social change through simple living » inspiration

Blissful Reflection: 5 Uplifting Quotes

Tammy Strobel — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:57:58 +0000

{Blissful Reflection is a series of short essays that highlight a story and photo that made my week meaningful.}

Most of you know that I’m working on a print book and I’m super excited about the project. One of the best things about working on the book is writing and reading a lot. During my research, I’ve stumbled across a number of uplifting quotes. Below are five quotes that I’ve been referring to when I’m feeling sad or blue. The quotes touch on the benefits of curiosity, exploration and discovery. Enjoy!

“Most people stop looking when they find the proverbial needle in the haystack. I would continue looking to see if there were other needles.” -Albert Einstein

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain

“The more intentional you are in your choices, the more every change makes room for more changes … I just love that there’s this endless potential.” -Dee Williams

“People say that we’re searching for the meaning of life. I don’t think that’s it at all. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive. . . . ” -Joseph Campbell

“My own study of the networked life has left me thinking about intimacy – about being with people in person, hearing their voices and seeing their faces, trying to know their hearts. And it has left me thinking about solitude – the kind that refreshes and restores. Loneliness is failed solitude.” -Sherry Turkle

Share your own uplifting quotes in the comments section.

What inspires you? Part 2 . . .

Tammy Strobel — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:36:30 +0000

Editor’s Note: Every Friday, I post a Simple Living News Update that includes links to some of my favorite articles of the week. In addition to the update, I answer a reader question via video.

The request . . .

Last week, Kirstie emailed me and asked if I’d be willing to expand my thoughts and feelings about being inspired by nature and the people I love.

I recorded a quick response last week when I was visiting friends in Minnesota.

For those of you who can’t watch the video, read this post: Think. Inspire. Go! 18 Simple Lessons I Took Away from TEDx.

Now onto the news

Success Dysmorphia

“And it struck me that we both had a serious case of success dysmorphia. No matter how much we accomplished, when we looked at ourselves through the mirror of our peers and colleagues, we felt awkward, less-than and not quite to par.”

The productivity paradox: Unplug to recharge

“I don’t view my digital sabbaticals as starting and ending, but rather as stacking upon themselves.”

Cool Stuff

Gwen Bell is holding an open interview on her site about digital sabbaticals. Check it out and answer the questions.

My responses will be sent to letter subscribers next week.

What inspires you?

Tammy Strobel — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:00:58 +0000

Editor’s Note: Every Friday, I post a Simple Living News Update that includes links to some of my favorite articles of the week. In addition to the update, I answer a reader question via video.

The question . . .

“What inspires you?”

Here’s my response . . .

For those of you who can’t watch the video, read this post: 23 Ways to Capture Creativity. I wrote the post last year when I was searching for a little creative inspiration.

Now onto the news

Live Your Truth.

“Living your truth embodies the art of marching to the beat of your own drum. It’s expressing yourself colorfully & uninhibitedly in everything you do, big or small.”

Dear Fellow Bloggers…

“It’s like we’re becoming human infomercials.

Okay, truthfully? The problem isn’t the techniques. The problem is, when everyone’s shouting, it’s all just noise.

There’s nothing wrong with some healthy self-promotion, if that’s your cup of tea. There’s nothing wrong with writing how-tos or running an exclusive coaching program or designing your website to encourage more signups.

And there’s certainly nothing wrong with positioning yourself as an expert, as long as you happen to be, you know, an expert.

But where’s the substance?”

The Varied “Firsts” of Minimalism

“I have always loved hearing how minimalism works itself out in many different ways through many different lives. I love hearing how the idea of living with less is being embraced by others who, in turn, find more opportunity to live the life they always wanted because it. And I always enjoy hearing the background stories of others who have intentionally made the same decision.”

Brittany’s Bayside Bungalow

“Would you like to try on a tiny house? This summer, I am happily turning my tiny house into a tiny “tester” home for people interested in building and living tiny. Thanks for stopping by. I would love to host you in my bungalow this summer.”

Click here to download the PDF.

