The Life Around Us #5 September/October 2017 $2.99 www.masterofsimplicity.com
Direction and Edition: Fรกtima Teixeira Supervision: Giovani Goulart Marketing: GGO Master of Simplicity Contact: masterofsimplicity@gmail.com Website: www.masterofsimplicity.com /magazine Facebook: www.facebook.com/ masterofsimplicitymagazine Translation: Cรกtia Nogueira Editor's Note: The articles are originally written in Brazilian or Portuguese, giving each author the freedom to express themselves accordingly. Icons created by Madebyoliver of Flaticon License by Creative Commons BY 3.0
The Life Around Us... : either it adds Everything around us has a meaning our purpose and value to our life, or distracts us from our essence, to goals. The decision is ours: to find ople with whom make healthy choices, to inspire pe we live, ... ourselves and It all starts when we decide to analyze all our attitudes. we choose to take responsibility for I choose to avoid A better world: mine, yours, ours. e consciously, to waste, to waste less, to consum and to find reproduce more natural products to BE MORE with tranquility in my daily life. I choose to share with you less. And so I take this opportunity hop) that I have the recent events (lecture and works nimalism. held to inspire as people through mi ZoĂŤ Kim from In this issue enjoy an interview with Shyla Hutchison, The Minimalist Board blog and meet way minimalism mother of eight, who who shares the benefits her family's routine. Sit down, open the window and enjoy this edition inspired by the life around us! Good readings!
by the directress and magazine creator FĂĄtima Teixeira
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Minimalism, The Song Release of the song soon! listen an excerpt here:
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MINIMALISM 06 MINIMALISM: A BETTER WAY TO LIVE Fátima Teixeira
34 BETWEEN REASON AND HEART Fátima Teixeira
36 MINIMALISM FROM THE INSIDE OUT Ana Alaíde Ortiz Tavares
SHARING 12 SUGESTÕES Site, Livro e Documentário
SIMPLICITY 38 CREATING MOMENTS... Catarina Agostinho
INTERVIEW
WELLNESS 14 FINDING OUR ESSENCE Tarso Spadini
16 SLOW BEAUTY Lorena Ventura
46 UNIVERSITY: PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS AND RESSIGNIFICATIONS Juliana Prata
48 ACADEMY OR PERSONAL DISCOVERY Sofia de Assunção
5 SILENT RETREAT Karin Lisboa 52 THE 4 ELEMENTS OF NATURE IN TEAMS Dulce Blum Menezes 56 THE POWER OF POSITIVE PEOPLE Sutra Prem 58 OBJETS THAT CHANGE OUR BODY Caio Huck Spirandelli
26 ZOE KIM 42 SHYLA HUTCHISON
SUSTAINABILITY
ORGANIZATION 18 CHILDREN: ROOM ORGANIZATION Rosangela Aggio
64 ZERO WASTE Ana Milhazes Martins 7 THE ECOVILLAGE MOVEMENT IN BRAZIL Flávia Beck
RECIPE 60 ECOLOGICAL CLEANING Karine Rodrigues
MINIMALISM
Minimalism:
a better way to live There are more and more people getting to know minimalism through the internet and google. It is great to be inspired by blogs and various websites, in which anyone writes what they think, applying the concept on themselves and their understanding. However, few are those who study their meaning and investigate the matter. You need to understand minimalism in more detail to be able to take advantage of it. In the lectures and workshops that I minister, I seeks to show the minimalism applied in different contexts: the traveler, a housewife with a large family, an entrepreneur who seeks to reconcile their different areas of life, which is not minimalist but enjoys some ideas and benefits
of minimalism, etc. In this way, listeners and participants identify themselves with the historical knowledge and understand that they can benefit from some premises of minimalism. It is, moreover, a moment of personal reflection, in which each one stops and selfanalyzes: what do I want to improve? What do you want to do now? What do I want to conquer? It is also time to clarify some misconceptions: "the whole black and / or white clothing" or "rip you off the things you like the most," among others. Minimalism aims to make your life better. How? Removing what distracts you from what you really want. Making room for what really matters.
Public Speaking in the Pelotas Public Library (Brazil)
Public Speaking & Workshop in Pelotas, RS (Brazil) On August 17 I did a public speaking about minimalism in the Pelotas Public Library, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The event was full and obtained more than 150 Kg of non-perishable food that were raised as a ticket to the event and were given to the Food Bank of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The public speaking featured games, video testimonials and questions. I have used the "less is more" ideology to motivate and guide all who seek a better quality of life, opening up time and space for what really matters. I spoke of the benefits and proof,
especially in areas such as productivity, energy, organization and management. Some people are already inspired to "shred your room" or "improve your routine." A workshop followed on the 23rd of August, also in Pelotas. Each participant had a different context, but with similar doubts like "how do I detach", "what destiny do I give to what I have?", etc. It was a very dynamic moment of sharing and inspiration. I provided tools and suggested challenges and techniques that provide detachment and focus.
In both events we sang Minimalism: the song, music that me and my husband composed and that exposes the sense of minimalism as a philosophy of life. Soon we will release this song to the online audience too! Find participant's testimonials throughout the journal. by the directress, Fรกtima Teixeira
Workshop in Pelotas
Contact For More Information: Email Adress: masterofsimplicity@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/masterofsimplicity Whatsapp: +1 604 716 8277
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TESTIMONIAL
The workshop was more than productive for me, at first hand I got a better view of separating what really makes me happy and what does not. He showed me the way to organize life and thought, to know the best way of using objects, clothes and everything that somehow ends up preventing us from living. In Courtney Carver's 333 project, I learned that even with a few pieces of clothing we have a myriad of looks formed and that, in fact, it does not become necessary to have several options of pieces of clothing but several ways to use so few pieces. I particularly love drawing and fashion, and I had a more transparent view of what I can actually transform using little, so I can choose a lifestyle in every season! Look at that! I learned that I am in the process of procrastination but I do not want to let anything get in the way of finding what really interests me at the right time. Well, I stopped, for example, searching for something that I would add in my life to watch television or go into facebook. Now I give my time to something that will really add up.
