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"In India, the cow is supposedly
a scared animal to which
motorists must give way.
Nowhere in the world,
is the human being
similarly scared"
A Sideways Look At Time, p44: by Jay Griffiths
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Mike, Jill, Gerry, Joe, Mark, Laura, Julie, Ross, Tom, Lenny, Dave, Jason, Vicki and Linda welcomed William, Elisa and Donna to their first meeting.

Jill opened the space with a brief round of introductions. The group
then created the following list of discussion topics:

• Anyone been to Japan? Looking for tips in Kyoto, Tokyo, Fuji. and Ibaraki area - please forward to juliekay0@hotmail.com
• Do you allow the thought of rejection by others to force you to live a life that is less than you aspire to? (Ross)
• Reducing Clutter - how do you do it and keep motivated? (Elisa)
• Generating Extra Income (Laura)
• Are you TV-Free? If so, how was it affected your LIFE? (Julie)
• "The Simplifiers and the Complicators" Are you one? If so, which? (Mike)
• Starting your own business - "Simplicity" or Complexity? (Joe)

GENERATING EXTRA INCOME...
The attending group generated the following ideas;

Distribute flyers for local businesses
Sell items on EBay
Download music for friends
Participate in focus groups
Sell items in consignment shops
Product demos
Provide conference/convention assistance
Sell your CD's
Grant writing
Baking
Donate blood/plasma
Donate sperm
Ask colleagues if they need help
Hold a garage sale
Quite your job (thereby reducing expenses)
Get a roommate
House sit
Dog walk
Garden watch
Become a human phone booth
Cater
Shop for others
Help someone shop for a car to get a better deal
Home care assistance (sick/dying)
Baby sit
Draw caricatures
Dress up as a clown for children's parties
Do magic tricks at parties
Tutor
Assist with packing / provide moving help
Review medical bills

DECLUTTERING...
Moving helps - William noted they have moved nine times in the last nine years. Laura mentioned the "One-In-One-Out" concept => decide on a specific number of books, shirts, activities..., for instance if you decide to have 12 books on your shelf and you'd like to keep a new book, then one of your 12 books must go. Mike has used this concept too, and found it helpful for books, t-shirts, CD's...

Why do we hang on to clutter? Perhaps for emotional reasons, or our space is too small or not organized.

Shelf Life => what's your shelf life for books, magazines, clothes...

Dave likes to give his "extra" stuff to a friend who enjoys selling on e-Bay. They split the take 50/50.

Check out places to donate your stuff - resale shops, "Freecycle", "Fred's List".

Tom likes to organize like items every year. The group also mentioned, "Organize from the inside out", and "Organize your time from the inside out".

"The Universe" will provide if you ask...

TV FREE...
Julie has been TV free for 8 months now. Think of all the things you could accomplish if you were TV free. And there is also stillness and contemplation - how can you listen to yourself if there is always something on? Alternatives to TV are PBS and shortwave radio as means of staying connected to what's happening, without all the visual imagery and product placements. Seems TV is still too violent, and becomes more so every new season. Academy of Pediatrics advises parents children under 2 shouldn't watch TV as it affects their brains -- the messages are too short and way too violent. TV also makes us think life in incomplete. This is done deliberately by the advertisers in order to sell us stuff. Lenny said today's TV is the same as the old gladiator and lion entertainment was for the ancient masses.

• Don't reinvent what's already out there
• Try to get different perspectives, look for what's unique
• Have an Exit Plan => know when to cut your losses.

ARE YOU A SIMPLIFIER OR COMPLICATOR?
From an article in the March/April 2004 issue of Simple Living, author Cris Evatt writes, "What, another project? Complicators say, 'Bring it on'. Simplifiers say, 'Can't do it'. See if you find yourself in this list...". Complicators unwittingly add more and more projects to their already busy lives. Pondering new projects thrills them--following through makes them sluggish. Simplifiers tend to delegate and delete. Thinking of a new project can be an adrenaline rush for them too, but they control it. They's ask, "What's the grunt-work factor?" or, "How many days will it involve?" Discussion included feeling you're needed => perhaps that's why we complicate our lives - taking on more things makes us feel needed. As one simplifies their life, do they become less dependent on others for acceptance or self-worth?

DO YOU ALLOW THE THOUGHT OF REJECTION BY OTHERS TO FORCE YOU TO
LIVE A LIFE THAT IS LESS THAN YOU ASPIRE TO?
Standing up for what you believe sometimes gets you whacked. We each have certain personal, family and social responsibilities - how do you handle yours?

We closed the meeting and space by noon.
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(Recorded by Mike Lenich)