Voluntary Simplicity does not mean indiscriminately renouncing all the advantages of science and technology. It does not mean living in a cave, giving up electricity, rejecting modern medicine and modern ways to communicate. But it does question the assumption that more expansive goods are the only paths to health, happiness, and freedom. To live simply, as I am using the phrase, is to put one’s mind to the question of whether some new technology actually improves our lives, or whether, on the contrary, it ultimately costs us more than it comes to, in terms of ‘life.’
There are more values than money and social position which could improve wellnes of our lifes. One of them is time. To have time to spend it in your own way, pursuing your own aspiration is one of the rarest resources of western man/woman. To have enough personal energy to be healthy, passionate, enthusiast or compassionate is another very rare resource of modern people. Because to live in ”normal way” means too much struggle. Good relations and quality time with your friends and familly are other rare resources of ”Voluntary Complexity” way of living...
When you decide to live with less money (and maybe in a less important social position) you start to make place for other values in your life. Needing less money, choosing to work in a friendly and meaningful way, you start to gain time and energy for building your autonomy.
For me autonomy is the real base for a free negotiation of your exchanges. Autonomy is the real base for freedom and dignity of human beings. Autonomy – as a inter-dependent network of healthy relations – is the starting point of a real happy, healthy and free life in communion and partnership with humans and Nature. And all starts with this simple and true choice for an innate way of living we used to name Voluntary Simplicity.