One of the most glorious choices I've made is to stop mowing our lawn . We are rural so we aren't upsetting the neighbors . It's been two years now and a small forest of aspens has moved in bringing grouse . Wildflowers galore , bees , butterflies , katydids ( spelling ? ) , snails with spiral shells , foxes , skunks , deer ... Also an extra day every week for my husband to relax . Two acres of unmowed lawn is so much better for the environment. I highly recommend this .
Simplicity here too. Some friends and I started calling our lifestyle "Enough-ism" after minimalism blew up and became a sanctimonious cult of people who find happiness by comparing their sparse belonging count with each other and winning.
For me and my confession of what brings me joy that I’ve lazily stopped doing is…. I miss in depth study through reading actual source material- cover to cover. Getting “facts” on history, philosophy etc through summaries prepared by google is NOT studying. I used to be the champion of Roman, Egyptian, reformation history reading and reading scholarly documents on the topics. Now I just watch RU-vid’s on it. And while there are amazing, ethical presenters out there (I appreciate many of them) I still believe I derive happiness being a part of the dialog as someone with true acquired knowledge - not just repeating a summary I watched. I also like things like fashion, working out, my dog, cooking and I have continued doing that through modern times but the scholarship part I have grown lazy with and now am inspired to go back to basics!
I call it frugal. I don't buy unnecessary things. I grew up in a single parent household with 4 siblings. We had to think about where the money was going as there really wasn't enough. I'm not saying I don't buy nice things, have fun, travel to faraway places, etc. I just don't follow any trends. I think I grew up in an era that really idealized individuality and I never outgrew that. Your comments about negativity are spot on and loved the never regret segment.
My brother actually told me that I was not doing my part to keep the economy going! I buy almost allmy clothing at thrift stores or make them by hand through slow-stitching and knitting. I have been told that I have too many clothes but I confine my wardrobe to one closet and purge regularly. I do get a little thrill when I find a well made piece of clothing in a thrift store.
It's not our responsibility to keep the economy going. 🤷🏻😴🥱 I stay chillin in barely worn, thrifted track jackets.😂 Supply and demand. Corporations have made too much of the stuff we don't need and not enough of what we do need. Manufacturing desires only goes so far.
I really like and identify with the “simplicity” movement from back in the 90s, and have stuck with it. I don’t need minimalism or underconsumption or ultra frugality or any of the other current trends. Simplicity is the perfect balance. Loved this video!
I worked in the health food industry in the 90's since my family had some severe allergies and I needed the discount. We had two kinds of customers: those who enjoyed the clean flavors of healthy food and those who were unhappy because they had an agenda.
I think that yes, some people take it too far and perhaps are a bit sanctimonious about it, but I think it's a good thing that we are having a conversation about normal levels of consumption to counterbalance the egregiously huge hauls of pointless junk and PR unboxings that impressionable people are watching and thinking it's normal or aspirational. I think I may have found your videos because I was trying to buy fewer new things and be more creative with the clothes I DO have, so for that I'm grateful. I got really sick and tired of some personal style creators saying "don't wear this, you're going to look dated". Even when they preface it with "wear what you want though, hun!" It's still toxic as hell and a masked prompt to buy their product/sponsored product I wouldn't have liked anyway if they hadn't created a false desire in the first place. To add insult to injury those trends they espouse are milliseconds long! You're right, ultimately people have to find their own inner voice and we don't get to find that with hyper consumption of media. Unfortunately though, I think that's what a lot of youth are doing these days and not enough influential people in their lives are showing them alternatives. I think some good things are coming out of it and hopefully even if the term "underconsumption core" is just a trend maybe some people (myself included) will be more conscious of fixing what's broken, using up what we've purchased, and disposing as responsibly as we can. I'm glad you're doing what you're doing Diana, you've given me so much more to work with creatively in the area of personal style and enjoyment of what I have, which is sadly lacking on a lot of the other personal style and fashion channels.