Cool Stuff

Writers and Kitties

The Habit Course

Think. Inspire. Go! 18 Simple Lessons I Took Away from TEDx

Tammy Strobel — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:59:10 +0000

“Tammy, how would you feel about co-hosting TEDx?” Michelle asked.

I looked at Michelle at little stunned and replied, “I’m honored that you asked. Before I say yes or no, can you tell me a little bit more about what is involved with co-hosting?”

Michelle smiled and said, “Basically, you’d be introducing our speakers. It would be a lot of fun! Don’t worry, you’ll be great!”

***

I ended up saying yes, even though the thought of getting up on stage and introducing so many amazing, talented, and inspiring people scared the hell out of me. Public speaking isn’t my strong suit, but I’m always looking for growth opportunities and I knew this event was something I wanted to be part of.

This past weekend, along with my co-host James, I had the honor of introducing the speakers at TEDxCUPortland. I was a little nervous on the day of the event, but overall I felt relaxed and energized. Usually, I’m a ball of nerves before I speak in front of a large audience. So, the fact that I was relaxed, made me feel empowered.

We heard from a variety of folks, including: Sharif Abdullah, Polly Bangs, Tres Shannon, Blaine Fontana, Jefferson Smith, Dee Williams, Nick Caleb, Melissa Delzio, Neal Keny-Guyer, Dick & Jeanne Roy, Kelly Rodgers & Kelly Roy, Tim Smith, Chris Guillebeau, Prashant Kakad, Jeff Mapes and Mohan Nair.

The speakers inspired me, made me think, cry, dance, and have in-depth discussions with my friends. There was a lot to take in from the day and I’m still processing the content. However, I wanted to share 18 simple lessons I took away from the talks:

1. Never let inspiration end at wonderment, let it continue into action.

2. You can’t fake sincerity or authenticity.

3. Dream big and live small.

4. Practice gratitude.

5. Be humble.

6. Stuff isn’t important, people are.

7. Bikes and food carts can be used as a low cost business tool and a way to build community too.

8. Travel lightly, listen, and look for the bright lights in the crowd.

9. Figure out what excites you.

10. Figure out what bothers you and do something about it.

11. Dedicate one day a week to nature. Go outside and take hike, a run, or go for a bike ride.

12. Hope should be your highest vision of the possible.

13. Starting aligning your conduct with your highest vision of the possible.

14. Treat optimism and pessimism as distractions, but hold onto inspiration.

15. Observe problems, learn from others, listen, and take action.

16. Move beyond yourself and give.

17. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.

18. Be vulnerable.

The photographs and videos from this event will be available online within a month. When they are posted, I’ll be sure to share them with you. Until then, leave a comment and tell me what your thinking about, what inspires you and what action you’re going to take.

One Year and $5,000 Changed My Life

Tammy Strobel — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:00:18 +0000

Editors Note: I’m taking this week off to spend quality time with my mom.

The following is a guest post by Jessica Reeder. I’m a huge fan of Jessica’s work, writing and commitment to community building. You’ll see why once you read this fantastic article. Jessica recently launched an awesome blog called Love and Trash. Stop by and check it out!

***

I’ve always had a lot of stuff. By the time I was 25, I had a truckload of possessions (most of them stained and dented); a leased car; two separate wardrobes for work and play… and the list goes on.

From that point, I started relying on money. I needed enough income to pay for my car, and I also needed a big enough apartment for all my things. I needed money to spend at San Francisco clubs every weekend, and I also needed fabulous outfits to wear to those clubs. I needed good haircuts, and awesome shoes.

You can see where this is going. After a while, I realized that my lifestyle no longer fit my personality. Like anybody else, I was a slave to my stuff. I was no longer able to live in connection with the natural world as I’d been raised. I could see blue skies through my window, but never had time to go outside. I had two, sometimes three jobs and a recurring headache. I was developing weird addictions and health problems.

It was time to make a drastic change: I started giving things away.

Getting rid of my stuff was an time-consuming process, however. It took years to wean myself off my piles of beautiful junk. I had time to think about why I was doing it, where I wanted to end up. It was mid-Bush era, and after marching against oil wars I’d also come to recognize my dependence on that oil. I dropped off my car and walked away on foot. But it wasn’t enough.

