The monthly Minimalist meeting will take place Thursday, September 18, at 7 p.m. at the Bryan Center on the 2nd floor to continue our discussions. The monthly meetings are free and open to the public.

Last month Rob Ely brought in a book to share and we read a little bit from it and then the discussion just unfolded. The book is entitled “The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less” by Barry Schwartz. Schwartz introduces his readers to 11 practical steps to undertake to help simplify the vast number of choices we seem to have in today’s world. It is suggested by one of his readers that many people might be better off with fewer options that in many cases we try too hard also to make the “right” choice. He discusses many of the following questions such as : When We Choose, How We Choose, Why We Suffer and What We Can Do.

The section we read summarized the idea that as the availability of choices increases, the variety of choices we have can be positive. As the numbers of choices, however, continues to increase, the negatives escalate until we often hit the point of “overload.” Overall, his book speaks to the choices we make in all areas of life: education, career, friendship, sex, romance, parenting and religious observance.
I love how each time, the discussions seem to just take off on another theme of minimalist living.
I wonder if some of you still find yourself “shedding” some things or what “new” thoughts you may have had since we last met.
Hope to see you there!
~~Minimalist Coordinator Ann Kent

Group inspired by: http://www.theminimalists.com/