It cracks me up that today's trend and "core" (hate that term) followers think they invented these things! Someone commented they were glad you were embracing the "simplicity" movement of the 1990s. Ha! I was born in a middle class family in the US in the 1950s and I grew up with two pair of shoes at a time -- one for school, one for church; one winter coat, one hat, one pair of mittens; one school uniform, one dress for church/holidays. See where I'm going with this? We weren't poor. We lived simply. Reusing and recycling aren't new. My grandparents did it in 1902, and many did it long before. This stuff ain't new. It ain't a passing fashion. It's life if that's what you decide you want your life to be. Go, Diana!
But many of the contemporary forms are fresh and original, and nobody did it before in the digital age. There’s no threat in young ppl working through things. Nobody needs to take it SO personally. Just scroll by.
one of the good things of the past was that people cherish what they have and things were made to last. it's new to this generation bcs they are used to 5$ shein clothes and trending stuff on tiktok. im so glad this trend has started for the young people!
I’m in Queen Badass territory age wise. Thanks to your channel I’ve been reunited with my 10 year old badass self who styled her hair in the 60’s like Aphrodite and had hordes of my classmates following me into the bathroom to get a sense of how does it feel to be badass?!?! Alas, the years and the culture wore me down. I have never loved a channel but I love yours! You are really badass!
My motto...NO CHAOS...i dont do well with chaos..I always have focused on simplicity but nearly a decade on a sailboat cruising the Caribbean nealry 10 years with have a hanging locker 2 ft wide my side and my storm gear HAD to hamg there. Two drawers 12in by 12in. T shirts , shorts, bathing suits one set of sweats one xtra zip up sweat. That is it thebhappoest era of my happy life.
We live in a fast process world, fast food, fast gratification, fast delivery of anything to your doorstep, fast disposable relationships and then we just throw them All away way too fast. I am living with the joy of our Father in my heart, this encourages me to think on His will for my life. That is loving others, sharing with others, showing love and kindness, and all these things are very simplistic. We never stop learning, loving and sharing, it does take an effort to be happy and grateful for all that we have and can give. Thank you for always sharing such great and caring content with us!
I absolutely love your "Only you can fill your happy hole." I love how simple living looks different for each individual/family. And how what makes us happy is so very different from person to person. I love books, and the home that I share with my family is full of them. I love crafts of all sorts and my my family of neuro-divergents is into all the hobbbies (with very special special interests), and our home and pole barn, reflect that. 😂 Anyway, I love your channel. I love the sneaky Gen-X references and I especially appreciate the Methodist reference, that made me absolutely LOL.
Speaking of Thrift Hoarding 🧤👢🧣, please consider making a video about how to avoid it. For example, 1.) show us how you edit your thrifted wardrobe, 2.) organizing a closet to avoid decision fatigue/chaos, and 3.) tracking thrift spending, the time it takes to shop (incl drive to locations, gas) vs online shopping for similar items.
Hi! Good idea! I do have a couple where I discuss that. Did you see this one? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-M1w3tbqpIzw.htmlsi=Gzd3bEA2T7WJYJ8Y
Omg this was almost verbatim what I was thinking when I first saw videos analysing this whole "trend" on YT (I don't have TikTok). Except that for me the core issue is somewhere else: it's that this all stems from a) our need to show off on social media, and b) the tiktokification of life in general. Everything has to be short, snappy and awaken extreme emotions. The reaction to videos full of people buying tonnes of plastic crap that will end in landfill and never decompose was not the logical one (turn off social media and stop giving those people an audience), but the social media one (make my own videos about how I don't buy all that stuff). It has a whiff of holier-than-thou, but seems to be missing the key issue and that is that if you stop watching most of these people will stop buying, the factories will stop producing, and everyone will be happier. WE, as in, the audience, are the problem.
So for me consuming and owning less was hard at first but now I feel sort of free. Instead of seeing something and wanting it, I see it and think ‘yes that’s lovely, I’m glad it exists, but I don’t need to have it’. Because I see now that I really don’t need to have it! And instead I spend more time with my children and enjoy a more simple life. It’s blissful tbh.
