HE 3-900T
January 2000
Teacher Guide
Simple Living
Choosing an Uncluttered, Focused, Rich Life
As a result of this lesson, participants will be able to:
• Recognize the impacts their choices have on themselves, their families, their communities, and their world
• Increase personal satisfaction by simplifying their lives
Lesson Materials for Teachers
• Order form for New Road Map Foundation publications:
All-consuming Passion - Waking Up from the American Dream
How Earth-friendly Are You?
• Sample "Unshopping" card and order form
Lesson Materials for Participants
Part 1:
• Personal inventory handout (HE 3-902)
• Simple Living bookmark
• Personal action plan form
• Participant Handout (HE 3-901)
Part 2:
• Participant Evaluation (HE 3-903)
Preparation for Teaching
Part 1:
• Order New Road Map Foundation publications and "Unshopping" card (optional)
• Cut out discussion cards (save one set as an extra for Part 2)
• Duplicate bookmark master sheet (on light card stock)
• Duplicate Personal Action Plan master sheet
• Prepare a "ballot" (on a large sheet of paper) which lists these 9 discussion topics: Need or greed; Clearing away clutter; Making fresh starts; Universal shopping list; Time eaters; Drowsy America; Do what you love; Pause and enjoy; A grateful heart. Have pencils or sticky dots for participants to vote for their choices.
Instructions for Teachers
Simple living has many facets. This lesson is designed to give participants an opportunity to discuss a variety of topics. To allow adequate time, the lesson should be presented in two parts (ideally in two consecutive months). Note: Topics don't need to be presented in the order that they appear in lesson materials.
As the teacher, you'll be in charge of keeping track of time so that all topics can be discussed.
Part 1
1. Present the introduction.
2. Hand out the Personal Inventory activity and guide the discussion.
3. Determine which of the discussion topics will be discussed first. Ask participants to "vote" for 3 topics using the ballot. Then identify the 5 topics with the most votes. Give those discussion cards to 5 participants.
4. Beginning with the first-choice topic, review the key points listed in the teacher guide. Then ask the participant with that discussion card to read the facts on the back and initiate the discussion using the question(s) provided. Continue until all 5 topics have been discussed.
5. Distribute the participant handout.
6. Distribute the bookmark. Review the suggestions for simplifying life.
7. Distribute the Personal Action Plan. Ask participants to identify at least 1 change that they plan to make during the next 7 days. Ask them to bring this plan with them to the second part of the lesson.
Part 2
1. Review the list of topics that were discussed during the first part of the lesson.
2. Identify remaining topics that will be discussed during the second part of the lesson, and distribute those discussion cards.
3. Conduct the discussion in the same way as for part one of the lesson.
4. Ask participants to complete the evaluation form. (Turn these into your county Extension office as soon as possible.)
5. Invite participants to share actions that they took following the first part of the lesson.
6. Read the conclusion.
Introduction
Simple living is all about letting go of nonessentials so that you can joyfully embrace what's most important to you. Choosing simplicity involves clearing away clutter that detracts from the true purpose and beauty of life. We have a delightful range of choices for simplifying our lives.
According to national survey results, Americans are yearning for balance. Most Americans say that they want simpler lifestyles more in line with their core values. Simplification is a leading trend of our times.
Sometimes it takes "wake up calls" (such as surviving a near-death experience) to re-evaluate our lives. These calls are a reminder...
that life is precious
that we no longer have time for pettiness
that we have much to give and
NOW is the time for doing what is important.
Surround yourself with beauty as you begin your quest to simplify your life. Begin paying more attention to aspects of everyday life that inspire you.
On your search for simple beauty, intuition simplifies your decision-making. Intuition is your sense of what is true or what is best to do. It will enable you to make better decisions that will enrich your life.
Support yourself as you start to make changes in your life. For example, try writing a journal to report your progress. Or exchange support with like-minded friends.
Activity: Personal Inventory
Distribute the Personal Inventory activity and ask participants to complete it. Ask them to work in pairs to discuss satisfaction with their lifestyle choices (about 5 minutes).
Explain that this lesson will give them an opportunity to discuss many of the issues.
Follow instructions listed under Part 1 for selecting 5 of the following topics for discussion. Discuss the remaining topics during part two of the lesson.
Need or Greed?
*Americans represent less than 5% of the world's population, yet we consume 30% of all natural resources used each year...and we produce a similar percentage of the world's solid waste.
*The key to dealing with environmental challenges is recognizing that our actions can contribute directly to a solution.
*By streamlining our lives in simple, satisfying, and comfortable ways, we help to stretch our world's abundant resources.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
Clearing Away Clutter
*Clearing away clutter can help you be less burdened, more refreshed, and more open to new perceptions and possibilities.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
Making Fresh Starts
*Letting go of old hurts and resentments clears away clutter that gets in the way of a simply beautiful life.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
Universal Shopping List
*Shopping has become one of the most popular away-from-home activities.
*It's helpful to ask ourselves a series of questions before making a purchase.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
The Time Eaters
*Modern technology (the Internet, cell phones, television) can clutter and dominate your life. Use it to support what's really important to you.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
Drowsy America
*Many Americans don't get enough sleep.
*Getting enough rest can improve our individual and collective well-being.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
Do What You Love
*A key element in leading a simple, focused life is following your passion and doing what you love as much as reasonably possible.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
Pause and Enjoy
*Tune into life's simple joys.
*Make a list of simple pleasures that truly appeal to you.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
A Grateful Heart
*The more we count the many gifts of life, the greater our appreciation and contentment grow.
*Gratitude helps us attract what we truly need and opens doors where before we saw none.
Discussion (facts and questions) — see card
Conclusion (read at the end of part two of the lesson)
"Simplifying is not necessarily about getting rid of everything we've worked so hard for. It's about deciding what's important to us, and gracefully letting go of the things that aren't. It's about learning to reduce chores and frequently self-imposed obligations, so we can begin to make the contributions we all, in our heart of hearts, want to make to family, to our community, to our environment, and to the world."
Elaine St. James
Developed by: Debra Minar Driscoll, Extension educator, family and community development, Polk County; Marjory Howard, OrFCE volunteer, Polk County; Viviane Simon-Brown, Leadership Educator, Forestry; and Carolyn Raab, Extension foods and nutrition specialist.
Based on "Simply Beautiful" by Sam Quick and Robert Flashman, Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.