The Art of Frugal Hedonism

The Art of Frugal Hedonism was recommended by David Holmgren just last week when I went down to Murdoch to listen to him lecture. It was good to hear him talk and to refresh some of my ideas. As he was briefly reflecting on this book, he mentioned that he reckons that early adopters of thrift store shopping, such as himself and these hedonist friends of his, will reap more of the benefits than everyone else…

The Art of Frugal Hedonism with some fancy pants magnesium cream I've just made
The Art of Frugal Hedonism with some fancy pants magnesium cream I’ve just made

I spent my $25 on this small paperback and off I went on my merry way. Truth be told, I hung around chatting and stashed a few pastries in my bad for the other (gluttonous) half. Then I rushed home feeling guilty!
The irony struck me as my new acquisition sat looking at me for several days, despite my excitement! Not to worry, I have begun to read it and I feel like I’ve found some members of my tribe… they’re the wise ones and I’m the one still fumbling around trying to figure out how to relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Frugal hedonism has its roots deep in pleasure. Materialistic enjoyment. Ssensual pleasures… gluts of fruit, a good conversation, stroking your pet’s ears, letting yourself lay on the grass or touch some dried beans at the local shops… all gloriously free. This applies to really truly enjoyingย  purchases. Using a great product and really getting your value from it.
It does strike me that many of us… feel too busy to really actually enjoy anything. In my case, that is totally absurd. With two little kids I actually have all the time in the world… kinda! Smelling the roses, cuddling bunnies with Sally. Eating soursop flowers. Playing. We went to the beach for the first time this season and I just loved it ๐Ÿ™‚ Until I had to drag the kids home! Thankfully Rodney had agreed to do dinner and it all went pretty smoothly.

Certainly, our health and wellbeing can be improved by supplements, but the first step can be to just reconnect with living in the present. What would your diet look like if before you ate, you luxuriously thought to yourself… ‘what would taste most delicious to me right now?’… Each moment we can actually ask questions like this to really get back into the moment and out of our crazy approach to life. When you wake up in the morning, take a while to stretch, smile at those around you. Go in the sunshine. Give yourself a chance to live in the moment. Tickle someone ๐Ÿ™‚

I’ve done a batch of healing moisturising magnesium cream with shea butter, cacao butter, apricot kernel oil, magnesium chloride, with just a touch of the essential oils Frankincense, Myrrh and Geranium. A big jar is $30. I must say, I really enjoy hearing back if people are loving using it… thanks so much for the encouragement ๐Ÿ™‚ Let me know if you’d like some. I’m thinking about doing a market stall fairly soon, it’s all very exciting. Let me know by message if you have a few tips on which markets to go to.
For some talks by David Holmgren, check out Youtube. Retrofitting the suburbs is one of his ideas… he sees a lot of potential in our sprawl ๐Ÿ™‚ And of course, that means we should get started right where we are NOW.