Great conversation. I really deep dive into philosophy. And I have to say- your conversation here is one of the best summaries and motivators to examine how we can unplug more in our lives - well done!
Balance people that is what we need. Yes! When my kids and the neighborhood kids used to tell me they were bored I would tell them how lucky they are and that's great. It made them ponder.
I really enjoyed “consuming” this video. I found your channel recently and am finding real value in your content. And have shared with my daughter. Thank you.
Thank you for always having the most refreshing take on everything! Times in my life when I was either 1. shopping too much or 2. minimal-izing too much were always when I was feeling directionless. I don't have my life together approaching 30 BUT I am completely moored in my art passion which reflects in my relationship to things. I love things! I just don't have that youthful anxiety about rooting out the passé ones and making sure even my water bottle reflects my ethos (anymore!!)
I don’t follow trends. Never had. Did my own thing and loving myself everyday. I like decorating my home but with what I like. I don’t follow a style or a trend. I take my time looking for the things that I love. I don’t spend a lot of money because I have no need to keep up with trends. I’m happy in my home and I love walking into my home and feeling so happy to be there. I walk everyday four miles and that makes me happy. There’s lots of free things that you can do. I eat mostly fresh foods and love to cook. I’m willing to spend a little more on healthy foods. The things I don’t spend money on is trends. Simple. Ut yes the thing I do spend money on is books. Books reading makes me happy
You are a wise woman. Many people don't ever get this. You also make me LOL every time I watch you. There is nothing wrong with having a dream of a little cabin with chickens even though you may not ever get it. Dreams make life nicer and you never know. Save your pennies and maybe someday.
I like what you are talking about today. I just watched another video on the opposite subject, about "Utah Moms" and the rampant over-consumption, huge expensive houses with swimming pools, and anxiety over Botox and hair extensions. Who needs that? I live in an average house, drive an average car and I don't have a cottage. I don't use Botox or expensive wrinkle creams, and I buy colorful and comfortable clothes. Sadly, no thrift shops in my city besides Value Village. I love your channel and look forward to more videos!
I hate that everything seems to turn into a trend - and the trend of adding 'core' to any kind of style or behavior (old person's rant!). I totally agree that "living beneath one's means" is a good idea. Great video and good points.
Hello Diana, you are such a pleasure to watch. In french, we call that SIMPLICITÉ VOLONTAIRE! That's my goal every day - a way of living ... I'm a GenX -er , a little older you, where I grew up experiencing and living life.I feel grateful for growing up and not having a screen infront me and wasting all that precious time. ❤And you are right about choosing what to consume is a healthier and saner way to live.
I love your words, filling your own happy hole. I have the things that fill it up and then, BAM!, it expands and lets more and more happiness in. My grands, my friends, etc! I think, just like you do, I can help fill up other people’s happy holes. I mean you help fill up your viewers happy holes! Your quirky videos always make my smile! Sounds weird, but true!
This is why I never follow trends, there is always this meaning of trends in the background which is the fact that "someone or something choses the thing for me that do not know my true self" I heard somewhere that living curated and intentional life" At that second I realized this is something that I couldn't explain to myself but this is main motto of my life. For example, I never followed minimalism trend, because I know myself! I only buy things if they pass some parameters for me. those I never regret my choices most of the time. And you were also someone that made me realized, I actually like wearing colors, later on I understood I never wanted to do a capsule wardrobe. This is the thing ladies, personalized life style is what we need. Like our cells we need to be selective permeable.We have our filters for our identity, we are unique. Life is pretty much like finding your best match red lipstick for your undertone 😂
I agree was the other day I was in the bush picking wild blueberries, I don’t like picking blueberries but love having fresh blueberries. I enjoyed the ladies I went with. Boredom is curial ….. young people suffer from instant gratification, most are unwilling to try anything difficult. They want quick and easy outcomes and have trouble dealing with failure.
