-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the last month or so, I have done all of my cooking on a small wood stove. I didn't have to do this, but I wanted to do it as an experiment to challenge my concepts of what I need to live. At some point in the experiment, I experienced a sort of matrix style download, and could suddenly understand a great deal about different food preservation methods, why certain common dishes became popular historically, and how I might go about storing and grinding various grains. The reason I mention this, is because it is not the first time I have had this kind of experience. But what i realized this time, was that the experience is always preceded by challenging a perceived need, or a norm of convenience.
For the last year, I have not used any refrigeration. I have a DC current powered fridge that I could plug in at any time, but I wanted to see what it would be like to not use it. After doing this for a while, I had the same experience. I could suddenly see how nature moves in cycles in the kinds of foods it produces in different seasons,and how many of the foods which ripen in late fall are able to be stored for long periods of time very simply, and others can be easily dried and stored for even longer.
What I am getting at, is that there is something which happens to the mind when you challenge fear based convenience. The subsequent removal of dependence based in fear unlocks perception and innovation. And when it is related to nature, a sort of saftey net appears, and you can perceive systems of abundance which exist within nature and creation.All you have to do is learn how to follow them.
So there is a dichotomy in going Smol. When targeted at your fear points, what often winds up emerging is not scarcity, but increased abundance,and broader horizons. I realize this sounds all very theoretical, and perhaps nonsensical. So lets make it more practical...
Try it.
Find some area in your life where you are afraid to give something up, and experiment with letting go, and either replacing it with something that provides greater autonomy, or with something simple and enriching. It can be something as simple as ditching a streaming service and replacing it with a book a week, or 1 dvd a month that you own, something as challenging as getting rid of your refrigerator, or something as innovative as determining to write the software you use.
The point is, ENGAGE your life.
Break out of the slow death of passive consumerism and convenience. Not out of guilt, but out of a sense of adventure. Challenge your fears and see if they are lying to you. You may find yourself becoming addicted to the expanding of your life and horizons, through challenge.
* . . . .
. . . * . .
* . . * . . * *
. * . . . . . . . .
. . . . /\ * .
. . /\ . /\ / \ * /\ * .
* * /vv\ ./vv\ /vvvv\ /\ /vv\ . . . . *
. . / \/ \/ \/ \/ \
/ / \ \ \ . .
. ^ / / __|_______.__||___ \ ^
/|\ / / __ __ \ \ /|\ ^
//|\\ / / | | [__] \ \ //|\\ /|\
//|\\ / ,__| | .| | \ //|\\ //|\\
/ | \ / \____|__|_______^__^___/' \/ | \ / | \
| | 0 0 | |