I wanted to find a way to live more naturally, with less energy expended and more chance for fulfillment. But I really didn’t know how. How could I reconcile my desire for simplicity with my love for the new and fashionable? Was there a way to be sustainable without being a barefoot hippie? And if going hippie was the only way, how would I make the change? I knew nothing about gardening, cooking, keeping chickens. My internet skillz wouldn’t help me in the “real” world.

At the same time, I realized that I couldn’t stay in California, not permanently. Property values, rents, the cost of living (especially in the Bay Area) were ridiculous, and I’d never be able to slow down if my expenses stayed high. I wanted to find a place to settle down, get some land, build an energy-efficient house. But where? California was all I knew.

So, at the age of 30, I decided to have an adventure.

I bought a 5×8′ trailer, packed my remaining possessions into it, and parked it in my dad’s backyard. I threw a few things into a backpack and set out on the road with $5,000 in savings. My goal was to find a place to live, and the skills to build a new life from the ground up. I would blog the whole thing at Uprooted, an eco/travel blog.

Four months later, the economy crashed and most of my coworkers were laid off. I suddenly found myself with an advantage: I’d gotten out before things got bad, and I was ready and able to live on pennies. Despite my fear and despite feeling sorry for those who weren’t so fortunate, I realized that I really was…lucky.

Over the next year, my luck continued. With only that $5,000, I traveled throughout America. I worked on farms, built Earthships, camped, volunteered, and met amazing people. I discovered a massive, powerful undercurrent running through our country. Everywhere I went, everyone I met had opinions on the environment. Everybody (aside from a few hardy souls in San Francisco, LA, Texas and New York) was making some kind of effort to reduce their impact.

Some of the most inspiring folks were the ones you might pre-judge as top offenders. A Republican construction worker in Colorado gave me a ride in his big white truck. He drove back and forth from Denver to Boulder every day, he said, and always tried to pick up a rideshare so he didn’t feel so bad about wasting the gas.

An Arizona insurance agent in his 50s told me he’d dropped all his work for six months to volunteer on an organic farm, simply because it felt like the right thing to do.

A good-old-boy cab driver in Arkansas waxed poetic about wildlife management, hunters’ responsibilities and urban encroachment.

Then there were the liberals, the anarchists, the artists and freegans. So many people, working to change the world with only their callused hands and fevered brains. Experiments in architecture, agriculture, transportation and community: they were everywhere, all around. And every time my passion began to flag, a new and exciting experience would come along to sweep me up again.

I landed back in California in late 2009, worn out and entirely changed. I knew what I wanted now, and I knew it was achievable. It all seemed so easy. But I’d also come to recognize that the current that had been sweeping me around the country was still under the surface. Many of the people I’d met felt unrecognized, alone in their efforts. That’s part of why I’d had such good fortune: the people I’d met were achingly eager to share their knowledge with the greater public, but they didn’t have the means to do it.

I decided to become their means. It was time to focus on the individuals, the little actions, the possible and entertaining side of sustainable living. I wanted to build a bridge between those who were living like I was five years ago, and those who are living like I will five years from now. And so, Love and Trash was born.

We’re a brand-new DIY blog dedicated to radical interdependence, small possible actions, and grassroots inspiration. We like to focus on real people and real possibilities—because although it’s wonderful to dream about a mansion made from recycled materials, none of us ever expect to live in one. Rather, we expect to have small, modest houses, happy families, a garden and a few chickens, and the opportunity to create a tiny sphere of goodness in a world full of trash.

Please, join us. And if you believe in what I do, please, donate to help me continue my work and take Uprooted around the world in 2011.

If this post helped you, please share it with your tribe! Thanks.

Note: Photography by Jessica Reeder

Free eBook: Minimalist Health

Tammy Strobel — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:23 +0000

Since the release of Simply Car-free, I’ve received an incredible number of emails from folks asking questions like:

How can I improve my health?
What are the best ways to lose weight?
Where can I find real food?

