View Full Version : Who are your VS/Simple Living Heroes?
Who has inspired you in your simple living/voluntary simplicity journey?
For me, that would be:
Henry David Thoreau
Helen and Scott Nearing
Peace Pilgrim
Jim Merkel
William Coperthwaite
Richard Gregg
Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
Amy Dacyczyn
St. Francis
Thich Nhat Hanh
Dorothy Day
I'd like to hear about the modern day heroes also… who is carrying the torch for the heroes who have come before us?
I loved Your Money or Your Life and was lucky enough to read it in my 20's - so Vicki and Joe are big heroes for me.
Dh is an amazing example of living a simple and intentional life. He's my personal hero.
I also love the work of Joseph Campbell. Even though he didn't use simple living terminology, I believe he got to the core of living mindfully and joyfully, which is what I equate with simple living.
And, I'm working on being my own inspiration for living simply, mindfully, and joyfully!:)
I have been inspired by some of the people already mentioned. Also by some friends and neighbors of my grandparents' generation, who were self-sufficient and willing to show young folks how to improvise, repair, problem-solve, and be happy without owning the bells and whistles of consumer society. They had lived through the Great Depression.
The Foxfire Books series from the 1970's also inspired me, because the individuals telling the stories of how they lived seemed to have such joie de vivre, while having simple lifestyles.
And The Last Whole Earth Catalog: what a collection of alternatives and possibilities! I read it from cover to cover several times.
Good idea for a thread, catherine!
Jeff Yeager and Michelle Singletary helped me when I was ready to start down the path. I'm disappointed in how Michelle's column has become some crappy reality/celebrity/money column, but she had some good stuff to say when I needed to hear it, so she deserves credit for that.
The Nearings are near the top of my list along with Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez. I read a handful of other SL current books when I was first getting into it, but none really impressed me. I was into Thoreau and Emerson, but they really aren't modern heros. The other night I was listening to KZMU out of Moab, and low and behold it was the Daniel Suelo program, which I think he does weekly. The book about him actually left a favorable impression on me, although I thought he was a rather odd man. His program is a mix of music and discussion and I can't say that I appreciate his musical tastes, but it was interesting to hear after reading the book.
The other night I was listening to KZMU out of Moab, and low and behold it was the Daniel Suelo program, which I think he does weekly. The book about him actually left a favorable impression on me, although I thought he was a rather odd man. His program is a mix of music and discussion and I can't say that I appreciate his musical tastes, but it was interesting to hear after reading the book. [/COLOR]
After I posted I remembered Daniel Suelo. I admire the path he has chosen, as radical as it is. I think he has a few lessons for the rest of us, even though not many of us could live like he does. Also, he's not a kook or psychotic. He writes extremely intelligently and lucidly.
Richard Proenneke (Alone in the Wilderness)
Anne LaBastille (Woodswoman)
Richard Proenneke (Alone in the Wilderness)
Anne LaBastille (Woodswoman)
I've seen Richard Proenneke's films, but thanks for mentioning Anne LaBastille--I've actually never heard of her! I Wikipedia'd her and she looks awesome--I'm definitely going to read some of her works.
A close friend and co-worker who first introduced me to the notion of Voluntary Simplicity and Deep Ecology. Since I knew her IRL I could see the philosophy in practice.
Wren reminded me how much I used to love the Foxfire books, too...I think they stirred early inclinations in me.
I've seen Richard Proenneke's films, but thanks for mentioning Anne LaBastille--I've actually never heard of her! I Wikipedia'd her and she looks awesome--I'm definitely going to read some of her works.
If you haven't read One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey, which is a book based on Dick Proenneke's journals, I highly recommend it.
ToomuchStuff
2-7-15, 1:22am
I can't call them heroes, because they have done nothing heroic. They have inspired, yes, but not heroic.
Amy (going to masacre the spelling), Dacizion (the Tightwad Gazette), and my grandmother.
There have also been a few old timer neighbors as I grew up, that lived through the depression and the war shortages, etc. I learned a few things that helped. I started on YMOYL a few years ago, and life got in the way before I finished it. I need to go back and start over and go all the way through.
I do remember seeing a show on Dick Proenneke on PBS years ago. I do have to laugh, because the Firefox series are some of my fathers all time favorite books, but some of the things he has learned, I have found in other books on sites such as Project Gutenberg (where old skills in long out of print books can be found).
Balu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbf4weFbuS8
Wow, 3 minutes of simple-living wisdom in a happy little nutshell! Thanks, Alan! That made my morning!
Great choice, Alan! One of my all-time most favorite childhood movies :)
Tussiemussies
2-7-15, 11:03pm
I too like Peace Pilgrim and then James Allen, who wrote "As A Man Thinketh" which most are familiar with. He wrote many other books and some of his themes are simplicity, even in the types of food you eat -- eating plain nourishing food. He lived in England and said that doing away with supper was a good thing since it made the mind cloudy the next morning. I am not sure what meal of their day was supper. But I sure cannot function on less than three meal and healthy snacks. He was very orderly about living his life and did not believe in wasting any time.
I first became aware of simple living by reading on the Internet and the original boards were one of the first things I came across that inspired me, and I have been fairly active since.....and made so many lifestyle changes!
Balu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbf4weFbuS8
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