by Lesley Allen

Created on: March 05, 2008

Living a simple life is not about poverty, self-denial, or deprivation. In fact, it's just the opposite. It's about richness, quality, and full enjoyment.

Many books have been written on how to live a simple life. The changes suggested usually range from changing your work, your house and means of transport, to learning how to build a log cabin and exist on food from the forest. For most of us these changes are too big to put into operation without extensive planning, profound commitment, and the wholehearted support of each member of the family.

Nonetheless, we can all take the major principle on board and enjoy the benefits of a simpler life. A simple life is one without an accumulation of unnecessary possessions, unnecessary worries, and unnecessary tasks.

The key word here is 'unnecessary'. If you consider that the latest high-tech sound system is essential to your quality of life and you use it constantly, it is an essential as far as you are concerned. Likewise, if you cannot exist without the most sophisticated mountain bike that money can buy, and the only time it's not in use is when you are cleaning it, it is a necessary item.

However, if your sound system is silent because you are working overtime in a job you detest so that you can pay for it, something is wrong. Your priorities need to be sorted so that you consciously adjust your spending habits. If your mountain bike is rarely used because your weekends are taken up with cleaning the house that you had no time to clean during the week when you were doing that detestable job, perhaps you should have fewer items to clean.

Either way, you need more money or more time, and preferably both. This is where the concept of simplicity comes in. Paring down to the possessions that are most important to you, developing the habit of delaying gratification instead of rushing out to purchase, opting for quality rather than quantity; this is what living a simple (or at least a simpler) life is all about.

Take a look around you. How much did that turkey fryer cost you? You know, the one that is slowly rusting on the patio and gets used maybe six times a year? How much time do you spend filling it, cleaning it, wishing you had never bought it, cursing the space it takes up?

What about that gym membership you thought was a good idea on January 2 when you were putting your New Year's resolutions into action? You probably haven't been able to make enough time for regular sessions because you've been working overtime to

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