In response to the questions I’ve received, I decided to write my first free e-book. The book is 20 pages and I hope it will help you get active.

You only get one body and mind. If you don’t take care of both, it’s hard to create amazing art or get involved in your community. I hope this manifesto will help you improve your health and inspire you to change the world.

Download the free e-book, Minimalist Health: How to Focus on the Essentials.

Or read it on Issuu!

If this e-book helps you, please help spread the word by…

Sharing it with your tribe on Twitter or Facebook.
Writing about it on your blog.
Printing out copies and leaving them in your local library or coffee shop.

Please let me know what you think. Feel free to connect with me on twitter or send me a note.

Creating Connections Through Gratitude

Tammy Strobel — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:00:44 +0000

I have come to the conclusion that to be complacent is to be ineffective and to be tolerant of obvious error or injustice is unforgivable. Perhaps there is something amiss with the genes of Homo sapiens that does not innately command us to protect our home, Earth, as we instinctively protect ourselves.

~Ansel Adams: An Autobiography

Since gratitude is a key component to happiness and living a simple lifestyle, I’d encourage all of you to spend a few hours a week on volunteer project. Start creating connections through gratitude.

The following are some examples:

Volunteer at a local homeless shelter.
Donate your professional skills to a non-profit in need.
Get involved with bike advocacy.
Become a big brother or sister.
Help your family, friends or acquaintances with a project.

The list of projects is endless, but it’s important to get started somewhere.

Micro-Action: Devote 2 hours per week to a gratitude project.

I love blogging and I truly value the connections I’ve made through RowdyKittens and online social networks. I also want to balance this by giving back in my local community through volunteering. It’s another one way to express gratitude and create connections.

I was incredibly happy to see so many thoughtful comments on my last post about gratitude. Reading your comments reminded me of the Mindfulness Project, which discusses ways we can be mindful and grateful through our everyday actions. I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude lately, especially since I’ve been working on my e-book, Simply Car-Free. My close friends (and Logan) have been incredibly helpful.

To take advantage of this feeling of reciprocity, I decided to spend 4 to 8 hours a week on gratitude projects. Earlier this week, I devoted my time to working on a few websites for family members. It felt wonderful to give back to my family, especially after all of their help with the move.

I also decided to get involved with Living Yoga. It’s a “non-profit outreach program teaching yoga as a tool for personal change in prisons, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, transitional facilities, and to populations who would otherwise not have access to it.”

I’m really excited to start volunteering with this organization and meet other members of the Portland community.

How are you going to give gratitude?

The Secret to Creating a Life of Simplicity & Happiness is Gratitude

Tammy Strobel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:00:07 +0000

It’s easy to forget how lucky we are especially when we’re under stress. Overall our minimal move was much harder and more stressful than we expected. Prior to our move we took a general inventory of our household items and counted up 300 things. But we didn’t consider volume.

Our bulk food and water containers took up a lot more space than we expected. In a lot of ways, I feel like my life is filled with plastic bottles and that doesn’t make me happy. Thanks to No Impact Man, I’ve been purchasing less plastic but it’s still a part of my life. Seeing so much plastic and extra stuff in the house made me feel uncomfortable and a failure in my goal of minimalism and small living. As a I pointed out earlier this week, being uncomfortable leads to growth and happiness.

Lessons in Gratitude

I learned a number of lessons as a result of our minimal move. One of the biggest lessons was on the importance of showing gratitude to your loved ones and community. Life is never boring and I’m grateful to be living a simple, happy life. I’m able to focus on the big picture of accomplishing good work, being a supportive partner, and community member.

Below are a few things I’m grateful to have in my life. In addition, I’ve included a few micro-actions for you to work on this weekend. The secret to living a simple and happy life is about gratitude.

1. I’m grateful to be part of an amazing online community.

RowdyReaders – thank you for your kind messages, comments, and tweets during our minimal move. They helped me get through the stress and remember what’s important in life.

Micro-action: Do you have an online tribe? If so, say “thank you” to a person who changed your perspective.

