Money (Jeff)

…and announcements:
~ Conference for Conscious Living
Saturday, October 11, 2003, Noon - 4pm
2145 N. Sheridan Road, 708-531-8910 www.chicago.earthsave.org

~ CHICAGO ROLLING THUNDER PRESENTS
Countdown to 2004: Reclaiming Our Democracy Thunder in Beverly
Sunday, October 12, 2003, Noon til 8 p.m.
WORLD FOLK MUSIC COMPANY, 1808 West 103rd Street, Chicago
Festival of fun, music, education, workshops, speakers, voter registration and inspiration!
Cost: $5, Volunteers needed, call (773) 235-4488

TOPICS:

(*) INVESTING MONEY (Jeff)...
Are there easier ways to invest money/learn about investing money? Jeff led a lively discussion noting with the recent downturns in the market, investing hasn't been much fun lately. Brokers/brokerage houses are advising their clients not to open quarterly statements, noting if you are investing for the long haul don't be swayed by fluctuations.

Don brought up the importance of having goals or a focus => why are you investing? What's the purpose?? Simply investing to make the most money is not a clear enough goal because it doesn't address how much is enough. The goals/focus also must be your own. What is it that you really want to do? What's important to you?

Don also emphasized the importance of knowing, "...what is going out", and sited examples from the book, The Millionaire Next Door. Mike noted the importance of this also. He and Linda have done nine workshops focused on tracking your spending since January. The workshops are based on the book, Your Money Or Your Life, and help folks bring their spending into alignment with their values. By knowing where their money is going, folks can then decide if that's really what they want to spend their money on. Example: is taking the kids to see a movie really worth $50? What is the message of the movie, and more importantly, what is the message of me spending $50 this way?? Since I buy money with my time, is this a good expense of my time??? If it's worth it great, if not, then you've got something to ponder. Questioning is important because it brings about awareness, and awareness greatly helps with goals/focus (alignment with values).

Also discussed by the group were emotions around investing, safe investments verses more aggressive instruments, and how to find a broker one can trust. Mike asked, "How is it that this current way of 'investing' (brokers, planners, stock market,...) is so readily accepted as being THE way/THE place for your money today, while the simplicity of saving your money in interest bearing accounts is almost immediately dismissed as not being the way to enable anyone to reach a level of financial security?" (Rich mentioned in another concurring session saving is what he did to reach financial self-sustainability . Mike & Linda have done the same). Inflation, having less time available to save (ie, being older when starting to save therefore need to be more "aggressive"), and having balance were discussed. Goals/focus seem to help with emotions, as does simply saving. Don noted Mike & Linda also have real estate (a paid off home) in addition to savings, therefore have assets spread.

Keep an eye on broker fees. Know also how your broker is making his/her money before investing with them => do they really have YOUR best interest at heart?

(*) IDEAS for LIVING GREEN / SUSTAINABLY (& Why - Values) - (Gerry)...
A few ways to live Green, such as recycling (notwithstanding the blue bag debate in Chicago – there are also neighborhood drop-off recycling bins and centers), buying organic (via Community Supported Agriculture, e.g., Angelic Organics, some farmer’s markets), making your own furniture, were mentioned and discussed, but the discussion focused primarily on how individuals have developed and maintained impulses for environmentally-friendly behavior, as part of their personal value systems. Some paths that were offered as examples:

"I was just brought up to not be wasteful, and saw the interrelation between people and nature early on - we belong to the earth and should not abuse it."

Linda mentioned that growing up in Chicago, like in many areas, nature was relatively invisible. However, the process of living simply from a financial standpoint – watching where and how the money was spent – raised her awareness about ways to reduce waste and damage to the planet.

Rich said that "Enjoying little things in life (absorbing the view on the lakeshore or savoring a good pastry) taught me to consume less. . . Bigger salaries allow us all to spend, consume, and waste more – we become trash converters."

The European model of living with less consumption and waste was discussed – they seem to be getting along well without the American level of consumerism, and individuals here can do it too.

The Golden Rule perspective was discussed in terms of what we will leave future generations – any natural resources, or just abject lessons about over-consumption.

The lesson issue led to a discussion of the greater impact of leading by example, rather than reaching to the unconverted, whether it concerns our individual choices to live green/sustainably, or in any other way that celebrates simplicity. You're quite unlikely to change the behavior of big consumers/takers by preaching to them, but your actions may passively open the eyes of those ready to learn a new thing or two, and when they ask you about your choices, you can have a positive impact by sharing your perspectives.

And finally, living consciously leads to examination of the multiple reactions to each of our actions – simple, conscious acts are usually sustainable.

(*) TAKE BACK YOUR TIME DAY www.timeday.org - (Mike)...
"It's late October, you've been working hard. How would you like to take the rest of the year off? If you've been working as much as the average American employee, you've already clocked as many hours as a full-time worker does over an entire year in many European countries." (Take Back Your Time Day Handbook, p203).

Mike recently returned from the Simplicity Forum in Seattle. An initiative of the Forum is Take Back Your Time Day (Time Day), a planned series of events designed to begin a national dialog about why do we Americans put in more about nine weeks more then our counterparts. To emphasize this point, Time Day is set for October 24, 2003 - nine weeks before the end of the year. If you were a worker in Europe, you could take the rest of the year off.

Time Day isn't about not working, it's about fairness. Why give up benefits, overtime, living wages... so those at the top of a company (and their shareholders) can have extravagant and/or out of proportion bonuses and earnings?

Through the work of the Time Day steering committee, Senators Hatch, Kennedy, Dodd, and Alexander introduced Senate Resolution 210 (S. RES. 210, 108th Congress, 1st Session) on July 31st (see http://www.simpleliving.net/timeday/contact.asp). The resolution passed on September 9th, and calls for "...reducing the conflict between work and family life should be a national priority; and the month of October be designated as 'National Work and Family Month'; and the Senate requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the US to observe (this day) with appropriate ceremonies and activities."

How can one participate or attend a Time Day (www.timeday.org )activity?

[1] Here's a list of 50 things you can do:
http://www.simpleliving.net/timeday/publicity-materials.asp

[2] check out:
http://www.simpleliving.net/timeday/contact.asp for an event in your area

[3] sign up for the e-newsletter:
http://www.simpleliving.net/timeday/email.asp

[4] Discussion is THE key. Host a simplicity circle/conversation cafe focused on taking back time for ourselves. See:
http://www.simpleliving.net/timeday/book-appendix-a.asp for examples

[5] Contact Mike Lenich at 708-339-4132

(*) FEELING THAT LIFE IS IN LIMBL / DEFYING a CULTURE of SUCCESS (Maryanna & Mark)...

How does one answer the question, "Should I continue my career or follow my passion for working at _______? What do you do after 20 years or so of doing the same job? It was fun before, but I feel called to do something else. How do I make ends meet if I quit my current job and follow my passion?" Group discussion included making changes in your life, how we think of ourselves, what others think of us, and what we think of others. The group encouraged following your passion, then pondered, "Does one just leave their current job to follow their passion, or does one plan and save AND then do their passion?" No easy answers to that one. Seems to depend on personality type. Some would rather plan and save, others would rather take a leap and see what happens.

And perhaps being in limbo/stuck is a good thing. It could give you time to stop and think, time to ask others, and time to listen to others. It could also give you time to find living examples of things you'd like to do, and time to ask those living these example, "How are you doing this?"

We adjourned and closed the meeting space at 12:10pm. No lemons today, just toothpaste, squash & eggplant...
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(Recorded by Mike Lenich)