Simplicity: Getting Down To Basics

Simplifying is often times about getting down to basics. I am reminded of an essay in All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (aff) that Robert Fulghum wrote where he said that he would pit his elderly chopping bowl and knife against a new-fangled food processor. Often times we buy things that serve limited purposes, simply because they require less effort on our parts.

That’s not to say that this is not a valid excuse; but when our houses become filled with single-purpose contraptions, we suffocate ourselves.

Lately I have taken to asking myself, before making any purchase, if something I already have will serve instead. Or if the purchase I am about to make will replace single-purpose items around my house. What this buys me is the satisfaction of knowing I am simplifying my life.

Photo by brewbooks