Something I found very interesting was also a way to get rid of something with a simple selection, where you use bags to separate what I want to donate, what to recycle and what I know I will not need or better discard, among others ways to simplify life in a gentle way by policing us and at the same time opening the way for new times in new places. This is Minimalism being put into practice! Thank you for all this and much more that I learned in this workshop with Fรกtima Teixeira, who helped me to direct the path of simplicity by paying attention to the most important things in my life. Juliane Anjos Fashion Student
Testimonials about the Public Speaking and the Workshop Minimalism: a way to live better ministered by Fรกtima Teixeira
Master of Simplicity Magazine exclusive
Suggestions
SHARING
Rnters Founder: Guilherme Guerra Website
Rnters is a website that allows you to rent any item, from someone, for a period of time while giving it's owner the possibility to make money from it. It is an economical and sustainable alternative because it does not spend with the purchase and can still give use to the objects that have stopped in his house, profiting with them. You can find any type of goods, including books, bicycles, etc.
Clutterfree With Kids Joshua Becker Book
After all, how is a minimalist life with children? This is our bibliographical suggestion that, through several stories and tips, addresses what minimalism is and how it benefits the family.
Minimalism: a documentary about the important things Production: The Minimalists & Matt D'Avella Documentary
One of the hardest things to see, not long ago, was the youth speaking, whether sharing or looking for any information about minimalism but this has changed. One of the great proofs of this reversal is the documentary "The Minimalists" by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus who through their books, podcasts and this documentary have already changed the lives of more than 20 million people! Through practical examples, using everyday scenes from any of us, J & R can awaken our senses to a path that leads us to the essential of our lives that is, LIVING with the essentials and being happy! They travel thousands of miles to give an interview to a newspaper, radio or television all in the name of "clarification of ideas" and a better way of life. It is quite surprising how legitimately they can give simple and profound answers to skeptical and unbelieving people ... In this documentary, in one of his lectures, we can see and hear a man who completely discredits the benefits that, a minimalist life, can bring and, in a rude way, makes use of the word with the clear intention of captivating more adepts to his unbelieving way of being but, fortunately, without
success. Against this kind of behavior, the authors of this initiative send hugs to everyone !!! I have no previous record of this moment, which gives us the joy of seeing so many young people and adolescents, although this subject brings together all ages and nationalities, passing on these concepts, bringing minimalist ideas and suggestions to all their circles of friendship, family and social networks, because when the subject touches the sphere of the irrefutable, even the most closed minds are able to recognize that minimalism has advantages at all levels. Finally, I think it is helpful to watch this documentary to see that the whole world is aware of this necessity and that LIFE is much more worth than any material good that may ever be !
WELLNESS
Finding our essence in the midst of adversity
The world is much faster than our brain can realize. Every day we are bombarded with thousands of information. And the more technology advances, the more stimulus surge in our brain.
This feeling of suffocation is real, and it is bad for us. Not only does it affect our physical, mental, and emotional health, but it also drives us away from ourselves. We are being sucked into the various sensory stimuli, and we completely lose the notion of who we are, why we are here, and even our dreams; we even start to think our dreams are what the advertisements say they should be. But there is a solution to rescue us in the midst of chaos. Meditation. This simple practice helps us get in touch with ourselves. This helps us to know ourselves better, which consequently reflects immediately on our attitudes and our relationship with the external world. We can see situations more clearly, and thus we can make better decisions, and even respect what our inner self is saying. When we know our true essence and what brings us fulfillment, we find what we can call happiness. A state in which we move with the feeling of satisfaction, even while facing daily obstacles. I want to leave the invitation for you to try. If you have never meditated before, start with short, two-minute sessions a few times a day. Sit in a chair with your back straight. Feet flat on the floor. Knees at an angle of ninety degrees. Close your eyes and focus on your abdomen - expanding when air enters, and retracting when it goes out. If possible, always breathe through the nose. You do not have to force your breath to create a specific rhythm. Just let it flow. Do not bother if your thoughts carry you to another place. Just be aware of that and bring your focus back to your breathing. I sincerely hope that you will see the benefits of this practice and wish to evolve more and more. By the Comunicator, Tarso Spadini
WELLNESS
Slow Beauty
a journey of autonomy and awareness Before you start reading this article, try an experiment with me: take a hygiene product that is within reach. Read the ingredients on the label and answer to yourself: how many ingredients do you recognize? Most likely, close to none. The Slow Beauty movement was born in the United States with an intent to raise questions about what you have been putting on your skin and what are the consequences for both the environment, and your health. It is a call for you to regain your autonomy, and make conscious choices, knowing exactly what is in what you use. The skin is the largest organ of the body. Everything we put on it is absorbed, quickly reaching our bloodstream. The problem is that most of the cosmetics available for sale currently contain substances that cause hormonal dysfunctions and cancer. A good example of this are the parabens that are present in all types of cosmetics and hygiene products, some of them linked to the appearance
of breast cancer. What is not absorbed by the skin, leaves your house through the sewers and ends up in the ocean, creating an harmful environment to marine life. In addition, a good part of the plastic packaging used are currently also going to the sea, breaking into micro pieces. The combination of chemical ingredients with the micro plastic in the oceans creates toxic pills that go straight into the stomachs of thousands of animals every day. I believe nature has everything we need for our body. Using ingredients that you have in your kitchen to make your own toiletries is a simple, yet powerful way to take care of yourself, while taking care of the whole Planet.
"Where do the products I use come from and where do they go?" "What are the effects on my health in the medium and long term with the use of conventional cosmetics?" "Am I buying an idea transmitted by advertising or by having a real need for the product?" " What do I really use?" These are some of the questions by the Life Coach Lorena Ventura you can begin to ask yourself. Consciousness is the key.
