national simplicity day

NATIONAL SIMPLICITY DAY 

• JULY 12 
  

 NATIONAL SIMPLICITY DAY

National Simplicity Day honors transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. The day advocates a life of simplicity and recognizes the life of Thoreau.

Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862) lived his life as many things including an author, naturalist, philosopher and historian. He was also known to be a tax resister, abolitionist, development critic and surveyor. His book, Walden, is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings.  

“In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness.” ~Henry David Thoreau

In our fast, ever-increasingly busy lifestyles, the observance encourages stepping back and looking at ways to simplify our lives. It’s an opportunity to declutter and eliminate the unnecessary burdens that weigh us down. Even taking a few moments to tune into nature helps us to refocus and find balance.   

“My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions but in the fewness of my wants.”

– J. Botherton

“Simplicity is the essence of happiness.”

– Cedric Bledsoe

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

– Robert Brault

Seek a leisurely pace that doesn’t include the accumulation of things. That’s the easiest explanation of the day. Look to nature or companionship, perhaps to a few passages from a book or the wisdom of a child. We all need the nourishment of food and rest and satisfaction of a job well done. These simple things collected together fulfill our greatest needs. All that remains falls away.

However, living simply doesn’t mean living without. It means living with only what we need. Look around you throughout the day and consider the excesses. The next time something breaks ask whether it can be repaired instead of replacing it.

Besides, when our lives are simpler, our stress decreases. We no longer feel the pressure to acquire more things. We have time to pursue adventures and spend time with people we enjoy.

“It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.”

– Henry Ward Beecher

“The simplest things are often the truest.”

– Richard Bach

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SIMPLICITY DAY

Do or stop doing things to simplify your day. Read about Henry David Thoreau or Walden. 

Tips to Simplifying Life

Identify what’s important to you. This list will include things, goals and activities. While we don’t all have the ultimate goal of reaching Mars, don’t dismiss the small achievements. Those don’t necessarily equate clutter. They’re stepping stones. However, if they aren’t a part of the bigger picture, consider slashing them.

When it comes to things, you have to admit, we hold on to some things for sentimental reasons. On the other hand, we buy too much junk for all the wrong reasons. Identify the ones that are the most important and get rid of the rest.

Put a ban on impulse buying. Make a list before any shopping trip. If it’s not on the list, it can’t be bought (unless it’s toilet paper, that’s the one exception). Otherwise, you will get by until the next trip. You will also see an improvement in your bank account.

When it comes to activities, consider the ones that are time wasters and have no value. Again, which ones are important to you? Do they bring you joy? Do they improve you or the world around you? If the answer is no to any of these questions, why is this activity still in your life?

Post on social media using #NationalSimplicityDay to encourage others to join in paying it forward.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL SIMPLICITY DAY

We were unable to identify the creator of National Simplicity Day.

 

Henry David Thoreau was born on 12 July, 1817. National Simplicity Day is observed in honour of the birthday of Henry David Thoreau, He encourages to step back and look the ways to simplify life in such a busy lifestyle. This provide us an opportunity to eliminate the unnecessary burdens that weigh us down.

"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler". - Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was an American author, an environmentalist, philosopher, naturalist, poet, historian, surveyor and a transcendentalist. He is best known for his book Walden which is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings and his essay Resistance to Civil Government also known as Civil Disobedience, an argument for disobedience to an unjust state.Tips to simplify the Life by Henry David Thoreau

- No need to complicate the life, don't be stressed out, dissatisfied and unhappy. There are solutions for every problem.

- Live for purpose.

- Focus on the essential facts of life.

- Discover what is important for you and make a list which will consist of things, goals and activities. He further focus that don't miss the small achievements.

- Don't buy things unnecessary for all wrong reasons. Identify the important thing and get rid of the rest.

- Put a ban on impulsive buying.

- To have clarity on what is important, let go unnecessary conditions and tune into what you value most.

- Live away from technology...Unplugged your devices. Do something different.

 “Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.” — Henry David Thoreau

“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail.”― Henry David Thoreau, Walden