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Wednesday 22 January 2014

Less is often more - discuss

I have noticed recently that several bloggers have been having a sort out and clearing the decks in these after Christmas weeks.  I too have made use of these diary-empty weeks of unpredictable weather to do some clearing out here at Chez Marigold.  I swear "stuff" breeds as however often I do this there is always more rubbish next time I look!  Many trips have been made to the charity shops and one or two to the tip, I have got rid of all the clothes I never wear - now that my lifestyle is no longer that of a working woman nor even an ex-pat who entertains often I don't feel the need for so many and it is true that I wear 20% of my clothes 80% of the time.  When I think back to my childhood and the items my mother and I possessed I wonder how I have come to this situation.  When we moved we fitted all we owned into a trunk which was sent on ahead by rail and we took our personal possessions in a couple of suitcases.  True we didn't have furniture nor did we need linens, kitchen utensils,ornaments and so on but even so I doubt I'd fit even my crafting bits into one trunk these days!

 I began to think about less being more and I think that in many cases it is true.  Take books for example.  Time was when you were allowed 3 books from the library at a time now I am permitted to have up to 20 items and although I don't usually take them all at once I often have my full quota at home - does this mean that I read as carefully and appreciate them as much I wonder?  I think not as I tend to flit between them dipping into one here and another there and sometimes not actually reading them properly at all before taking them back.  The above was the current selection and that didn't include 2 books I had in my basket ready to return to the library!  If you enlarge the photo you'll see from the bookmarks poking out that I am reading several at once!  Might it be better if there was less choice both at the library and indeed on my shelf at home and might I appreciate them more and read them better if I had just 3 at a time?  Think back to when people read by candlelight whatever book they could get hold of and truly valued what they had.

In contrast here are 2 of my own books which I love and re-read constantly - The Garden Cottage Diaries is one I purchased after having had it from the library several times (if you check out the link do watch the little video on it too) and The Magic Apple Tree is one which I had mislaid or lost along the way and a blogger friend very kindly provided me with another copy.  So maybe less is more when it comes to books.

The internet is a wondrous thing and the answer to all one's questions are there at the click of the mouse and yet...  it does mean that I spend far too much time at the computer reading mail, checking out blogs that I follow which then often lead me via links to something else I find of interest and so it goes.  I remember a children's programme on TV many years ago called Sesame Street and the criticism leveled at it that it encouraged children's attention spans to be brief as they never had to sit and watch anything without a change of topic for more than a few minutes.  I don't know if that was a valid criticism or not but I do think that the internet is like flicking through a magazine and we don't actually take in much of what we see - we gain a lot of superficial information but not much by way of depth.  True or not?

Constant connection one with another is yet another thing I wonder about - time was when a letter was the preferred means of contact between friends with perhaps an occasional telephone call; both were truly appreciated but now with e-mails winging back and forth not to mention text messages (how I hate those since I am no good at saying what I want to say in so few characters nor can I get the real meaning when there is no way I can read between the lines!) and mobile phones.  Once upon a time if you were on a journey you were not contactable now it seems people are constantly available - where's the quiet and moment of calm in that?!  Of course I can see the advantages of having such instant communication in an emergency but not all the time surely?  Less use of technology is a good thing isn't it?  I have in mind making myself a challenge to have at least a couple of days a week technology free although I might still want to use the oven, the electric kettle and so on!
 
I can see that this line of thought could go on and on but maybe I will stop here and do a follow-up post another time.



19 comments:

  1. I have to restrict myself at the library. No point in taking out 20 books 'just because I can'
    I am making an effort this year to send more notes and cards. Texts are useful in emergencies- but you can't stick them on the mantelpiece to brighten the lounge - nor yet tuck them into a book to mark your place.
    thought provoking post, thanks! blessings xx

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  2. I often wonder why anyone would need 20 library books at once! As for instant communication - I hate emailing though I do it and as for always being at the end of a phone - no thank you! I still write letters and my mobile phone spends most of its time on my bedside table. I take it if I'm travelling or going to be walking off the beaten path but that's it. A little more quiet and calmness in people's lives would result in a lot less stress I suspect.

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  3. I hesitated to comment as I wanted to say so much - in agreement! I'll be brief! I was shocked when I went back to the library after a dry spell and learned I could take out umpteen books - but only for the same amount of time! Secondly I am constantly trying to simplify and de-clutter but oh dear ....it is very hard. Got rid - responsibly!- of over 100 books earlier and still they are all over the place. Including my copy of the Magic Apple Tree! I'm very old fashioned about my mobile phone and seldom look at it or use it. But I do email and facebook is lovely to keep up with friends and relatives world wide. We swap photos and videos and music -lots of my friends are musicians. Great post, thank you!

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  4. Very interesting Jane. We were just talking about photos. A friend of mine scanned them all in and binned the originals. Brave? don't think I could actually bin them!

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  5. I do so love to have 'proper' letters, so much nicer than texts or emails. I have 2 boxes of photos...and something has to be done with them. Soon.