ORGANIZATION
Children
room organization
Organization is, without a doubt, essential for the human being; besides facilitating our daily routine, it greatly increases our quality of life. The human being, since birth, needs a physical space to develop and, if this space is organized, it gives benefits directly linked to physical and emotional health. Sleeping in a messy room and, not having a healthy
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sleep routine, affects the health of anyone. Through actions, children attribute meaning to things so, for example, you are a mirror to your children, your actions reflect directly on their attitude. Here are some tips to get the organization into the education of children.
Schedule one day with your child to organize clothes, shoes, and uniforms. Categorize clothes by season, colors and occasion. Donate what is no longer good, separate what needs to be repaired and discard what you can not use. Note: Disposal must be done correctly.
Take time to help them organize school supplies, select everything that is not in use, and donate or dispose accordingly. Separate notebooks and books by subject and day of class, accommodate them in a way that is easily accessible, so the child's backpack will carry a proper weight to be taken daily.
Play with your child and organize the toys. Separate them by categories: cars, games, balls, dolls, etc ... Select what can be recycled, donated or discarded. Store them in a transparent organizer box. Identify what's inside each box with labels.
Organizing a children's room is a relevant task. The environment has many trinkets, toys and clothes scattered around every corner. The biggest challenge is to make an efficient organization project , making life easier for the child and the parents.
Boy's Room Clothes: - They were separated by season, fabric, color and length. - The hangers were standardized, facilitating the organization and leaving a pleasant look. - The uniforms were concentrated in one place, making it easier for the child to get dressed alone and find what they need.
BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
Toys: - They were selected and separated for donation, repair and disposal. - Organization boxes were used to store them. - Colored cupboards were mounted to store the boxes. At the top were kept toys of less use and some that need adult supervision. - Eye level hight: toys often used. - Beneath eye level height: everyday toys
BEFORE
AFTER
Selection Do you know those memory games, jigsaw puzzles or other types of games which from extended use end up with damaged boxes and it is difficult to store them? You can arrange them in small plastic boxes and identify them with the photo of the game that was in the box. Look at the photo below, what a cool idea! Organizing is a need! Organization transforms people's lives! by the Personal Organizer Rosangela Aggio
Fotografias gentilmente cedidas pela autora deste artigo
Checklist For:
September e October Creating simplicity moments (inspiration on pages 38-41) Helping kids organizing their bedroom (inspiration on pages 18-22) Making my own cleaning products (pages 60-61) Trying Zero Waste (inspiration on pages 64-69)
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TESTIMONIAL
"One thing I really liked regarding the public speaking, and that I had never stopped to think about, was how much the amount of things I had ended up influencing my anxiety"
Gustavo Wallwitz Coach
Testimonials about the Public Speaking and the Workshop Minimalism: a way to live better ministered by Fรกtima Teixeira
Master of Simplicity Magazine exclusive
Zoë Kim Zoë Kim is an author, wife, mom of four, and creator of The Minimalist Plate, a website that inspires families to own fewer possessions to make room for what matters most.
She is also a contributor at The Huffington Post and the popular website, No Sidebar. In 2010 she moved from Hawaii to Florida. It was after this move with only two children at the time she found herself stressed and exhausted, spending more time doing things with her stuff than doing things with her family. It was in that stress and exhaustion that her desire to live lighter was born. During that season, while researching ways to live a more simplified life, she came across Beà Johnson’s Blog, Zero Waste Home.
INTERVIEW
MASTER OF SIMPLICITY: Why did you choose the name “The Minimalist Plate” for your website? ZOë KIM: Every day, our plate is full – full of things. Our calendars are busy, our closets are stuffed, and our minds are full. The Minimalist Plate comes from the expression, “My plate is full.” This is what some may say when invited to an engagement or project but are too busy to partake. There will be times we are productively completing necessary tasks on our plate. Many times we’ll need to say no, but the important question is, what is our plate full of? Are our plates full of things that feed our soul or steal our resources? The Minimalist Plate is about clearing your plate from all those distractions. Removing the clutter and noise that’s
taking our time and energy from pursuing our purpose. M.O.S.: When (and how) was the first time you felt as minimalist officially? Z.K.: I think what ever is on the inside (your heart, passion, purpose) is what determines how you feel — not necessarily your external circumstances. So with that in mind, it was a busy season back in 2010 that I decided I had enough of the overconsumption in my life and I started making changes. From that point I’ve been more intentional to live mindful with a minimalist filter on my life. When we refuse what does not add value we have more room to give where it does.
M.O.S.: As a mother of four, how does minimalism improve your family routine? Z.K.: With less stuff around the house to take care of comes more opportunities to spend quality time with my family. All those small things in our homes really add up to lost mental energy. Having less means our routines from morning till night have fewer distractions. We aren’t spending our time looking for lost items or contemplating what to wear.
Voluntary simplicity is a privilege and giving things away that we don’t use or love always feelings better that holding on to it.
M.O.S.: Do you feel that all your children have the same minimalist profile or there are any one more accumulator than other? Z.K.: They are all definitely different and some tend to old onto stuff more than the others. As we are all different so are our kids so we adjust our strategies according to each child. M.O.S.: You shared wonderful pictures about your children bedrooms. What is your biggest advice for the parents? Z.K.: Model what matters. Simplify
your stuff (happily) before asking them to. Most often young kids will want to join in when parents tie in the benefits of simplicity in their lives. My second piece of advice is to start talking about the benefits in owning less in casual conversations. Might kids might hear me say things like, “with less stuff in your room we can set up the tent in your bedroom for the sleepover.� Think about what would motivates them to trade their stuff for experiences and go from there. It’s amazing how beneficial enough really can be, for parents and the kids!
M.O.S.: How do you use (apply) minimalism with your kids? Are there any special strategies? Z.K.: We allow our kids make their own decisions and stress to them the why of minimalism. We teach our them to be mindful through positive reinforcement and encouragement. Some approaches I’ve found most helpful are to teach them that applying a minimalist filter to your life isn’t about deprivation. It’s the more in less. It’s about asking yourself what truly adds value and giving away the rest. Voluntary simplicity is a privilege and giving things away that we don’t use or love always feelings better that
holding on to it. A few other practical ways we reinforce simplicity and minimalism is by making it fun. In the past we’ve decluttered the living room together and then celebrated with movie night in that room. Offering a practical reward with the work can be motivating and allow them to experience the benefits first hand. M.O.S.: What do the people looking for you have in common or different, considering all the states and countries where you've been? Z.K.: Intentionality to live a better life with less stuff.
