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he idea of simplicity is so appealing to us, with our over-committed and complicated lives. Why, then, don’t more people pare down and make the chang-


es necessary to have lives that are easier and less stressful? Well, there are lots of reasons. I think a major one is that, unfortunately, there is a lot of social pressure to be stressed and constantly on the run. If you mention to someone that you had to work late and had multiple child-related activi- ties and volunteer activities to attend, all on the same day, they murmur positively and remark that they are in the same boat. If, however, you say that you spent the day in quiet contemplation, working in your garden, the response may not be as supportive. Perhaps being busy helps validate an individual’s sense of self-worth, and the idea of not having a laundry list of external accomplishments is really scary to contemplate. So if you really want to live more consciously and simply, how do you start


without becoming socially and emotionally overwhelmed? A great place to begin is to examine your every purchase or acquisition, says our friend Diana Peterson, who teaches Constructive Living at the Asala Center in Chattanooga. Diana recom- mends focusing on the small decisions and small actions made each day, includ- ing what you choose to buy. She references an interview she saw in which the late author Michael Crichton quoted a Chinese proverb: “‘He who has cow has care of cow.’ Each item you allow yourself brings with it some level of responsibility.” This idea is so amazing to me. It’s beautifully simple, but I had never thought of it in those terms. Our inspiration department follows that advice with “Simple Staycations”


(page 13). Staycation doesn’t have to mean stay home; it can also mean close to home, and with the abundance of wonderful destinations we have in East Tennes- see, there are lots to choose from. Come on, how many people have the Great Smoky Mountains right in their backyard? Even time at home can be special if we intend for it to be so—and everyone plays by the rules. Break ‘em and you pay for the ice cream! Those of you who regularly read my letter know that I am enthralled by herbs


and their uses. This month we have a neat Healing Ways article, “Cool Aid” (page 20), which offers some great herbal and homeopathic remedies for common summer complaints—useful alternatives to over-the-counter chemicals. And don’t forget to save the date for the upcoming Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference, to be held in beautiful Black Mountain, North Carolina October 14-16.


Take care,


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4 Knoxville


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