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"Using only a little knowledge,
I would travel the Great Way
And fear only of letting go.
The Great Way is very even;
Yet people love the byways."
-- Tao 53, 'The Undivided Path'
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VS Chicago December 11, 2004 Meeting Notes
Jill, Gerry, Victoria, Lenny, Mark, Jason, Leo, Shirley, Colin, Julie, Vicki, Micky, Bob, Ross, Roberto, Jerry, Jeff and Mike and others welcomed Steve, Karl, Mary Beth and Steve to their first meeting.
Mike opened the space with a round of introductions, and we quickly began posting discussion topics.
- "Things We've all Learned" (about living simply)
- Nice way to get people to try to make Christmas less about money
- Debt and Government
- Health Insurance
- What do you get folks who have everything?
- Difficulty in reducing spending - peer pressure, self control...
- Simple Events, Gatherings, Happenings, as alternatives to commercialism holiday parties
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jill is forming a Northside VS Group. First meeting is January 22nd, beginning with discussion at 5:00pm, and a pot luck at 6:00pm. For further information, contact Mike at VSChicago@juno.com.
For those interested in the "Your Money or Your Life" program, Mike & Linda Lenich are coordinating a one day workshop on the audio tape series, "Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence" (the forerunner to the book, "Your Money Or Your Life"). The workshop will be at the Unity Church of Christ, 740 River Drive, Hammond, Indiana (just south of Interstate 80 at the Calumet Ave. Exit ~ two miles east of the Illinois/Indiana border), 219-931-5284. The date is February 5, 2005, from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Cost is $11 for the course workbook and a love offering for the Church. For further information or registration, contact Mike at
VSChicago@juno.com.
How about a song circle? A song circle is a old tradition of gathering folks to make music. Talent levels/abilities aren't a factor in the song circle - just a desire to participate by listening, singing and/or playing an instrument. The Two Way Street Coffeehouse and the Plank Road Folk Music Society host a song circle the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, at 1047 Curtis Street, Downers Grove, IL (across the street from the Downers Grove Library). Folk songs books provided. The Metra train takes you there from downtown Chicago, or the western suburbs - exit at Downers Grove and walk one block south, one block west (ie, follow the Library signs). Cost? Donation of $2-$3, plus $.75 for drinks.
TOPICS
THINGS I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT HOW TO LIVE SIMPLY (group)...
In round table fashion, everyone shared one thing they've learned about how to live simply;
- Listen to yourself
- Being debt free opens many opportunities
- How long will I have to work to pay for this thing I want to buy
- A $1 not spent is a $1.40 I don't have to earn
- How to better balance time and money/how to pay better attention
- Work to live instead of living to work
- Health insurance implications
- Inexpensive ways to do holidays
- Giving up stuff - it's not a trade off, it's a trade up for better quality of life
- What I have to spend, what I have to earn
- Anger is a reaction
- Things I've been learning on my own folks here are learning too
- How to find folks with common interests
- Realizing who my father was by sorting through his stuff after he died
- Different Ideas - a lot of different ideas on de-clutter mental, living and spiritual space
- "Today is good. Today is good enough."
- Value ourselves more, then we love ourselves and others more
- This group is my "virtual agent" (like a good insurance agent)
- Becoming more honest about who I am, ie, refusing to go along with what others want,
no longer sweeping things under the carpet...
- By reducing things, I'm reducing maintaining what I have. Learned to keep what is really useful.
"Humans, are friends of stuff that talk"
INEXPENSIVE MEETINGS, GATHERINGS, OR FREE THINGS TO DO IN DEC. or JAN. EFFORTS TO AVOID COMMERCIAL HOLIDAY EVENTS
Health Earth Resources. Reiki group every Tuesday evening. For this and other events, check out their web page: http://www.healingearthresources.com/site/epage/2484_163.htm
Dec. 19th. 1pm to 4 pm. The Gathering has a potluck at Walt and Terri Rucker's (4440 N. Winchester in Chicago, just south of Ravenswood Hospital). Free event just bring food to share. A place for friends to meet friends.
Fourth Sunday of the Month. Potluck at Health Earth Resources sponsored by Earth Save Chicago http://www.earthsavechicago.com/ They also have a new year's party for $75. See website.
Sat and Sunday mornings. 10:30-12, Kundalini Yoga. 410 S. Michigan Ave. 4th floor. Led by Susan Kekos. Small charge.