Her new book, Minimalism for Families is now available for pre-order. You can order it here!
Follow Zoë Kim:
Pictures kindly provided by the interviewee
TESTIMONIAL
"I participated in the workshop given by Fรกtima Teixeira in August. As I am in the process of moving to a new place, and we are attached to everything we have, I decided to participate. Learning a little about minimalism, Fatima explained in a simple, objective and gentle manner. It's being very useful to me: learning to take goals, simplifying, adopting the clean method in the little things of the house, exercising healthy abilities, avoiding procrastination - all this is part of starting to hit small things until you reach the big ones that will flow naturally! Happy and grateful to have had that Maria Madelene Baini opportunity!" Housewife Testimonials about the Public Speaking and the Workshop Minimalism: a way to live better ministered by Fรกtima Teixeira
Master of Simplicity Magazine exclusive
MINIMALISM
Between reason and heart Our days are lived based on choices. However, some bring us feelings of stress and anxiety. We think we are doing the right thing by choosing what is a priority and we do not immediately decipher the error that leads to frustration.
Only after being a mother, I learned the real meaning of the priority for the heart and the priority for the rational (including responsibility, commitment, etc.). Today I stopped ten times from working, ten times to pay attention to my baby who was asking. I discovered that she woke up with a stomach ache and improved her moment with tea. The constant interruptions in my work hindered my productivity, even though I knew how important it was for me to meet dates and deadlines. However, knowing that in my heart the right choice was to take care of her, it allowed me to feel that I was right in that moment.
my daughter needed me, nor being able to concentrate rightly on doing a job well done. It would have been long minutes of anxiety. Minimalism leads us to deep personal analysis. We realize that we often decide to use our time with things that are not the priority of our heart, such as spending interminable hours doing cleaning while the children wait for our attention or working when our child shows signs of not being well. As long as meeting a deadline is also important, nothing is worth more than the life and time we spend with those who need our attention.
"Minimalism helps us to fully understand the priorities of our heart." Having opted for the other route, forcing myself to do my job and not noticing my baby's symptoms, would keep her bothering and crying, not allowing me to work. In the end, I could have had work done, but I would also have the weight on my conscience and the frustration of not being there when
As Joshua Becker says, "you will never look back on your life and think I spent too much time with my kids!".
by the directress, Fรกtima Teixeira
MINIMALISM
Minimalism from the inside out Adopting minimalism as a way of life, in material and immaterial aspects, I have been acting like this: treating situations, people and circumstances one by one and in their time with simplicity, positive thinking, calm and without anxiety. As Augusto Cury said: "anxiety is the neurosis of those who believe they do not have the time and live to run down with rush!" In the world of organizations, one of the environments where we present our way of expressing ourselves and our behavioral pattern, we can observe people confusing agility with running, confusing the development of a work, project or plan of action with running over everyone and making agitation. We can also see team members confusing making the deliveries that have been combined for their function, which can be: time management, people management and search for results with stress. Let's reflect on the concept of stress according to the National Institute of Stress: "The generation of stress does not occur by the number and nature of things one has to do, but by the interpretation." With this in mind, applying the principles of minimalism, adopting its recommendations in the professional life, contributes to bring more satisfaction, gratitude, sense of belonging and happiness in the professional career. Because it is possible for us to perceive work as a sacred office and no longer as a "sacrifice", regardless of what is done and how long it will be done; if we have a labor bond or if the professional trajectory is autonomous. by the Business Adviser Ana AlaĂde Ortiz Tavares
SIMPLICITY
Creating Moments! by Catarina Agostinho
The art of relationships The relationships we maintain with both people, and the things and situations around us bring us great knowledge. Both for good and for worse. But it is very important to realize that the quality of the relationships we have with everything around us has a lot to do with how we relate to ourselves. That is why it is so important to dedicate some of our time to things that do us good. If we treat ourselves with love and dedication this will translate to how we relate to others and to everything around us. I leave my tips in the next page!
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1) Let your inspiration express itself through creativity. 2) Prepare a delicious dessert for your loved one. 3) Have a delicious breakfast in the comfort of home. 4) Read a good inspirational book. 5) Make a homemade bread and call your parents to snack. Pictures kindly provided by the author of this article
6) Cultivate the soil, plant, see it grow and then reap. 7) Have animals and see the most beautiful example of what it is to love without expecting anything in return.
