Tag: quest for less

The Quest for Less #3: ENTROPY

Last updated on April 2nd, 2021 at 08:20 pm

We worry too much.

Here in Toronto, worrying is the name of the game. We’re either worrying about where we’re going to get money to pay off our debts, or worrying about how we’re going to save up enough money to buy stuff so we can worry about where to get the money to pay those debts off.

We worry about our futures, we worry about what’s already passed. The weather, chores, our jobs—they’re all fair game. We worry about our stuff and get more stuff to cope with the worry.

You know that I don’t hide the fact that I’m an advocate for having less stuff. I think that it’s the things that we need that should be made sexy—not the things that we think we want. Life would be far less confusing this way. But stuff is everywhere. You can’t hide from it. Advertising is everywhere we look. Stuff will FIND you.

So what can you do about it all? How do you become happier in this maelstrom of activity around you?

Well, there are some key rules you can follow:

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The Quest for Less #2: ORDERING

Last updated on April 2nd, 2021 at 07:59 pm

I know I took a quick detour for a bit there, with a couple of voice posts and my big list of 100 tips for the 100th post, but it’s time to get back on track.

It’s really easy to be a slob. Seriously. I could do it every day without effort. Looking around me right now, I see a bunch of scattered papers for a bunch of projects that I haven’t quite gotten around to doing yet; I know that there’s laundry that has yet to be folded over in the next room, and don’t even get me started on my bedroom—by the time I get in there every night, I’m too tired to give a care about keeping it in order. It just seems to be easier to just try and take care of one thing in life at a time and not worry about all the menial tasks of keeping things in order.

But is this the better way to live?

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The Quest for Less #1: CHAOS

Last updated on April 3rd, 2021 at 02:59 am

One of the side effects of having too much stuff is the fact that you seem to constantly lose things. Or is that a side effect of simply being disorganized? In any case, disorganization is directly linked to the amount of stuff you own, and here’s my case for why having less will make a happier you.

This, however, isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do in a society that’s become so stuff-centric. You are nothing without stuff. Your personality, worth and mantra for life are the direct correlation of the total sum of stuff you own. I think the equation goes a little like this:

An equation for the true value of the stuff you own: The sum of all the things you own * The sum of the monetary value of those items - the cost of the items being used all divided by the number of people who use your stuff.

You are categorized by the stuff you own. Slotted into certain social circles. Provided certain opportunities in life. So much is based upon what’s in your closet, on your counter, the car you drive and the TV your own. One wayward decision and you could be altering the tone of your life completely, an unknowing victim to the social ebbs and flows of life!

There’s a little problem with this, though. Especially in cities.

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Starting that Digital Cleanse

Last updated on April 3rd, 2021 at 02:48 am

As part of getting things ready for the wedding (my parents have 15 people staying over!), my Dad rearranged my room. My series of graphic novels were stacked (out of order); my closet was stuffed with a number of boxes that had previously been sorted around the room; but most interestingly, he found a USB key that I thought I’d lost ages ago. It’s always interesting to see what’s lying around on old drives—and how much you just don’t need anymore.

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Playing With Myself (in a G-Rated Way!)

Last updated on April 6th, 2021 at 12:53 pm

There’s a game I play every time I come back to Mississauga. It doesn’t really have a name, but the goal is always the same. It’s really simple. Here’re the rules:

You either WIN or you LOSE

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