A life with meaning or the pure pursuit of happiness

I stumbled across this article in the internet. It is about the difference of a life with meaning and the pure pursuit of happiness. I thought it was really interesting. I hope you enjoy it!

http://www.businessinsider.com/a-lesson-about-happiness-from-a-holocaust-survivor-2014-10?IR=T

"Green Growth" or "Degrowth"

For those of you who understand German this speech by Nico Paech is really intersting.
He is talking about which direction we might be going in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeb3h9sBm0Y

Those of you who don't understand German -> there is video on Youtube in English.

Get a hobby! - Hobbies and Minimalism

As you might have seen from my blogposts and pages, my hobbies include making things. I am sewing, crocheting, and other DIY... I like to make things with my hands.

Other things I really enjoy doing is listening to classical music, going for walks, climbing, reading, talking to my husband (as in "discussing an interesting topic" not as in "have you put the rubbish out yet, darling?"), listening to the radio (I particularly enjoy this on my way to and from work), ...

Having a hobby has a lot of positive effects:

You learn a skill that you otherwise possibly wouldn't use (e.g. I don't do any sewing at work), and you might even preserve techniques that otherwise might get lost because traditional crafts play only a minor role in modern production (e.g. old handstitches).
You meet people or get in touch with people with the same interest online and expand your circle of friends. Or just have a bit more social life. ;)
If you create something you get the incredible feeling of satisfaction when you have achieved your goal. Same with sports - challenge yourself and you will get gratification. Not instantly, but even more so when you get there. Try it!

Wikepedia offers a list of hobbies (interesting in itself), maybe it can serve as inspiration  (it does contain a few things I will definitely try in the future!!)?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hobbies

And some more on the topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby

Beware: Shopping and surfing aimlessley on the internet as well as watching tv are NOT really good hobbies. No. Not really. Honest. Scrap that.

Pack your bag! - The suitcase game.

The Suitcase Game.

 

As I've mentionned a few times before, we have moved to a new home in November 2016. Because we were really busy we didn't find time to put up our wardrobe in the first 2 months really and lived out of a suitcase for that time. (At least it was a suitcase each...) :)

I found it was really really good and a great lesson in seeing how well you can actually live from only a limited amount of clothes. It was super easy after all, the hardest bit being how to choose the clothes.

I invite you to join "The Suitcase Game". 

What you need:

• 1 suitcase - the size should be small enough so you are actually able to carry it around on your own.  My suitcase had about 90litres. (Vaude Tobago)
• Only a fraction of the content of your usual wardrobe :)

How to do it:

1. Imagine you are going on a 2 week trip. You will go to a place that has the same climate that awaits you in your home in the next 8 weeks. You will have washing and drying facilities. And you will also have to do the same stuff you do at home. So you will be away and home at the same time, sort of. :)
2. Choose things from your wardrobe that coordinate well and that you really like. 
3. Close your wardrobe and put the suitcase in front of it (or in any other suitable place)
4. Ignore your wardrobe for the next 8 weeks. 
5. Yes. Really. Be drastic. 

(you can include bathroom stuff if you have issues with excessive quantities there and include that). 

You can try the list in the blogpost https://hertzwerk-freiburg.blogspot.de/2016/09/how-many-clothes-do-i-really-need.html for inspiration on what to pack. :)

Go for it! :)  

If you like the idea, share it! 

Why not blog about it? (Feel free to share the above image with it)

Have fun!