by the Blogger Catarina Agostinho
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INTERVIEW
Shyla Hutchison is a homeschooling mother to 8. She's been married to her high school sweetheart for twenty years and lives in the rolling hills of TN. In her free time she can be found dreaming up organization plans, reading anything she can get her hands on, and longing for her next trip to the beach. MASTER OF SIMPLICITY: How does minimalism benefit your family and your daily routine? SHYLA HUTCHISON: As a mother of eight kids born in a span of 13 years, who also happens to homeschool, I learned early on that prioritizing, focus, streamlining, and simplicity are my friends. The less stuff I have to manage, the more time I have to focus on what really matters. Isn't this why most minimalists became minimalists? Last year we had four kids with jobs, one travel soccer player, two rec soccer players, four kids in dance, one college
student, seven kids in their respective academic supplement/enrichment classes, three kids in piano, one kid in guitar, one kid in drama, and my husband and I also work at church on a weekly basis. We spend a lot of time at home since we homeschool and my husband's office is here, but we also spend a lot of time getting ready to go places and we have lots of different activities going on at any given time. Making those schedules and processes as easy as possible has a purpose - it keeps us sane and not short tempered and stressed. Things like packing a
Minimalism is one of the largest contributing factors to having a peaceful, rested, happy mom here - and that benefits everyone! lunch, finding clothes, packing a bag, finding school books - normal everyday family things - is much easier when you have what you need and it's in its place as well as being easily accessible. We value our family relationships more than anything else and it's the little things that help keep a peaceful atmosphere. Imagine a day with me. Eight kids ranging from a sophomore in college down to Kindergarten. A husband who is a general contractor, so he may start his day with an early meeting somewhere in town, or he may be at home working in his office. The 19 year old college student opens at work at 6 a.m. before going to class for the day. She gets herself up, packs her lunch, and gets herself out the door. It only takes her about 15 minutes because her clothing choices are easy, she can find everything (yes, even in the dark!), she can grab food for later quickly and quietly because the refrigerator and cupboards are organized. And while we have everything we *need*, we don't have so much stuff that she's having to dig through cabinets. The rest of the day will include younger kids possibly doing school here or going to their various classes or lessons. I can say grab your stuff,
pack some food, and be ready in thirty minutes and they can do it because we're not tripping over each other or stuff. Cooking is easy because our cabinets are not overflowing and I don't have to dig through them to get to things. You've heard the sayings, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy," or "Happy wife, happy life?" Minimalism is one of the largest contributing factors to having a peaceful, rested, happy mom here - and that benefits everyone! M.O.S.: Any of your 8 kids is already a minimalist? S.H.: I wouldn't say that any of them would give themselves the label of minimalist, they like to tease me quite often, but I definitely have a few that tend that way naturally. I also have a few that are sentimental hoarders, albeit well-organized hoarders. I'm curious to see what they are like as they get older and how their personalities may stay the same or change. My eight year old daughter, who is very sweet and somewhat dramatic, used to be such a sentimental hoarder. I was growing alarmed at her growing pile and emotional difficulty at the idea of parting with random papers, trinkets, and the like. But as she continued to grow older, keeping her space tidy
grow older, keeping her space tidy became more and more frustrating and difficult. She began to realize just through everyday conversations and observing the way the family operates in general that her memories and friends weren't dependent on her "stuff." She has actually transformed into one of my most minimalist-leaning kids! And ironically, as I sit here, my five year old daughter is dictating to me a birthday list that includes Barbies and a new Barbie camper even though she already has quite a few Barbies and a doll camper - she thinks her smaller Barbie needs her own, but at the same time she just brought me a bag of Barbies she no longer plays with and wants to donate. So there you have it - both sides of the same coin! I would say that overall my kids are all quite content. None of them are driven to acquire clothing or stuff just for the sake of having it. I think they're largely like that because it's been modeled. M.O.S.: In which way your minimalist behaviour affected your children and your husband? S.H.: Having a minimalist for a mom/ wife in a home with nine people that are
not minimalists makes for an interesting dynamic. As moms we play a powerful role within our families, and our actions as well as attitudes often set the tone for a home. Honestly, I don't think my family really uunderstands all the benefits that come from my minimalist leanings since it's always been their norm. They get a taste of it to be sure when they visit friends' homes that are overwhelmingly cluttered or messy, and they realize, at least on some level, that not having too much stuff makes their lives easier. When they express a desire for something a lot of times all it takes is me asking if they really want something else to clean or take care of and they reconsider. That said, I know that there is a fair amount of eye rolling that happens, too! I like to think that when they move out they will come back to me and thank me for making their lives at least a little simpler and easier. As far as my husband, he does appreciate my desire for minimalism and order. All relationships require respect and compromise in order to be healthy. I can talk a good organized and minimalist talk, but the reality is that I live in a home with nine other people that I love. You wouldn't walk into my
"I've had to learn, and to be honest am still learning, to value relationships over having things exactly how I want them" home and immediately think, minimalism! You might be surprised we don't have more stuff, especially if you peek in closets and cabinets, but our home looks well-lived in. A lot of life happens there. While my dream house environment would have less stuff and everything would be in its place, I realize my family is made up of individuals that desire to be loved and accepted as they are. There are kids, teenagers, a dog and a cat - we are really normal! I've had to learn, and to be honest am still learning, to value relationships over having things exactly how I want them. My minimalism has brought them a lot of benefits, but I know it's also easy to frustrate them with it. Finding a balance is important to me.
To Be Continued...
In the next issue of the magazine (November / December) Shyla tells how she became a minimalist and shares her strategies to keep the house organized! Do not miss it! You can contact Shyla via email: motheringingrace@gmail.com
WELLNESS
Intention, choice of course, tuition, first lessons: everything is magical, great, and even intimidating when we enter the walls of a university. Will I make it? Do I like that? Do I want to do this my whole life? Does it have to be for life?
University:
personal expectations and resignifications The expectations of a freshman are always high, but when talking with a senior, the scenery changes. What happens in this process? Disappointment? Transformation? The question is growth. We almost always want solutions, answers, relief. But those aren’t found outside. Neither in the university nor elsewhere. Our answers are under construction, but are still lost within us. And this is related to age as well. The transformation that occurs in the university years is important and reflects throughout life. For some, as it was for me, it was the first opportunity to see the other, others different from me. With different
choices and perspectives which took me out of the commonplace. Let us then look for the answers within us, not from the outside. But to reach this inner information we must focus on the now, the present moment. Being present, engaging, studying, researching, making relationships. Yes, to do this with the heart is to be present. It is paying attention, mindfulness. That way, expectations will not be that important anymore. Be in a state of attention and do your best, yes. The answers are all already within you, as the Latin phrase "hic et nunc" says. Good studies.