Dec. 31st. Holmes Center. Health Center has an evening of sauna and yoga. 6pm to 2am. $50.
Dec. 31st. Evanston First Night. Cost $10.
Dec. 31st. 10:30-12 pm. New year's eve Birkram Yoga. Lincoln Park location at Diversy and Clark. Cost is $15.
Song Circle - January 1st, 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Two Way Street Coffeehouse, 1047 Curtis Street, Downers Grove, IL Everyone of all talents and skill levels invited - listeners too! Donation $2-$3, plus soft drinks, coffee, tea... (hosted by VS Chicagoians Micky & Bob Holdsworth)
Jan. 8th. 9am to 12. Meeting of Voluntary Simplicity group at Crossroads Center, 711 W. Monore, in Chicago. No charge.
Jan 22. Meeting of Voluntary Simplicity on the Northside. Call Jill for information on this (or e-mail to VSChicago@juno.com) No charge.
Second Friday of each month. Soka Gakkai International (1500 S. Wabash). Free music at this temple.
Check out multiple groups on meetup.com http://www.meetup.com/
Monday night free talks at the Kabbalah Center (3113 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago).
Transitions bookstore in Chicago, multiple free book lectures.
One day a week, museums are free (Art Institute on Tuesdays)
(*) WHAT DO YOU GET FOLKS WHO HAVE EVERYTHING...
Simple answer, nothing! If you can't find something useful, then get them nothing (but your sweet smile and gratitude).
Other group ideas included "de-gifting" - find useful places for wonderful gifts you may have received over the years that you won't use. Give gifts to Heifer International, or other worthy charities in the person's name. You won't miss the hustle and bustle and you'll be doing things that are important. Try the "$100 Holiday" - everything to do with the holidays for under $100. Try giving time, not money => invitations to your home for dinner or take someone around Chicago's sites... Carry a camera and take pictures of friends and family, and give photos as gifts.
How do you change gift giving traditions? Simply stand up and offer an alternative. A lot of times, many of those around you will be glad you did. There may be one or two who disagree so listen to them, try to meet them where they are, then try to lead them where you want to go. Give gifts throughout the year, when they seem useful/appropriate, not roboticly by dates.
Is there any guilt from not gifting? Don't confuse feelings of guilt with feelings of doing something different - something different always feels a bit unfamiliar. The alternative of giving gifts because we're supposed to doesn't bring joy. Choose joy instead of fear (ie, guilt, hate, anger...). Choose using the holidays as a springboard for celebrating joy, love, hope and possibility throughout the year.
(*) WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE...
Group ideas and suggestions included... Find a good insurance agent to work with - a good agent will bring negotiating and back up support. Going direct to an insurance company on your own is a solo effort. Avoid being rejected for any reason (goes on your "permanent record") so have as much available to you as possible. Keep yourself healthy. Eat balanced meals, avoid the toxins and excess calories. Maintain your weight and physical abilities. Take 20-30 walks five times a week. Avoid lapsing coverage - harder to get insured when you've lost insurance for whatever the reason. Obtain your own heath insurance before leaving a job that offers a health care benefit - once you have your own, you may be able to "opt-out" of your employer's plan and receive a refund of your portion of premiums. If you're healthy, higher deductibles may be a more economical option. Dental and eye care plans generally are expensive - even with group coverage. Do the math to be sure you aren't spending more on premiums then if you paid out of pocket. Many of these plans have fairly low benefit limits - when you factor in your premiums, are you paying for little coverage? Example; at $40/month, with a $1000 benefit limit, you're paying $480/year for $1000 in coverage - your real coverage is $1000-$480 = $520. Check out a recent article in the Chicago Tribune (thank you Karl) at http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/.
(*) NICE WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO TRY TO MAKE CHRISTMAS LESS ABOUT MONEY
(*) DIFFICULTY IN REDUCING SPENDING - PEER PRESSURE, SELF CONTROL...
(*) DEBT & GOVERNMENT...
Many ideas were covered in previous topics - talk with them first, up front. Meet them where they are. Tell them your reasons, reach a possibility.
We closed the meeting and space at 12:15pm with live music, clarification of Segway purchase rumors, lunch and gathering plans, hugs and holiday wishes...
PS from Mike: And thank you to everyone for helping out at the meeting Saturday - much appreciated!
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(Recorded by Mike Lenich)