Stacy Cashman

1. What does living simply mean to you?

Being aware of and focusing on what I really value and getting rid of the excess.

2. Why is it important to you?

I want to make deliberate choices that agree with my values. Getting rid of the stuff that isn’t important lets me concentrate on what is. It’s a relief to get rid of unnecessary distractions and the stress that comes from dealing with them.

Living simply allows me to focus on relationships that are important to me. It also lets me focus on decreasing our family’s ecological footprint. Too many decisions are made that hurt the environment or waste natural resources.

I still have a long way to go to get to my ideal of living simply, but each step is an accomplishment.

3. What steps have you taken to live simply in your day to day life?

I’m decluttering our possessions and considering new purchases more carefully. I’m saying no to unnecessary time commitments and focusing more on valued relationships. I’m trying to reduce my family’s dependence on energy by doing things like keeping the thermostat turned down in the winter, line drying some of our laundry, unplugging unused appliances, and all those other little things that can add up. In the summer we leave the car at home more often and ride our bikes where we need to go. Recently, my interest has also turned to eating simply with whole foods.

4. What’s been the hardest part of your simple journey?

Dealing with people who don’t understand or agree with simple living, and having to compromise on my ideal of living simply.

5. What advice would you give others who are on the living simple journey?

Take baby steps and enjoy the journey. Don’t beat yourself up if you take two steps back once in awhile and if it gets overwhelming, try to find like minded people who can support you during those times.

Stacy lives in Minnesota with her husband and three sons, two cats and a dog. Rambling Traveler is her personal blog where she shares photos and stories of her travels and occasionally writes about other topics like living simply.

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