Simple Study Tips - Create a study routine. Consistency is more effective than intensity. - Have an agenda or planner and mark your readings and college papers with deadlines. - Provide the books and texts necessary for the classes in advance. - Take care of your health: social, mental, emotional and physical. - Check in the calendar lectures and extra classes that will be important for your
training. - Make notes during class. Give handwritten notes preference, your muscle memory can help you in the future. - Simplify. Write simple and have simple processing schemes. - Breathe. Calmly.
by the Writer and University Teacher Juliana Prata
WELLNESS
Academy of Personal Dis-covery We are becoming more healthier and conscious about what we eat. We are more committed to regular exercise. And just as we are learning to take better care of our physical body, we also need to learn to take better care of our inner Self! This is how this academy was born: a "gym" created to dedicate ourselves to dis-cover our authentic Self. If these words make sense to you, if you are passionate about personal development and if you want to dedicate yourself to your selfknowledge, this academy is for you! The academy intends to create culture, the habit of looking inward as much or more than we look out. Create an online space so your participants can share their challenges and progress. In addition, it gives support throughout the process of self-knowledge in order to live a life aligned with who we really
are, a life designed by us and for us! The registrations include a PDF of exercises for each module, live video session in the closed facebook group for each module, access to the module's closed facebook group, and support throughout the module via closed facebook group and e-mail address. The academy is organized by quarters, and the first quarter will be from September 1st until November 29th. Each month will consist of four weekly modules. You can opt for the payment of quarterly modality (100 €) or monthly (35 €).
by the Coach Sofia de Assunção
PROGRAM FOR SEPTEMBER 2017: Module I – THE 3 SELVES | Who do I pretend to be, who do I fear to be and who am I? Module II – VALUES | What needs to be fulfilled to make me happy? Module III – BELIEFS | What beliefs limit me and what beliefs empower me? Module IV – DREAMS | What are my real dreams? PROGRAM FOR OCTOBER 2017: Module I – SELF-ESTEEM | How is my self-esteem? Module II – AUTO TRUST | How is my self-confidence? Module III – EGO | How to go from the ego to the heart? Module IV – AUTHENTICITY | How to practice on a daily basis? PROGRAM FOR NOVEMBER 2017: Module I – COMMUNICATION | How can I better communicate? Module II – MINDSET | How to build a positive mindset? Module III – PRESENCE AND ACCEPTANCE | How to practice on a daily basis? Module IV – (OPEN PROGRAM) VIDEO-SESSION BONUS for participants in the entire quarter
INFORMATION & REGISTRATION: https://sofiadeassuncao.com/academia-des-coberta-pessoal/
WELLNESS
"A silent retreat is, in the end, an ode to simplicity"
Silent Retreat Throw the first stone who never felt like giving everything up and disappearing. Who never wished that, at least for a few days, all the problems would simply disappear, and people would stop telling you what you should be or do. Who never wanted to go to a house in the middle of nowhere and stand there in silence listening to what you, and only you, have to say. Despite the general will to do it, many still receive the idea of ​a silent retreat as something only for Buddhas, monks or enlightened beings. Few realize that being silent is a human need that has been transformed into fear in modern times. And it is within everyone's reach. A silent retreat is exactly what the name says: withdraw and be silent. It's getting away from all the buzz you've got out here and reconnecting with your own mind. The simple act of isolation and silence creates, within itself, the awakening of a sleeping consciousness. Our dreams become more lucid, and the answers to our most distressed questions come with unimaginable ease. Suddenly, much of what seems important stops making sense when we are silent and, what is happening in our day to day, gains an
extraordinary strength. A silent retreat is, in the end, an ode to simplicity and an effective instrument of selfknowledge. We must, however, prepare ourselves for this dive into ourselves. Self-knowledge teaches us good things about us, but it also shows us our shadows. There is no self-knowledge without confrontation, and for those who are not ready, this can be a time of great fear and anguish. However, if you pass this test of fire, the retreat will definitely transform your relationships and your way of seeing and living life. Toxic relationships will stop having so much importance, and unnecessary fights will become increasingly rare in your life. I strongly recommend the ten-day Vipassana course for this. In addition to serving the whole world, the group is respected, following the teachings of SN Goenka and without using religious questions. That is, it is for everyone. By the Writer, Karin Lisboa
WELLNESS
The 4 elements of nature in teams
I begin this essay by quoting the Law of Correspondence, one of the seven hermetic laws: "As above, so below As within, so without" Very well! From the pre-Socratic philosophers to the Renaissance it was believed that the elements Fire, Earth, Air and Water were the basic elements in the constitution of matter. Nowadays, the concept of team leadership and self-leadership associated with neo-shamanism, rescue and applie the concept that the characteristics of the 4 elements of nature are present in each of us, since everything that is outside is in the same way inside.
Profile with predominance in:
Earth
They present amazing skills such as planning, organization, logistics and parsimony. These are people on a team who will have their feet on the ground. Evaluate budgets, costs and facts. They will be meticulous, walking one step at a time and no step greater than the leg itself.
Water
They present a set of expertise as socialization, opportunity and fluidity in inter relationships and contacts. They are people who in a team will do the interpersonal movements inside and outside of the team.
Air
They present creativity, communication and creativity as great characteristics. These are people who in a team will have the insights, have ideas, idealize projects and bring solutions.
Fire
They present outstanding characteristics such as action, vision, dynamism and enthusiasm. These are people who in a team show initiative, take the first step towards something that was in the role or the world of ideas. These people do not dwell on many plans to initiate action.
The concept Earth is within us primarily as the foundation, sustain and practical ability, very well represented in our body by the bones. The concept Water in us adds to the fluidity of relationships and emotions in our body represented by blood and lymph. Air is in the thoughts, the ideas and the projects, that we propagate through the voice. The fire is in the spirit, in the passions and in the motivation to begin and realize, very well represented by the heart. When working on team leadership projects in a neo-shamanic approach, you need to recognize which element in each person or member of a team prevails, and thus make it possible to optimize it in the function of a
company or work group that is needed to work collectively. A team leader needs to recognize his or her best abilities as well as his / her weaknesses when referring to the elements of nature and thus engaging people possessing an element / skill that he or she recognizes as being undervalued rather than living life trying to apply the one who lacks the aptitude. To introduce this approach, I briefly introduce what would be the profile of people in their predominance of the element. As you read each profile of predominance, try to remember when you had the opportunity to work as a team, how your behavior most often was and what element you would predominantly identify with.
