Your in-laws are blessed with an empathetic, wise and culturally sensitive daughter in law. By encompassing your values and theirs into your family, you enrich everybody. Great read thank you Brittany
Yes thank you Brittany. We had the pleasure of driving around small villages in Western Turkey a few years ago and were impressed with the people and seeing families dining with all ages interacting and enjoying each others company. The focus on family and values rather than materialism was obvious and admirable. Great to be reminded!
Thank you Britney. I enjoyed your story & Stoic perspective. It will help me to continue reducing my external clutter as it helps me to focus on the essentials of family, friends & Stoicism; rather than being distracted by things of significantly lesser value. WTG 👏😁.
You are right! Thank you for bringing up Voltaire...I have recently been reading Matt Sharpe's new book The Other Enlightenment (which I highly recommend), where he looks at the Enlightenment tendency toward "self estrangement" through travel writing. An apt comparison. Let us cultivate our garden!
Great piece Brittany, your parents-in-law sound like perfect role models for a simpler way of life!
Always impressed by those who are happy having only what they need.
Reminds me of Seneca's line:
"Those who keep themselves within the bounds of nature will not feel poverty; those who trespass beyond them will be pursued by poverty even if they possess the greatest wealth."
So true, Allan. I find it difficult to maintain a simple lifestyle without concrete evidence that it works, so it's important for me to have role models and see how happy they are. Thanks for the Seneca quote! And thanks for your daily inspiration as well.
Totally agree, every time I read about good examples like this it inspires me to do a little better! Also reminds me of the former Uruguay president Jose Mujica who donated most of his salary and continued to live on his farm rather than in the presidential palace.
Wow, a philosopher-president! Thanks for bringing up Mujica. I looked him up and here's a quote from a BBC article--he sounds like a Stoic: "I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more," he says.
Your in-laws are blessed with an empathetic, wise and culturally sensitive daughter in law. By encompassing your values and theirs into your family, you enrich everybody. Great read thank you Brittany
Thank you for the kind words, Lynne. It's great to hear you find this useful. I hope all is well with you!
Yes thank you Brittany. We had the pleasure of driving around small villages in Western Turkey a few years ago and were impressed with the people and seeing families dining with all ages interacting and enjoying each others company. The focus on family and values rather than materialism was obvious and admirable. Great to be reminded!
Thank you Britney. I enjoyed your story & Stoic perspective. It will help me to continue reducing my external clutter as it helps me to focus on the essentials of family, friends & Stoicism; rather than being distracted by things of significantly lesser value. WTG 👏😁.
Thank you, SueAnne! I'm glad you enjoyed the article, and I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Best of luck with the de-cluttering!
As someone who is becoming more interested in stoicism, I loved reading this! Thank you for this thoughtful and inspiring piece (:
Like the ending of Voltaire's Candide!
You are right! Thank you for bringing up Voltaire...I have recently been reading Matt Sharpe's new book The Other Enlightenment (which I highly recommend), where he looks at the Enlightenment tendency toward "self estrangement" through travel writing. An apt comparison. Let us cultivate our garden!
Great piece Brittany, your parents-in-law sound like perfect role models for a simpler way of life!
Always impressed by those who are happy having only what they need.
Reminds me of Seneca's line:
"Those who keep themselves within the bounds of nature will not feel poverty; those who trespass beyond them will be pursued by poverty even if they possess the greatest wealth."
So true, Allan. I find it difficult to maintain a simple lifestyle without concrete evidence that it works, so it's important for me to have role models and see how happy they are. Thanks for the Seneca quote! And thanks for your daily inspiration as well.
Totally agree, every time I read about good examples like this it inspires me to do a little better! Also reminds me of the former Uruguay president Jose Mujica who donated most of his salary and continued to live on his farm rather than in the presidential palace.
Wow, a philosopher-president! Thanks for bringing up Mujica. I looked him up and here's a quote from a BBC article--he sounds like a Stoic: "I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more," he says.