2. I’m grateful to have so many amazing family members and close friends.

Without the help of family and friends this move would have been extremely difficult. My parents moved us up in their monster truck and my in-laws loaned us an extra car. I didn’t want to drive an extra car up, but it turned out 2 cats and 4 people would not fit into the truck cab.

Having so much stuff made me cranky, but moving with family helped. My mom and dad were extremely understanding and my mom helped us pack up a lot of our household items.

Micro-action: Write your parents a letter and tell them how much you appreciate them.

3. I’m grateful for Logan, my best friend and partner.

Predicting the what the futures holds is impossible. When Logan told me a few weeks ago that he’d be moving me up to Portland and then returning temporarily to California to finish his work, I was sad and angry. Why? Because it wasn’t part of the well crafted plan I’d laid out in my mind.

I’m sad that Logan isn’t in Portland. But I think this is a good opportunity for both of us to grow and focus on the good things in life. I’m incredibly lucky to have a life partner. Rather than pouting that he isn’t with me I’ve been focusing on amazing projects and meeting new friends in the city of bikes. Life is good and there are so many things to be incredibly thankful for.

Micro-action: Do something special for a person you’re close to. Make them a simple meal, take a walk in the park and don’t forget to tell that person how much you love and appreciate them.

4. I’m grateful to have a safe, beautiful apartment to call home.

Since the beginning of the recession many cities have seen a substantial increase in homelessness. There is a shortage of shelter beds for single adults and the cold weather has exacerbated this problem.

I’m so grateful and privileged to have a beautiful little apartment to call home.

Micro-action: Have you considered donating money or time to your local homeless shelter?

***

Be well, do good work and be mindful of gratitude. With that in mind, take a tour of our beautiful little apartment.

5 Ways to Eliminate Stress

Tammy Strobel — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:05:46 +0000

I’ve been feeling stressed lately. I’m nervous about our upcoming move and whether or not all of our stuff will fit in the back of my parents truck. Over the weekend, we tried a test move. We taped the measurements of my parents truck bed in our living room and started filling it with our boxed stuff. We don’t have a lot of personal items, but the household stuff is going to take up a lot of space. Our bulk food, emergency water containers and go bags took up more space than I expected.

Worrying about our stuff seems so trite, especially when you consider the disaster that just happened in Haiti. We live in an uncertain world and I think having control over my “stuff” gives me an illusion of security.

Since I’ve been feeling a little freaked out, I’ve been thinking about how to deal with stress and wanted to share 5 ways to eliminate moving stress. I’ve been applying these tips to my moving worries, but I think they could work for any type of anxiety.

1. Breathe

If you start feeling anxious or upset, take several deep breaths. The lovely Gwen Bell pointed out a few weeks ago that, “life asks you to pay close attention. Knowing that each moment really is it. It has all your yesterdays and tomorrows in it.” Taking the time to breathe and cultivate awareness in yourself is powerful. Life can be stressful, but we always have the option to make positive changes.

2. Reflect

With all the bad news, I’ve been reflecting on my life and how I can help others. David, from the Simple Organized Life, wrote an excellent post last week about how the people in Haiti would love to have a simple and organized life. It’s easy to get caught up in everyday dramas and forget that we are very privileged. (Especially, those of us who have extra time, access to information, clean water, etc.).

3. Do yoga

Yoga is an amazing meditative workout. The practice has a way of bringing me back to my senses and showing me what’s important in life. Stuff is only stuff. People and relationships are the things that matter.

4. Unplug

Leave your electronic device at home and take a walk. During your walk, observe the birds, look at the colors in the sky or listen to the patter of rain. Be present in your life and notice your surroundings. It’s so easy to plug into an iPod and just zone out. Zoning out isn’t an inherently bad thing, but it you’re feeling stressed it’s hard to get in touch with the cause of your problem or what you can do to change your circumstances.

5. Start a legacy project

Consider starting a legacy project. Think of ways you can add value to the world and do it. Maybe you can start a blog, write a book, take family portraits for free or join a community organization. There are so many possibilities. Dream big and don’t listen to the naysayers.

“One key element of a successful artist: ship. Get it out the door. Make things happen.”