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  6. Will definitely be back to discuss, but need to get reading for singing group now.

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  7. Yes, you are right of course! I do wish for the simple life of BI (before internet) sometimes but it has made life more interesting, keeping up with far flung family easy and for a crafter who lives in the wilds of Wales, being able to find all those little must haves at the touch of a mouse and have them delivered to me door! Not to mention having a gigantic library at my finger tips. However - I have lived in my tiny 2up 2down terrace for over 35 years and me being a hoarder - I dream of larger rooms with lots of storage and uncluttered surfaces. But OMG I would NEVER throw away my photos!

    And Jane thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving lovely comments yet again. Its lovely to see those daffs out where you are - the south certainly is much forward. (The Magic Apple Tre!e - one of my all time favourites!)

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  8. I re-housed a lot of my books before the end of the year. I also put the remaining ones in some kind of order, by subject mostly, so my book cupboard is looking very smart. My bookcase in my bedroom is neat but it needs to be rearranged. But oh, the book table by my bed - I despair!

    Like you, I have several books on the go at any one time because I like to keep books in the room in which I started to read them.

    All in all, I love to have a surfeit of books and would be bereft if my collection were reduced to very few.

    A lovely, thought provoking post, Thank you Jane.

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  9. Last year I got rid of a load of books on freecycle. I felt so much better for getting rid.
    Julie xxxxxxxx

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  10. A very thought-provoking post. I try and restrict myself when it comes to library books. If I have some at home, I don't get more until they are returned, even if I'm in the library with the boys. Even so, I often have a few out at any one time. You're right about attention span, and the more I flit, the less able I am to concentrate on one thing. It's been great to think about this and examine my reading habits a bit - thank you for a fantastic post.

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  11. Hello Jane, reading some of your titles, I think you have some very interesting reads in store for you. 'The Lost Art of Gratitude' sounds good, also, 'Toxic Childhood'. No doubt, I won't be able to find these titles at my local--very boring--library. The other day I went without the TV and only a smidge of the Internet... it was wonderful, reminded me of the 'old days'. Ha!

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  12. Been reading the other comments and realize that mine sounded as though I think 20 books are excessive. I meant purely library books - my personal book collection numbers near enough 1000 I should think, the house is filled with bookcases and one wall of the dining room is floor to ceiling bookshelves:) and The Magic Apple Tree is one of my favourites.

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  13. Such a thought provoking post Jane - going through some similar processes myself lately, so nodding along as I read this. But even so, I can still fall into the hoarding trap - since Christmas, I've loaded eight books onto my Kindle and am reading several at the same time - no different to the library situation! Balance is probably the key, but I am very wobbly...

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  14. Yes I do think Less is More and saw an example of this recently where a friend posted a picture of her two daughters shared bedroom - they had a display shelf with some dolls on it and they din't have much - but it looked more if that kind of makes sense. They were nicely displayed, inviting to want to both look at and 'play' with and it really got me thinking.

    As for library books, I have stopped visiting the library, the temptation to have too many books was too strong and then I would forget to return them and ended up paying fines! I now am working towards reading what I have and getting rid of any I don't read, have read and don't want to keep etc... I do love books though so it is a hard one.

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  15. Seems like you mined a rich seam here Jane, judging by the comments. I only get the occasional library book out these days, mainly because I have a pile of books to get through. either purchased or picked up at the wonderful 'Books for Free'. This week I found out that my council subscribes to a Free eMagazines service and I can now read the likes of Quilting Arts etc for nothing! I've already lost a few hours doing that. I had a quick look but don't think Somerset are signed up to it - don't think you'd have the time anyway!

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  16. I can see myself in this post - I used to have 20 books on the go from the library all the time and yes I just dip in and out taking away what caught my attention.
    I still do like to be non contactable - I do have a mobile but only my two girls and hubby have the number for emergencies. I have lived 50 odd years without a phone I never got used to having mine and still never think to use it! Love this post..waiting now for the sequel!

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  17. Lots to think about here. I always have more than one book on the go be it from the Library or from my own collection. I don't think I could even find 20 books that I wanted to read from the local libraries as their collections are so poor. The library is mainly used by toddler groups and for social events! x

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  18. I am grateful to have grown up before electronics and computers took over...I have a mobile phone that is rarely turned on, unless I am away for the day.
    Tons of books at my house. I re-read favorites..something my non-bookis husband does not understand! Several books are always on the go. Our county library has lifted the restriction on how many books you can take out at one time. I try to be sensible!
    I have many Kindle books down loaded to read when I run out of other books. It is my last-resort type of reading..but I do get books when I find them free or incredibly cheap. I will NOT pay a big price for an electronic book! Days at home with no tv and no computer on are bliss!

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  19. Don't know how I missed commenting till now!
    Of course I spend too much time sitting at the computer... reading blogs and facebook, emails etc but then feel guilty if I just sit and read a book. Why is that?
    As for reading , I think I've become lazy there too and am less willing to persevere with a book if it doesn't grab my attention quickly. A case of too much choice!

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