Simple is as Simple does...in Garden Design and in Life


The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.
~ Walt Whitman



Simplicity is a tender heart, a lilting song, a perfect form, a sweeping curve.

Simplicity offers us creative freedom.  It clarifies. As Plato said, "In order to seek one's own direction, one must simplify the mechanics of ordinary, everyday life."

Or as the Shakers sang, "'Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free....."


So incorporate the 7 aspects of the simple life (as I have defined them) to create a more fulfilling life or at least a memorable haven of simplicity:


1. Choose Simplicity: choose the simple life deliberately; do not be distracted by consumer culture. Choose freedom. Arrange your life so that you are not too busy, too stressed, and too fragmented. Share your "true gifts" to the world . As Emerson said, "The only true gift is a portion of yourself."

from Christian gifts place

2. Sell Simplicity: serve the growing market for healthy, uplifting and sustainable products and services of all kinds — home-building, energy systems, foods, etc. Retrofit or design homes, cities, workplaces that are in accord with a simple life...sell anything that promotes spiritual development.

3. Operate from Simplicity: stress a kinship with others and develop a reverence for the community of life on Earth. Appreciate your interconnection with the web of life.  Balance your time in human environments with time in nature.



4. Live Simplicity: choose to live in a way that touches the Earth more lightly. Put whole eco-systems and healthy people up front and center.  "Choose to live simply so that others may simply live."


5. Design with Simplicity: Gandhi said, "My life is my message." In this spirit, surround yourself with an aesthetic that draws from Zen to the Shakers, Matisse to Masai. Celebrate natural materials and beautiful design.

6. Save Simplicity: Cut back on things that do not serve you and learn to live with less, however you define this.

7. Cultivate Simplicity: Approach life as a gift and cultivate your connection with all that exists. Look beyond appearances. A spiritual presence will infuse your life and awaken you to a world that sustains you. Savor your life in its unparalled richness.

If you follow these 7 aspects you will enjoy that garden of yours to the max....

remember in times of stress to follow Henry David Thoreau's advice:  "Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify."



Comments

  1. M NurmanOctober 30, 2010 at 10:24 PM

    Hi there, it's great! just came across a nice blog to share and followed you, would you please visit mine, comment and follow me too, thanks.

    Best wishes

    ReplyDelete
  2. Agrobio Solutions (SA0134472-U)October 31, 2010 at 10:59 AM

    Very interesting blog

    ReplyDelete
  3. lam5991November 1, 2010 at 1:57 PM

    Simplicity can be hard to achieve, but often the most beautiful things are the most simple. I appreciate simplicity more and more each day. Thanks for giving us some ideas...

    ReplyDelete
  4. solar lampFebruary 23, 2012 at 4:39 AM

    It’s in point of fact a nice and useful piece of information. I’m happy that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJune 2, 2013 at 3:03 PM

    What a lovely post Jan. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jan JohnsenJuly 23, 2013 at 7:33 AM

    My pleasure Claudia! simple things make us happy, yes?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maryanne WhiteJuly 23, 2013 at 1:14 PM

    Love the overall classic simplicity of your designs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jan JohnsenJuly 24, 2013 at 7:33 AM

      Maryanne, thank you for that compliment...simple is the way, sometimes.

      Delete

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