That brought back childhood memories. I hated picking blueberries because it took too long to fill up my little pail, mainly because I kept eating them. Strawberries were faster!
Thanks for the video on this topic. I agree with you 100%! More gratitude for the things we already have in our lives is a start. Valuing family, friends and free natural spaces fill my life with happiness!❤
Hello there! Were you speaking directly to me? This little talk sorted me out in ways I could write back pages to you. UCC, I’d never heard of but I had it imposed on me for a few years due to a paralyzing divorce running its course. Sad and angry doesn’t cover it. I’m SO much better now thanks to prioritizing my relationship with God and my health. Liberty really comes hearing yourself “even if you are 70” and starting again. Thank you so much😻😻😻
Hi Diana, yes, I agree with you. I think it's hard to take time away and making space to chill. I've put timers on my apps so I am not sucked into the doom and gloom. Life is too short. Thank you for your positivity. Keep going! 😊😎💐 xx
I think you are brilliant. I raised 6 kids and I so missed time to read and play music. Now I can. I never realized how much reading good literature and walking the dog and playing the ukulele made me happy.
Thank you for this I already do most of this without realising what I did I only knew that most of the time I am happy, I used to draw and paint when I was young and have returned to it in old age, a friend said you should have an exhibition you could sell some, and i said i did it for my own pleasure and not for money or recognition. Thank you for putting it into words ❤
😊Love it when you share your thoughts. Appreciate your zen analysis & wisdom. I also find it unbearable to live under the umbrella of deprivation & lack. While happily living low & no buy, I still embrace the notion of abundant living & contentment. One of my BFFs & I go round & round 🔄 on the subject of semantics. I say it matters & she adamantly argues it doesn't. When I try to employ diplomacy, she accuses me of: counselor speak, being disingenuous, & even being deceptive (in holding back). She considers blurting out the full truth in the most bald manner to be fully righteous😱. She gives no consideration about whether or not what she speaks is helpful, inspiring, necessary or kind. Truth is her only valid measure. Like you, I believe our words are⚡️powerful. That they influence our thoughts, attitude, & actions. I want to root out the unhealthy & unproductive elements, remove any stinking thinking, to replace it with healing, hope, growth, gratefulness & joy. 📖The Bible says there's life & death in the tongue. We each have the choice to unleash heaven or hell in our own lives & others. I want to use my power to speak🗣 good, kind, productive, & uplifting things to others. 🥰Loved my parents dearly, but I never understood how they could yell, criticize, insult, & speak so harshly to the very people they said they held in the HIGHEST esteem. If we truly love someone, we should want to give them our best behavior, not our very worst. They were generous & kind in other ways. They were certainly respectful with others, so it was obvious they were capable of civility & editing themselves. It's hard to process that you weren't worthy of that treatment. It sends the wrong message. It certainly alienates the very people you most want to love you. Had enough with others trying to control me for good or ill. Attitudes of authoritarianism & militancy simply set off my own stubbornness & rebellious nature.🕊Peace, my friend. 💚Bridget from Cali☘️ (using my pal's YT acct)
I’ve never seen your work before, but this video showed up on my feed for some reason today… and I love it! Your witty and pointful analysis is a joy. I’m all about wit-core. ;) I’m subscribing.
This reminds me of these people who don't buy anything for a year. 😢 Yes we need to learn to save for a rainy day, and plan for our retirement, we also need to plan for our vacation, find a way to have a little money so we can get together with friends. Love the video ❤. I wish more people would look for that balance. Stop being the 80%. In debt for things they've forgotten they even bought or didn't need.
I just consumed some words of wisdom with a positive outlook. I'm almost 60 and I swear when I was growing up we had minimal consumer goods and we were happy. I had the best childhood. In my experience, I think the access to social media has really added to peoples consumption habits. I got all caught up in the Dollar Tree and Decor videos. I got to thinking I had to change my home up for every season. Not good! I've since changed my ways and have scaled back a lot.
