Aim for a simple life


My grandson missed his flight because of typhoon Maring. That was stressful. It almost dampened his perfect holiday with us. We devoted time and energy to be with him, particularly his lolo, who accompanied him in sight-seeing, snorkeling, diving, etc., except in one extreme activity — zip lining. Looking back, our children never experienced this much quality time because we were too consumed by work and the anxiety of raising a growing brood.

With today’s gadgets and inventions, you’d think that parents could speed through work and come home earlier to bond with the kids. Not so. While efficiency is on everybody’s lips, expecting everyone to move faster, it made us only more anxious, impatient, and stressed to higher levels. “I want it on my desk, like yesterday,” snapped the manager and woe to those who could not comply immediately. There is more money earned but spent, however, on useless things. Ever notice how manufacturers price their goods exorbitantly? It is this crazy phenomenon that the higher the price, the more attractive it becomes for consumers to want to own it. In the midst of this I-must-buy hysteria, pause and ask, “Do I really need it? To the point of getting high-strung and agitated?”

Here are 10 tips to help you swim against the tide of consumerism and quiet down to a simpler life:

1. Dump the Joneses. This has been going on since time immemorial. You look over the bakod (fence) and spotting something new in your neighbor’s yard drives you to buy the same product, if not surpass your neighbor’s acquisition. Why? To boast that you can afford it? When the instant gratification dies down, nerves take over; worse, when you get the statement. How much interest will you pay? What if your neighbor buys something new again?

2. Avoid spur-of-the-moment purchases. They call it impulse buying. The regret comes when a voice within you screams, “Whaaaat again?” How to arrest it? The moment you fix your gaze on an item, apply immediately the Is-it-a-need-or-a-want examination of conscience. Imagine manufacturers churning styles and models in such lightning speed that what you just bought would already be outmoded or untrendy before you barely master every feature of the product.

3. Remember the six months’ rule. For items that you bought by mistake and have stayed unused for six months, give them away and do not fall into the same trap. There was this snazzy disco skirt made of wide bands of stretch rubber in luminous shades of electric blue that I bought when ballroom dancing was the craze. It has stayed inside my closet like pickled plum for many decades now. It still looks sassy, perfect with stiletto heels. Any takers?

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4. Cash it. There have been horror stories of messy debts crafted by this Medusa temptress a.k.a. as BruhAmexvisamaster. Owing money compounded by interest is a “silent stress that eats up your mental health, slowly and insidiously.” A friend froze her cards at the bottom of her chest freezer after she had to restructure her IOUs that ran into thousands of pesos, a living nightmare. Use credit cards for emergency purchases, but you must pay them in full the moment you get the statement to avoid paying interest.

5. Say NO. Repeat the catchphrase: Is it a need or a want? In Las Vegas, a woman came bearing free prime seats to Barbra Streisand and five other sold-out shows. “They are yours, but listen to my boss for a few minutes,” she said. My brother-in-law pulled me aside. “It’s a gimmick; they’re selling time shares in a condotel that you might not be able to refuse.” I turned to the woman and replied, “No, thank you.”

If you have a streak for designer stuff and jewelry that have been drastically marked down, bite your lips and walk away. How many more jewelry can you wear in your arms, ears, neck, and fingers?

6. Reduce socializing. Stay home. Play with your kids. My children called it “harutan” (exchange of mischievous tricks). We threw pillow fights, made tents using chairs and blankets, marched outdoors to catch fireflies in bottles and released them in a darkened room; we then opened the windows and watched them fly out, leaving a trail of fairy lights. Enchanting!

7. Ease up in making or loving money. “Careful spending and saving is important, but don’t allow your brain to keep doing the calculations all day long.” This ruins your concept of what’s valuable in the end. Be guided by a grateful heart. Give wholeheartedly and silently. No fanfare, no photo ops, and certainly not for the publicity. Stay grounded.

8. Read more, watch less TV. Survey showed that people who watch the idiot box experience a higher level of tension. In contrast, those who read novels, paint, and listen to soft music are more relaxed and breathe easy. Books can raise the adrenaline level, but it’s a good kind of rush. It keeps you well informed, fitting the image of a person with substance and not just a pretty face.

9. Commune with nature. Who cannot love the view of mountains, lakes, moonbeams, the gentle rain, and fields of color and plenty? Once, we climbed a hill in Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia, and watched sailing boats. The skies hovered so low that you’d swear cherubims were giggling behind the clouds. Another friend goes for daily walks in a rain forest next to her residence. She said it was like talking to God in the midst of His splendid territory. “When you walk under the trees and traipse on stones in a brook, you are closer to the truth and unsurpassed beauty,” she said.

10. Simplify your eating habits. Go ahead, indulge in foie gras, truffles, and caviar but not every day. Go for nutritious and delicious groupings that may be as simple as steamed sinigang vegetables or green leaves dressed with tangy vinaigrette sprinkled with nuts and sundried tomatoes or steamed lapu-lapu with a pinch of lemon on a bed of red rice.

The next time you travel, feel the difference and savor it. No more overweight blues because you stopped buying items that will only gather dust. You’ve licked stress, debt, and distress. At last! –Letty Jacinto-Lopez (The Philippine Star)