Peggy O’Mara on Simplicity
We were gifted with a real treat this week – the opportunity to interview legendary Peggy O’Mara, editor of Mothering Magazine. She will be coming to Vancouver April 18th & 19th for the Healthy Families Conference, and we were able to go in depth with her on the related themes of Building Community, Simplicity, and Nurturing Families. Watch for upcoming blog posts on these concepts and more as we approach the conference.
Mama Renew: There is much discussion in these difficult social and economic times of slowing down, simplicity, and connection. This is the core of our work with Mama Renew as well, seeking ways to reconnect, reclaim, and re-balance as women and mothers. How do you see this new emphasis on simplicity and slow family within your perspective over the past few decades?
Peggy O’Mara: “I’m very optimistic about what is going on right now. There is always tremendous opportunity whenever there is crisis. I see these ideas coming back as a deepening of something we’ve been hearing since my generation. We were the back-to-the-landers, looking to lead a more simple life at a time when society felt out of control. This is I think an continuation of an impulse towards simplicity that tends to be emphasized whenever there are too many excesses.
I think until recently people really have believed that money brought happiness. The economic crisis is pulling the rug out from under the illusion that more is better. Most of us really feel more peace and satisfaction from our personal lives and our community. That’s one of the ways I keep from feeling depressed about the bigger picture and stay in an optimistic state. Our communities are full of successes – new programs and ways of reaching out to families like your work with Mama Renew.”
We will be sharing more of our interview with Peggy O’Mara over the coming week, including Peggy on Optimism on Tuesday, Finding Your Tribe on Wednesday, and “Doing it All” on Thursday . Be sure to read our companion article in Babyvibe with her thoughts on intuition and trust from our exclusive interview.
***********
New this week! Mama Renew and Natural Pod are happy to offer you a second chance to win a free pass to the Healthy Families Conference April 18th & 19th in Vancouver.
The lucky winner will receive not only free entry to the conference, but also one night of hotel accommodation. Sounds good to us…
To enter leave a comment below sharing your thoughts on what simplicity means for your family. Each day this week that you comment on our blog entries counts as one entry.
Want to double your chances? Visit the Natural Pod Blog and let them know just how much you would enjoy the double treat of the conference and a night away from home!
To triple your chances, join the Healthy Families facebook page
Contest ends at midnight, Tuesday, April 14th. winner will be announced Wednesday, April 15th. Good luck!
[...] also enjoy our posts from earlier this week with Peggy’s thoughts on “Doing it All”, Simplicity, Optimism, and Finding Your Tribe in today’s world. Also enjoy our article in Babyvibe with [...]
Simplicity is taking time to stop and realizing that everything doesn’t have to be perfect. It means taking time to relax and just spend time together.
[Reply]
We’re currently contemplating simplicity, as we look at leaving downtown for the innermost suburbs. But we’re so fortunate now to have a life where my husband can be home in 5 minutes and thus be so involved in family life. Staying here makes many things simple…but going will, too. Somehow, the decision is the complex part!
[Reply]
It is heartening to see folks looking seriously at what really matters and rejecting the false premise that things can satisfy. They don’t. I love watching how much entertainment my kids get from bits of junk they find lying around… old boxes, a bungee cord, a stick… meanwhile the “toys” sit in the closet.
Here’s to making our own fun, free, simple, long-lasting and imaginative (and I’ll try to take my cue from my kids)…
[Reply]
admin Reply:
April 12th, 2009 at 6:54 PM
the stick, by the way, was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame earlier this year! http://boingboing.net/2008/11/07/stick-entered-into-t.html
[Reply]
YES, I believe so strongly that less is more. I am slowing down and finding contentment with growing our garden and learning how to knit….finding connections with other people that are doing the same. I know these skills are going to be so valuable to me – and to my daughter….
It is everything, really.
[Reply]
Our bedtime routine includes the three of us curling up in my son’s bed and reading the books he has picked for us. Sometimes we read them as they are written, and sometimes we weave in some of the silly things that have happened in our day, making up our own silly rhymes and words. We finish off with a song with lyrics we make up to a familiar tune. For us simplicity is creative – an acknowledgment that all we really need is our imaginations; binding us together with our secret language and silly stories.
[Reply]
For us simplicity takes little thought and uses no external resources (save for the clothing we wear).
A simple spring activity is alwasy a bud finding walk, which buds are still tightly closed, which are starting to open, what has bloomed…and then noting the changes over time. This is a simple, 1-2 block radius walk.
Another fun walk is puddle jumping. We all wear our boots and raincoats and JUMP in every puddle we can. It took a while for the kids to get into this at first as I usually say, “KEEP YOUR FEET DRY AND CLEAN!”
Simple, uncomplicated connection.
[Reply]
Simplicity for us is being OK with not doing it all.
It’s making space for quiet time together
It’s consciously choosing to do less entertaining, socializing and formal activities
So, we actually have the energy and desire to enjoy eachother
Simplicity is sending a message to our kids that we as a family are more than enough.
[Reply]
simplicity is after the conference is done! Planning an event is akin to choosing to climb a big mountain, you never know what the paths will bring. I look forward to seeing you all there. Whoever attends will be very blessed and inspired with the depth that our presenters are brining.
towards blissful moments within our families and communities.
Margo
[Reply]
For our family, simplicity is about trying to free our lives of the external clutter so we can focus on what really matters. To that end we have no tv, try to limit the number of toys we buy and do frequent purges of those we do, and instead try to focus our spare time on interacting as a family. We have also started some simple weekly traditions that we try to always honor.
[Reply]
For our family, simplicity is ensuring we keep one day a week as sacred family time. This begins the night before with a feast by candle light, a fancy desert and a quiet evening together without distractions. The following day is spent outdoors if weather permits, and together just enjoying our company. Maintaining this tradition week by week ensures that we never loose focus of what is, simply put, the most important part of our lives- each other!
[Reply]
nicole Reply:
April 8th, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Sweet sister – thanks for the reminder of family day!
Nicole in the koots
[Reply]
Simplicity for us is distilling life to its basics: relationships. All the “outer” stuff can distract from our important work of relating to and learning from each other. So we minimize those distractions, hunker down, and love each other as best we can.
[Reply]
Simplicity for us is about spending time together as a family with lots of love and nurturing. Although our lil one is only 20wks old, when the 3 of us just lie on the bed and talk, laugh and smile, it’s a wonderful feeling!
[Reply]
For our family, simplicity is taking the time to slow down & “smell the flowers” – to appreciate the simple things in life and not get distracted by the many toys in our house or the tempting tv shows! My most rewarding days with my family are when we get outside, go to the park, laugh big belly laughs and just enjoy eachother’s company…all the while trying not to look at my watch! Come to think of it, I think I’ll just leave it at home next time!
[Reply]
Simplicity for us is basically being able to hang out the 3 of us and just enjoy being a family, no toys, no tv, just us. THis is always a great time for lots of laughs and giggles.
[Reply]