Enjoy your sharing very much. Appreciate your verbal spontaneity as you dialogue through your message. You're very unscripted and I really enjoy the flow. I'm only now just learning to love myself very late in my life. I've been neglecting my self-care and ignoring an inner pull to dress in a more lovely way. I really want to only dress for myself and to not attract attention or comments from onlookers because I am introverted and prefer a cloaked persona. As the youngest of 4 sisters I squandered the flood of hand-me-down clothing that came my way. So tragic that too many of those items would be out of style before I could " fit " into them. lol I enjoy thrifting for clothes and can make minor alternations. Keep on keepin on sweet lady.
General comment: I do not know if putting a label on everything helps. Sometimes people shop because a product is on sale and like chipmunks we cache goodies. People “hoard” money and stocks and intangibles… we all over consumer digital media in various forms and until we all get a grip on what we are going for we will be constantly comparing ourselves old, young, in-between (whatever these terms mean). I think that life was healthier before because a.) we did NOT know what was in everyone”s closet (including sexually…!) b.) we did NOT spend time looking at everyone else”s trips around the world (which is what we do now!) and c.) we had more time to plan our OWN trips around the world, create our own lives and live them and wear our clothes rather than curate our bloody closets; d.) we did NOT spend hours watching Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and wonder why we are so pissed off with our own lives! Turn it off I say and buy or don’t… but really I am beginning to think I do not want to know or care what other people wear or how they spend their money - just NOT my business… but it may be other”s… u truly enjoy your channel so if I exit SM it is not you, it is me…🎉🎉🎉🎉
Glad you explained the term. Had not heard it before. Love the content you bring. Just love the little paws as you give. Better pauses than Paul Harvey
Omg you made me happy laugh today - Never knew Thrift Hoarding was a thing…i think thats me…ok I see it’s me --as I work on 7day closet clear out for simplicity and space.
Love this! I'm a fellow Gen Xer and this is how I live for the most part. Also, love that you are a Tiny Home owner. I'm in the process of saving for one.
In reference to your description of being predominately a "Thrifting Channel", I say that no matter how much we like to go to thrift stores, we can still over-consume (as well as over-spend) I don't mind the latest attention that "under-consumption" is getting, as long as it can get people thinking and ultimately changing their habits.
"Chickens I will never raise" made me laugh! I kind of don't see a problem with looking at chickens, but I get that you could have been meditating. I want to make not saying "core" a trend now.
Ugh I'd love to give one but it feels a little too invasive? (...Says the person who puts her face, body, and thoughts on RU-vid a couple times a week! )
Drinking from a garden hose and wearing mismatched socks 😂…me too! Absolutely, I think I’ve made this comment on here before. Trends , they are the problem 🙄. In fact I think I’m old enough to remember the phrase ‘being trendy’ … when it was trendy. Love your videos Diana. Keep doing what you’re doing. 😊
I turn on the instrumental music channels here on youtube to "untether " from the screen. I also find peace and wisdom in the stoic channels. Love to all.
I love this concept: focus not on deprivation, but on joy! Be aware of what contributes to *my* happiness, rather than what other people might be pushing at any particular moment. Like you, we live in a small house, drive old cars, don't have a TV. My kitchen does have a built-in microwave, but the counter is home to a KitchenAid stand mixer and a gorgeous crock of utensils--and a creative mismatch of cutting boards (one is shaped like an oversized painting palette 😂) and shapely containers for food (no matchy- matchy- cannisters!). Also art for Art's sake. 😊 Appliances are black or charcoal--color is a *huge* deal for me. So, art, books, plants. Colors. Maker spaces. *Time* for what matters most. Makes me happy! Also, besides consuming, focus on contributing to others and bringing happiness to *them*. That doubles my own! 😊
Insecurity leads to trying to full that "happy hole" with things or trying to be part of the in crowd. Old Ricky Nelson song says, "You can't please everyone so you got to please yourself."