***

I hope you found these tips useful. How do you deal with stress?

10 Reasons to Go Small

Tammy Strobel — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:48:45 +0000

Friends and family always inquire about our tiny house obsession. Usually they ask: “Why a tiny house?” Living a tiny lifestyle appeals to us on a number of levels. Below are the top 10 reasons for choosing a tiny solution:

1. Exiting the Consumer Lifestyle

Living in a tiny house is one way for us to exit the consumer lifestyle and decrease our consumption of stuff. (Watching the The Story of Stuff drastically changed how I view my own consumption patterns).

For instance, there is no reason to go shopping for more stuff when you don’t have a place to put it. I don’t need 20 pairs of shoes or 50 different outfits to wear to the office. Earlier this year, I downsized my wardrobe and personal items. For me that meant donating an incredible amount of books and clothing to the thrift store.

My policy is 1 in, 1 out. Every time I buy something new, one of my personal things must go.

2. Saving Money

The cost estimate for our tiny house is about $25,000 (about 2 years worth of rent). The low cost of the tiny house will enable us to save money for future expenses and help friends and family members in need. Our tiny house will be about 200 square feet. Our heating and cooling bills will be so tiny! Right now we live in a 400 square foot apartment and our PG & E bill ranges from $4.00 to $25.00 a month. I can’t wait to see what our power bill will look like in a tiny house.

3. Freedom

Downscaling from a suburban, 2 bedroom apartment, and 2 car life to an urban, 1 bedroom apartment, and no car has given me a sense of freedom and lightness. Our stuff doesn’t own us anymore. As long as we have each other and our cats, we will be good to go.

4. More Free Time

Last summer one of our family members became suddenly ill and almost died. Since then, I’ve changed my life dramatically and have chosen a simpler lifestyle that allows me to spend more time with family.

Downsizing to a smaller apartment (and eventually a tiny home) enabled us to devote more time to outdoor activities, writing and the important things in life like friends and family.

5. Debt Free

Within the last year we sold our car, paid off our student loans and moved into a smaller apartment. These changes have allowed us more flexibility in our finances. If all goes according to plan we will either build or purchase our own tiny house in 2010.

6. Working Less

Eventually, I want to work part time. The United States is notorious for a workaholic culture. So owning a small home will enable us to work less and pursue career goals that didn’t seem possible a few years ago. Eventually, I want to get out of my cubicle and telecommute. Telecommuting is a feasible alternative to the cubicle forest because it allows people to do their job from any location.

7. Less Cleaning

A tiny house requires significantly less cleaning and maintenance and that make me very happy. I didn’t realize how much time we spent cleaning our large apartment until we moved to our new home in Sacramento. Instead of cleaning we spent more time riding our bikes outdoors. Yay for less scrubbing, vacuuming and sweeping!

8. Ease of Movement

Ease of movement to a new location is a great feature. Being tied down to a traditional home doesn’t appeal to me because they can’t be moved. But with a tiny home, if we decide to move we are free to bring our tiny house with us.

9. Going Off-Grid

We plan to take the tiny house off-grid. Hopefully, this will allow us to learn how to live more self sufficiently and insulate ourselves from a system we believe to be unsustainable. The looming peak oil energy crisis is scary.

10. Economic, Environmental and Social Merits of Compact Housing

Last year, I read a few books on tiny tiny homes. Two of my favorites were: The Small House Book and Little House on a Small Planet. After reading these books I realized there are enormous economic, environmental, and social merits of compact housing.

Here are some interesting facts from the books:

The average American house, which is about 2,200 square feet, emits more green house gases than the average American car;
The average American house, produces 7 tons of construction waste and;
The size of New Jersey is lost each decade as a result of urban sprawl.

I see over-sized homes as a debtors prison rather than a source of enjoyment. The average American has a 20 to 30 year mortgage. By going small, we will have our tiny tiny house paid off in less than 1 year.

For the sake of the environment and economic sanity (ex. sub-prime mortgage fiasco), it is clear that we must change our attitudes about house size, building codes and the basic home financing structure.