10/8/05 VS Chicago Meeting Notes

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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known"

Carl Sagan
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From Mike regarding VS Chicago meetings notes...
Our meetings yield many interesting insights, observations, conversations and discussions. The intricacy and wisdom that results becomes increasingly more difficult to articulate. The phrase, "You had to be there", best explains it for me. What will follow as notes from the meeting, are headings of the topics we discussed.

MONEY & SIMPLICITY
Morgan Park Academy Simplicity talk...
Mike and Joe shared their experiences with a talk on simplicity they gave to 190 Chicago high school students on September 27th. Surprise, hope this upcoming generation seems to have a better understanding of consumerism, fun, and insights were shared by all during group discussion.

Deprivation - the flip side of the fulfillment curve...
What happens when you feel deprivation somewhere along the way of living a simpler life? The group discussed what happens if/when they feel "deprived". Sometimes it's real, other times it can be a wanting of something you really don't need - a subtle or not so subtle peer pressure/seeing others sort of thing. Included in discussion were ways of working with these items when they happen.

Other discussion items under this heading...
Affects of new bankruptcy laws…
Debt…
Financial Education…

PHILOSOPHICAL & SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF SIMPLICITY
Healing Back Pain...
Mike asked if anyone has read the book, "Healing Back Pain - The Mind-Body connection" by John E. Sarno, M.D. He found the book yielded many insights for beyond back pain. Group discussion followed on mind-body connections.

"Illusions of Life" => isn't that what folks find out during Voluntary Simplicity...
We discussed things we long for while working, like other places "I'd rather live", things I'd do... and how they might change when one no longer needs to work for pay. "Illusions of life" surfaced as a topic, noting choosing to follow a simpler life tends to lead to identifying truth from what one may have thought they wanted.

I don't what things anymore. Is that OK?...
After awhile, I don't need things anymore. I don't anything more to clutter up my life, I don't need to buy anything more. Am I normal? Is that OK?? Great questions followed by excellent discussion and conversation.

ENVIRONMENT & SIMPLICITY
Mike and Linda decided to replace their 24-year-old natural gas furnace with a 94% high efficiency unit. Mike noted, "It's getting kind of old, and while it still functions, it requires more frequent cleaning as it deteriorates. Linda figured if the predictions for 50-70% hikes is natural gas prices become reality, the new equipment will pay for itself much quicker." Check out new tax breaks for home improvements signed into law in the new energy bill.
http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=USATOD AY.com+-+Bill+gives+breaks+to+home+improvers%2C+hybrid+buyers&expire=&url ID=15018438&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fmoney%2Fperfi%2Fcolu mnist%2Fblock%2F2005-08-01-breaks_x.htm&partnerID=1661

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY THAT MADE YOUR LIFE SIMPLER?

(no topics discussed under this heading…)

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(Recorded by Mike Lenich)