In your life story, with which element / skill did you most identify? And which element / skill is least comfortable to you? Does your work team include the 4 elements? Does your role in your company fit your core? Do you work according to your nature? And in your affective relationship does your pair complement you, considering your weakness in one or two of the four elements?
About the author: Apprentice of Neo-shamanic techniques and Self-Leadership and Leadership of Teams by the International Cรณndor Blanco Foundation, Microbiologist, University Teacher, Researcher, Astrologer and Tree Planter.
by the University Teacher Dulce Blum Menezes
WELLNESS
The power of positive people Studies of how people with positive attitudes have the capacity to transform our health and environment are increasing positively. Having a healthy life goes far beyond just eating healthily. In the world of possibilities where we live, all choices are crucial to our well-being, including the people whom we surround ourselves with. We need to select those around us. They have a very important role in our development as people. If you are surrounded by negative people, whether at work, at home, or with friends, you are likely to face many problems in your daily routine and have probably been sick because of stress, fights, and/or frustrations. On the other hand, if you surround yourself with positive people, who support, who help you with problem solving, who are present physically and emotionally, and who know how to respect your personal space while helping you become the best version of yourself, believe me ...
you’ll have luck, merit, blessings and everything you can imagine! When we have positive people who assemble themselves in a healthy way in our lives, we have the chance to not only make healthier and better quality choices, but we also have the opportunity to be better for those around us, and for those we love. Of course, making good choices is an art. See if you are being that positive and good person to others. The change for the better begins now, with you taking the attitude of being a positive, happy, and prosperous person. Today's sciences attest to these ideas. So why do you not you give yourself the chance to have positive and cheerful people around you? Successes and positivities on your way! by the Public Speaker and Holistic Therapeut, Sutra Prem
Sutra Prem will be speaking at Vida Plena event in SĂŁo Paulo (Brazil) - September, 16th and 17th More information: http://www.tftbrasil.com.br/
WELLNESS
Objects that change our body Stop and look around: can you tell which objects can affect your body negatively?
Concerns about our body often revolve around weight, what we eat, and the amount of exercise we do. However, let's address an unexplored issue that directly affects our health: the quality and diversity of movement. When was the last time you sat or slept on the floor?
We can say that, nowadays, these are unusual habits and are avoided due to three objects present in our houses: sofa, chair and bed. But what's so important about it, anyway? Our hips and knees make an amplitude of movement by sitting on the floor that is uncommon when sitting on a chair or sofa. In addition, our whole body works in the simple process of sitting on, and getting up from the floor. The consequences of this kind of avoidance with the ground is very evident in our current society. We have seniors with a high fall risk because of low mobility due to a limitation of the complex movements that chairs, sofas and beds provide.
Our body utilizes a very simple logic: if we use it, we maintain it, but if we don’t use it, we lose it. The fact that we do not have the habit of sitting in the ground and getting up from it causes us to lose intimacy with basic bodily capacities in the long run.
Recovering from ground contact may not be easy, but remember, it's all a matter of habit, and things haven’t always been that way. You were once a child who had no problem staying long hours sitting or lying on the floor, but I assure you it was not at all comfortable to adjust to the school chairs. How about having a room with fewer objects to readjust your body to the floor and regain your body mobility? by the Martial Artist and Researcher Huck Spirandelli Pela Palestrante eCaio Terapeuta HolĂstica, Sutra Prem
RECIPE
Ecological Cleaning! Cleaning the house in a conscious, sustainable, and ecological way is possible. Simply choose natural or biodegradable ingredients in order to create efficient and potent cleaning products while keeping it low cost. Industrialized cleaning products are loaded with aggressive, and toxic chemicals. Besides their high allergenic potential, which attack our skin and organism, it is also extremely harmful to the environment and aquatic ecosystems. All ingredients chosen for our “ecological cleaning” products are biodegradable, while having antibacterial, antifungal, grease removing, and disinfecting capabilities.
1 Fabric Softener Ingredients: - 1 liter of vinegar - 3 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin (optional) - 10 drops of an essential oil of your choice (optional)
* Use about 100 ml of vinegar for every 5 pounds of clothing * If you only use the vinegar as a softener, you’ll get the
Preparation: 1) Mix all ingredients well.
desired result.
2 Multi-use Detergent Ingredients: - 1 liter of water - 1 tablespoon of baking soda - 3 Tablespoons of grated coconut soap - ½ cup of alcohol vinegar
a b
Preparation: 1) Dissolve the soap in hot water, add the remaining ingredients and stir until the mixture is homogeneous. * Can be used as laundry detergent, dish soap, and used in other surfaces.
2
1
a
3
b
3 Multi-use Disinfectant Ingredients: - 250 ml of alcohol vinegar - The peel of a citrus fruit (orange, lemon, etc.)
Preparation: 1) Dip the citrus peels in vinegar for at least 3 weeks. This process of maceration, will cause the vinegar to absorb all the extract of the peels.
* For heavier cleaning, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda. * For a milder cleaning, dissolve this solution in 500 ml of water. * To obtain different aromas, add a cinnamon stick or eucalyptus leaves to this solution. * When the vinegar comes into contact with the bicarbonate, an effervescent chemical reaction occurs. Do not worry, it's normal. * When using this disinfectant, use gloves or don’t expose yourself the your hands to the sun immediately after use. Citrus fruits have photosensitive substances, that is, they react with sunlight. This may cause stains on the exposed area.
