I wish to say a few words on why, exactly, we might want to adopt Voluntary Simplicity, why we might want to step out of the rush and begin shaping a simple life of our own.
Consumer culture can distract us from what is best in our lives and it functions to keep many locked in a work–and–spend cycle that has no end and attains no lasting satisfaction. But if we rethink our relationship with money and possessions, we may be able to free up more time and energy for the pursuit of what truly inspires us and makes us happy, whatever that may be. In this way Voluntary Simplicity can be seen to enhance the meaning of our lives.
I believe that if the Voluntary Simplicity Movement is to expand, it must be shown that simple living does not generate deprivations, but actually frees people from an insidiously addictive consumerism and an unhealthy relationship between us. In fact, many people are drawn to simplicity because they want to escape the rat race and live more authentic lifes.
Nowadays we have a great chance - that probably our ancestors did not have: to manage to produce what we need for a safety and healthy life, living in the same time in a meaningful way. But somehow we miss this chance because we can not escape from the vicious circle of consumerism. Voluntary Simplicity means to consciously chose to get out of this vicios circle and start to build your own personal life.