Why I Want LESS Stuff

I'm obsessed with my stuff. Contrary to what you might think a 37 year old male in the US would obsess about though, I'm obsessed with decreasing the amount of stuff I have to the bare bones of what I need to live a simple satisfied life.

When I first moved back out on my own, after 10 years of cohabitation with my ex-wife, I found myself indulging in retail therapy. I bought a new car, new glasses, new Italian jeans and other new clothes and a new plasma TV, none of which brought satisfaction or joy (okay... I really do enjoy my new little A4).

Since then, I've found the greatest pleasure in doing things - riding my bicycle(s), playing my violin, running, practicing yoga, reading - rather than obsessing over getting new stuff. I've donated far more than I've procured lately and it feels great. My home is clean and (relatively) clutterless and, while it looks like a fun toy that I may one day indulge in, I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not having an iPad yet. I even find myself feeling a bit anti-consumerist these days. How un-American...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to become an ascetic minimalist. But I am going to continue to focus on living a joyful life through experiences rather than through shopping.

Music is FUNdamental

This performance at Tedx Tokyo made me smile so big my cheeks hurt. It inspires me want to get my violin out and make a little music of my own. There is nothing like live music to make the world a better place. Please support and enjoy it every chance you get.

In the meantime, pull up a chair, maximize the screen and take 20 minutes to watch Jake Shimabukuro wow the Tedx Tokyo crowd with ukulele playing like you've never seen before (unless you've seen Jake before of course.)

The Art of Happiness

Reading is a great way to change your perspective and sometimes even your demeanor. The Art of Happiness, by Dr. Howard C. Cutler and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was recommended to me and seemed like a great place to begin my journey towards increased contentment with life and becoming a nicer person to be around.

I copied many of my favorite nuggets into my notebook for continued reflection and I will touch on them here from time to time. First are two short quotes from HHDL - the kernel of how I have become a happy person - which are encountered near the front of the book.

By bringing about a certain inner discipline, we can undergo a transformation of our attitude, our entire outlook and approach to living.

...happiness is determined more by ones state of mind than by external events.

These are an affirmation of my belief that I have ultimate control of who I am and how I feel. Through mindful awareness I have the ability to overhaul my perspective from within. My happiness cannot be created nor destroyed by anyone but me and I control it all within my mind.

What is the secret to your happiness?

Writing and Happiness

Ever since I decided to consciously strive to be The Nicest Person You'd Ever Meet, I find that I am a happier person. In fact I would even call myself "a happy person," which may not mean much to you unless you've known the cynical, unhappy me.

In my past I've used writing as a way to resolve my unhappiness periodically. Writing was like cognitive therapy exercise that read as rambling rants about whatever had rubbed me the wrong way most recently. But now that I'm in generally good spirits, I have not had the compulsion to write for medicinal reasons, which has manifested itself in a dearth of compositions.

Therefore, it is time that I seek alternative motives to spur me on. And what better than to share the inspirations for my happiness; an exploration of and focus on what is important to me - the consequentialities of my life. I have no doubt that putting these cheery thoughts in writing and sharing the things that make me smile will only magnify their effects on me. Hopefully they'll make you smile too.

How I Decided to Be The Nicest Person You'd Ever Meet

I recently heard someone described as "the nicest person you'd ever meet" and I immediately thought to myself "Wow! I'd like to meet that guy." Then I reflected on what might be said if I were being described.

Words that came to mind:

Analytical

Opinionated

Pragmatic

Interesting

Cynical

Introspective

I don't know that they would make many people (any people?) think "Wow! I'd like to meet that guy." They've been personality traits for most of my life. I vaguely remember consciously initiating the construction of a social wall of condescending sarcastic egoism; and brick by brick it has grown into the Great Wall of Eric - keeping friends (those thick-skinned enough to have me) and family (they've been stuck with me) at bay.

The wall is weakening lately and I feel as though I'm waking up to the world and discovering how I want to exist in it. Jonathan Fields' post Would You Fall Asleep Reading Your Life's Story? was a well-timed inspiration. Reflecting on legacy, he encourages us to ponder the meaning of life as a story and to write out the chapters as we would like them to unfold. He ends with the question "what story are you writing with the way you’re living your life?" I've written many chapters already in my 37 years, but now it's time to mindfully set my intentions for future chapters. I'll start with one for now:

He was...

   *The nicest person you'd ever meet

Photo by Emiliano Spada