About the author: Karine Rodrigues is the creator of the Cocoa Natural Institute. She teaches courses in Cosmetology, Natural Makeup and Vegan Cooking.
by the Naturologist and Cosmetologist Karine Rodrigues
Pictures in this article by Junior Santos
TESTIMONIAL
""The public speaking and the workshop were great, I found myself very involved in the subject. All the problems that surround me are precisely because I have so many things and, then, I end up having so many things because I feel that way. Realizing and being able to score and understand what is happening, knowing where is the problem, is my goal. And, the workshop was a way to talk about it in a group. It passed so fast!"" Morgana Hessel University Student
Testimonials about the Public Speaking and the Workshop Minimalism: a way to live better ministered by Fรกtima Teixeira
Master of Simplicity Magazine exclusive
"I already knew minimalism through art and architecture... When I discovered it was a way of life, I became much more interested! I got so motivated with the public speaking! It was a watershed to take the big step I wanted. The workshop helped me to clarify other doubts I had and was very productive for later on at home to apply all the tips. I was looking for focus and objectivity, but the material issues always took a lot of time... not only tidying up but even wanting more things that I did not really need ... Anne Faria University Student
Testimonials about the Public Speaking and the Workshop Minimalism: a way to live better ministered by Fรกtima Teixeira
Master of Simplicity Magazine exclusive
SUSTAINABILITY
"Plastic Mandala": beach cleaning organized by Plastic Sundays
Zero Waste Did you know that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish? On average, each straw takes about 400 years to decompose? That many straws go to the oceans and are ingested by marine animals often causing their death?
The Zero Waste movement, which consists of producing as little trash as we can, was created by Bea Johnson, who has been following this philosophy of life with her family for about 10 years. Hand in hand with minimalism, this movement is based on a philosophy based on 5 R's (exactly in this order): 1) Refuse what we do not need - Samples, gifts, everything that is free, unaddressed advertising, straws, tray paper, napkins ... Refuse everything we do not really need 2) Reduce everything that we can not refuse 3) Reuse everything we can, such as glass bottles (the use of them can be for storage of products purchased in bulk, to freeze soup or other foods, to serve as a glass...) 4) Recycle what we can not refuse, reduce or reuse, making the proper separation of the waste we produce (which will vary according to the waste management system of each region / country) 5) Rot what we can not refuse, reduce, reuse or recycle - compost or, if it is not possible, ask friends and neighbors who do, and if so, if they can take your trash.
I would add to these Rs: - Adapt - we all have different lives and therefore we could not use all the same things in the same way. It is also important not to be too hard on ourselves. We do what we can, one day at a time. - Replace - opt for more sustainable alternatives: replacing everything that is disposable (glasses, plates, plastic cutlery) with reusable options, preferring materials such as metal / stainless steel / glass instead of plastic. Putting this behavior into practice makes us reflect on the life we ​live in, and, at the same time, instigates us into the reflection on the rampant consumption that, often, even sometimes involuntarily, happens in an inconsequential way. In a consumerist society it is very difficult to say "no" but it is not impossible. We must question if we really need some items, and we should
also be more demanding with the brands and products we buy. As consumers we have a decisive role and we must use this power in our favor, demanding more sustainable alternatives. There are more and more sustainable brands and businesses all over the world and also in Portugal. That is why, on July 15, 2017, I organized together with InĂŞs Espada Nobre, my friend and also a member of this community, the 1st event in Portugal dedicated to Zero Waste with workshops, a sustainable products market and vegetarian food. It took place in the Biovilla (wonderful project dedicated to sustainability), where we received about 300 people. It was fantastic to see so many people interested in these issues, and realize in the end that we managed to make this event producing very little garbage.
Maria Granel, the first 100% bulk bio grocer in Portugal
click on the images to be directed to their stores
Toca do Granel, a bulk grocery store with biological products, inserted in the concept of the reuse of materials
Pictures kindly provided by the author of this article
Some of the items I use on a day-to-day basis: - reusable water bottle - tissue bags - bamboo toothbrush - tissue pads/menstrual cups - glass jars - natural cleaning products (such as vinegar and bicarbonate sodium) - natural hygiene products (bar soap and shampoo)
Zero Waste: how to start? - Analyze our garbage and realize what exists in greater quantity - Replacing disposable items (cups, plates, plastic cutlery) for reusable versions - Buy in bulk using fabric bags and jars - Composting - Prefer organic and local products - Use natural hygiene products and natural housecleaning products. - Buy second hand items - Have a vegetarian diet (for example once or twice a week) - Avoid using plastic More about Zero Waste (in Portuguese): by the Blogger and Yoga Instructor Ana Milhazes Martins
Facebook: Zero Waste Portugal
(click here)
A group for sharing, exchanging ideas and unconditional support for a more sustainable world, created in August 2016. Here we share the difficulties we encounter on a daily basis and also inspire others to follow this lifestyle.
SUSTAINABILITY
The ecovillage movement in Brazil
The first ecovillage in the world was created in 1962, called Findhorn Foundation, as a non-governmental organization, and is associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information. The organization's function is to promote ecological, economic, cultural, and spiritual sustainability.
We are often defined by what we consume and produce, most of the time discarding the self and giving a great importance to material belongings. Against this movement, ecovillages emerged in Brazil. These are human settlements, where there is a displacement of space, with a well defined place for housing, as well as a more conscious time management.
One of the principles that the Brazilian ecovillages have in common is the permaculture, where the inhabitants have a foundation in ecology and harmonization, that is, they study natural systems and their interconnections.
They choose everything with special care: soil, water, plants, design techniques, food plantations, education, spirituality, and everything that encompasses life because everything is connected.
In these ecovillages we find a community of people who make an architectural plan with respect to natural design, without the idea of ​exploiting resources, making the whole process very critical. In fact, those who want to live in communities like these have long been reflecting on their lifestyle and habits, with a huge desire to push the "stop button" and change course.
Fotografias: Banco de Imagens Inkiri Piracanga
Education is fundamental throughout the process, as several Brazilian ecovillages have a local education, not a school. Children have a leading role in their development with a lot of autonomy. The lifestyle practiced in ecovillages can be the answer to find simplicity, with a lot of responsibility, avoiding polluting as much as possible,and caring for and restoring the soils.
In the ecovillage, the construction is collective, using the method of bioconstruction. Everything is planned, including the choice of terrain and materials used.
One of the most impressive examples is the Inkiri community in Piracanga, Bahia, a place of impressive beauty. There are clear conditions about the participation of each individual. It is necessary to follow some practices, using renewable energy, organic food production, caring for the people, reduction of consumption, investment in different types of energy, and creativity in the storage and use of water. by the Writer and Teacher Flรกvia Beck
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