Simple Sunday #1
Posted on July 27th, 2008 in Simple Living
As it turns out, I actually miss posting on the weekends (though I do love taking Saturdays off). In response, I’ll be trying out Simple Sundays, where I give you some food for thought for the coming week. You know, something to ponder during brunch or in a quiet moment. If you enjoy it, let me know. If it wasn’t something you cared for, I’d also be interested in hearing that.
Today’s quote comes from a woman who is one of my absolute favorites: Eleanor Roosevelt.
“A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.”
Is simplicity rational? In my case, I’d have to agree.
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This post has 14 comments
July 27th, 2008
Rational? Absolutely. I think I behave far more rationally now that I’ve found more simplicity in my life. There’s certainly nothing rational about spending more than you have, never having anything in the bank to fall back on, storming ahead regardless of the enviornmental consequences and everything else I used to do ‘just because I wanted to do it’.
I like your Simple Sunday idea
July 27th, 2008
FDR has a lot of great quotes, but I think Eleanor might be up there with quotables.
I can only imagine the complexities of the life with someone married to the US President, so that’s what makes the quote more remarkable.
July 27th, 2008
I like your idea of Simple Sundays!
Two quotes from Albert Einstein (a firm believer of simplification) may yield the results of your quote from Eleanor Roosevelt above.
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
“Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.”
Therefore, if we can aspire to prevent problems by simplification, we can claim to have some genius and live a rational life. Eleanor and Albert – what a team!
July 27th, 2008
Sharon: Yeah, I hear you. “Because I want to” is definitely not a rational way to handle spending.
Al: Seriously–what could be less simple than being in the White House, especially in that era? Eleanor Roosevelt is a minor miracle.
Mark: Fabulous quotes! I like your mix of the two.
July 27th, 2008
I doubt there’s anything more rational than simplicity. We over-complicate our lives to such a degree that living becomes burdensome. I believe we can’t live rationally WITHOUT trying to simplify things at least a bit.
July 27th, 2008
Of course it’s rational. But it is also important emotionally.
July 27th, 2008
rational yes, in fact, not to simply would be irrational. notice how with the high prices of things, we are starting to reason on what we need and don’t need. we are going back to when things were simple, IMHO.
July 28th, 2008
Hi Sara,
I love your simple Sundays. Quotes, like the one you provided here, are get for all of us to ponder.
I also like the photo.
July 28th, 2008
Well, the title is perfect and I happen to think that it’s very fitting for a Sunday! :-p Not too much (not too little)…just right enough.
And what better way than to kick things off with that quote. I think it stands for everything “that is” this blog.
July 28th, 2008
Yeah…something not too heavy for Sundays please!
I tried to post during the weekends but realise that I’ve got a ton of errands to run; that it is just too tough to stick to a regular schedule. So I guess only do so if it is not too taxing!
Evelyn
July 28th, 2008
i think that rationality and parsimony are often confused, and that simplicity is closer to the latter rather than the former. rationality entails the operationalization of decisions and processes for the sake of maximizing efficiency. parsimony connotes minimalism that contributes to the beauty and elegance of a thing. I think that a lot of people who strive to simplify are not trying to make their lives more efficient- but rather to recall what is truly important and to grow spiritually. Parsimony, not rationality, is the ethos that best suits these ends.
July 28th, 2008
Thank you to everyone for your thoughts! It sounds pretty much unanimous: Eleanor Roosevelt was on to something. And now I need to go look up the definition of parsimony, because I may have had it terribly wrong…
So, I’ll keep up with the Simple Sundays. On this (and most everything) your feedback is important to me.
July 31st, 2008
How simply lovely. I miss you on weekends so yay for this new feature!
yippee i made it back onto the commenters list LOL
July 31st, 2008
Emily,
That is just about the nicest thing I’ve heard. And I wasn’t sure if anyone noticed or cared about the commenters list; I guess I’ve got my answer!
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