Simplify, Simplify! 

"Empress Cindy" explains how Barbara's books helped her hone in on what she really wanted to do in life . . . and starting a business didn't stay on her list. She discusses the "Simplicity Movement" and how today's economy is forcing people to reevaluate their lives.


I'm writing to thank you for your books. I've finished Creative Cash and Handmade for Profit, and I'm about 20 pages into Bringing in the Bucks. You're a natural writer--your humor and intelligence come through on every page--and I thoroughly enjoy reading your writing.

And because of your books, I realized that I definitely do NOT want to start a home business. I'm an artistic weaver, using a cardboard loom and a needle and my fingers, and your books made me realize that I care far more about making my weavings than about selling them. I have two one-woman shows lined up for January, and I'm going to give a demo at one and be an artist-in-residence on the weekends while the show is up, and while I know that will be fun, I may not even do that again.

I've also pulled away from the Internet. I've had an amateur web page up since 1996 (my husband is a computer whiz), but when we switched our ISP a couple of weeks ago, that disappeared and I'm not going to ask my husband to put it back up. I also belonged to several e-mail lists, which I greatly enjoyed, until I realized that being online was taking over my life. 
And since the blackout last weekend (I live in metro Detroit), I've decided to spend even less time online, and may eventually go off completely.

I stopped watching TV when the Iraq war began and rarely watch a video except to keep my husband company. I'm telling you all this, because I'm often like the canary in the coal mine, and when I talk to people, especially women, they, too, say they're sick of TV and its violence. Many of them, especially the ones my age (50s), don't go online much, and most of the 
ones who do don't spend much time doing it.

I'm interested in staying very local and while I still get some stuff by mail order, I'm less and less interested in shopping every week. I pretty much buy the necessities and yarn (of course!), and books, but I'm even cutting back on yarn and books.

The simplicity movement that started out west, especially in Seattle, is moving across the country, and with the economy so screwy, I think people are going to be re-evaluating their lives, especially their relationship with money. The wealthy will always have money to spend  (though they may not spend it), and far too many people will be swayed into buying things they don't need and getting into debt. But I think a growing group will be looking for ways to make their lives more satisfying without spending much money.

Thank you again for your books. Reading them helped me hone in on what I want to do with my life.

 

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