You have verbalised how I live my life. Simplicity is so calming. I too have few belongings through choice and what I do own is visually nice to look at. My home isn't full of stuff but full of space, which gives me room to think. I really enjoy your videos, you are a breath of fresh air.
I think it was just called "underconsumption core" because it was a reaction to the maximalist independent collectors showing an insane amount of over consumption they would often promote with scary amounts of PR packages they receive often for free / for making ads. A lot of the videos on that hashtag are not super spartan or in poverty, byt using normal amounts of things at home but TikTok kind of makes people forget what normal even looks like anymore.
Finding yourself in the Boredom.. it’s truly a gift. As I was listening to you, a thought came to mind. What about ever-changing trends in face and body? Even when not searching for these topics (looking at you, algorithms!) we are inundated with images of over-plump faces one minute then the narrow gaunt looks of the 90’s..concerning, even on just analysis. I truly feel for anyone affected by those exhibiting these scary trends in something that we really should not be playing around with risking our lives with surgery, anaesthesia, infection . Indeed, only we can fill our hole. 🕳️ Video idea maybe, Diana?
just because its a trend and those who are trend-followers will change and no longer practice underconsumption, does not mean the idea being in the lime light is a bad thing. a percentage of people who were following the trend will have found a deeper meaning to the idea and thats good imo
Underconsumption core reminds me of "Swedish Death Cleaning." A stingy, small, brain-squeezed tight and rife with anxiety and fear. NO f*g way to live your life. Hell no. When I die, I tell my kids, just take what you want and then call the charities next, then the junk man in to haul out the rest of it. I am not wasting my precious life full of angst over whether to keep or lose something I love.
Generally I don't overspend and instead hang onto stuff and do thrifting, mending and altering. But sometimes I do pay full price. I feel guilty momentarily and then I get over it. After all, sometimes you need a specific thing and if you know you will use it and it will mean other things work better, then I don't think it's necessary to overanalyse it. Good health is the key to happiness. I enjoy what belongings that I have and find happiness in being creative. It doesn't make me suddenly materialistic but we do interact with the material world. Clearly you understand which colours suit you and understand about underlying skin tones. It's easy to say no to clothes and items that don't suit us, and find the things that do. PS I'm going to go the tiny house route too, but I will also hire an office space so I have room to do the creative stuff.
I've always lived simply. As the youngest of 4 children in the 60s and 70s, this wasn't by choice. I hated having to wear my brothers' hand-me-downs. But as I got older I appreciated how it taught me to be more creative and immune from trends. Now I can afford much more but I love the thrill of TREASURE hunting in thrift stores and finding unique items that I could never find in chain stores. I also love hunting for treasures in used book stores and local libraries. I've even pulled furniture for my porch in the form of a nice loveseat from my neighbors trash. Why not? It looks nice and it will only get rained on. To me, it is a form of freedom to be able to use what I find and save money for experiences.
I think surfing Pinterest looking at cabins and chickens can be a refreshing break for the mind and it doesn't have an admission fee. Dreaming about things can be inspiring and uplifting in a crazy world. Who knows, it may become a part of your future. Maybe you will take a trip to a cabin or meet a friend that has chickens. Life has many surprises.
Yes, it's like thinking it's virtuous to live seeing the half empty glass - instead of seeing it as half full. Not quite what you meant, but there's a link somewhere 🤔
Love, love, love you! Which is sort of a self-love since I'm sort of the old lady version of you. 😊 But, I did start being that way when I was your age. I was newly divorced and living in Key West which made me very happy but was also very expensive so the simplicity came out of necessity at first but then became a preferred way of life. And there were no malls which I do not like but really great consignment shops and a really great Salvation Army which we lovingly referred to as Sally's Boutique. Anyway, thank you for all your videos which validate my years of just being me and also make me happy since I am now in Ohio taking care of my Dad and not able to live exactly my best life right now but will again some day. 💖