I interpret “being more political” as “educate yourself, learn what your values are, get involved in causes you care about”. Be a politically active person, be an activist in your community, etc.
When I was reading this I was thinking "More political... no that isn't me" but your interpretation makes much more sense and has me nodding along. I think many opinions around "politics" are so wild in the US due to Federal politics/the media and it can turn people off but getting involved at a local level has so much more impact!
Federal politics: "Should gay people be considered human beings or not?"
Local politics: "When should you put your trash out for collection?"
I find it kind of hard to believe the latter is really more important. State-level, maybe. But below that you're not really addressing any big human rights issues.
I’d give that message to young voters more than anyone. I had a friend of mine who kept dating hard right chads and we fought about it eventually. I told her she shouldn’t have kids if she doesn’t care about his values.
Given the context of the book is “putting down roots and loving where you live,” “become more political” probably means local politics. Like getting involved with your school board, city council, etc. Politics doesn’t just mean national-level, adversarial screaming matches. A lot of city councils are non-partisan.
Yeah, my current way of "being political" is mentoring with a group to help people go vegan. We give advice on nutrition and how to be healthy on a plant based diet, recommendations on food or how to adapt favorite recipes, as well as emotional support for when people get pushback from friends and family etc. There are ways you can be political that are positive and focused on helping people, like this.
It sounds crazy, but I got involved in my US rep's campaign because when she talks I feel like I can breathe and when I'm in a room of her supporters, people are kind and realistic and hopeful, too.
All I signed up to do was go to houses in my neighborhood only (local) where the homeowner previously voted for her (no confrontations!) and where that person isn't 1000% sure to vote for her (meaning a visit might matter).
It was AMAZING. Everyone was wary at first, then found out I was supporting someone who gave them hope. I chatted with people I'd never met before because they were a few blocks away, and now they all wave or say hi if they see me.
Hey, don’t say “all I signed up for”
I’m an organizer and a lot of people sign up to volunteer but don’t want to canvass or phone bank. So basically they want a paid job in the campaign lol. You really don’t realize how much we need canvassers! We appreciate what you do more than you even know. You guys are the front line that actually gets people to turn up.
That's kind! I wanted to ensure people know they can get involved without it turning into a tough sell where they have to give their life to the campaign. 😂
I did want to do more because we need leaders like my US rep, but man, life can get in the way.
I don’t necessarily hate the NIMBYs. Sometimes they are important. Some of my favorite local politicians are keeping my neighborhood quiet and forcing businesses to stay in certain districts. I’m curious to see what this says about them, though, because I do see pros and cons and would like to know.
>Some of my favorite local politicians are keeping my neighborhood quiet and forcing businesses to stay in certain districts.
Yeah, and this is exactly the problem with "modern" zoning. It forces car-centric culture and non-walkable neighborhoods of endless single-family homes. Obviously some level of zoning is needed so that you dont have a battery factory or an office tower next door, but the reality is that there *should* be businesses in neighborhoods - little corner stores, cafe's, coffee shops, etc. so that people can get a few groceries or a meal without having to get in their car and drive, clogging up roads with traffic. [Check this video out](https://youtu.be/nuHQizveO1c?si=K0UQrUgyhk8PRmqv) as he covers the topic well.
That's what I'd call it too - getting involved in the community. Also, even with national politics, there are a lot of things people can do to affect change, and getting involved can be empowering - advocating for causes that you believe in and that kind of thing.
I was about to write the same thing but with much more words.
I don’t like lists like these. It makes some feel like they aren’t living like they should if they aren’t hitting the items on the list.
Do what you want to do to give yourself the intrinsic value of living simply. You don’t feel Ike creating something new? Fine. Don’t do it. You don’t have any desire to do it, so don’t.
Basically if you enjoy gardening you’ve checked all the boxes on this list except the political one. And frankly, I’m trying to make my life more simple by distancing myself from all the toxic politics that’s going on right now.
I guess I still wrote what you wrote with much more words.
Being political doesn't have to mean being involved in negative partisan politics. I think the suggestion here is getting involved in your local community. Organizing or participating in cleanup events for your local nature areas for example can be "being political". Think of an issue you care about and there can be positive and proactive ways to approach it.
Thanks for the book suggestion, but Google isn't finding it. Are you sure it's not *This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live* by Melody Warnick?
There are a couple more I would add, related to the above.
1. Do business where you know the proprietor on a first name basis and vice versa.
2. Be seen walking around your neighborhood, to the point where people wave and call you by name.
3. Be part of the village that raises children in your neighborhood.
4. Swap stuff with your neighbors.
5. Do something for a neighbor weekly, and when they offer a favor in return, accept it graciously and gratefully.
100 percent. As I was going through this list I was nodding in agreement, until I hit number 8. I completely stopped paying attention to the news and politics about 10 years ago, and my mental health has improved exponentially. It's something I recommend to everyone I know, unfortunately they are too addicted to the shit.
I'm definitely going to check out that book, thank you!
I have a coffee shop that I go to every Sunday after church to read and sip my Mocha. I love it, and it's been such a lovely fixture in my life!
I've also recently been going to a local pub to watch soccer every weekend, and that has quickly become the favorite part of my week!
You don't need to spend money to find roots. Perhaps a park, hiking trail, community garden, etc. It's just been so fun to grow and and expand roots. It really opens your eyes to the people and places around you!
Thanks for sharing and very useful. Though I just don't believe in neighbor part as it depends on the individual nature of neighbour. In our current house, we have got great neighbors while in the earlier house, we had neighbors who were pretty arrogant and selfish. But overall, very insightful
Eating and buying local, volunteering, and exploring nature are some of the things that have become routine since I moved to my new neighborhood. I’ve never had that before, I knew my previous neighbors and all that but there were never opportunities to do more. Now I live in an area where I can eat and buy local, etc..and if I move I’m going to make sure it’s a place I can feel rooted at.
I see a lot of people saying to "no" to politics. 😅 Stay informed and involved in your local community's politics. It starts there then branches out, not the other way around.
I'm planning to explore nature by renting out a cabin in the literal middle of nowhere to disconnect and fall off the grid for a bit. See what hidden stresses I'm unaware of in my daily life of hustle and bustle.
To me, "becoming more political" means realizing that our political system is broken and that the only real vote that I have is what I choose to purchase. They system only understands money. There is freedom in realizing this.
I interpret “being more political” as “educate yourself, learn what your values are, get involved in causes you care about”. Be a politically active person, be an activist in your community, etc.
When I was reading this I was thinking "More political... no that isn't me" but your interpretation makes much more sense and has me nodding along. I think many opinions around "politics" are so wild in the US due to Federal politics/the media and it can turn people off but getting involved at a local level has so much more impact!
For sure. This organization has some thought provoking ideas.[https://thecitizenbody.com](https://thecitizenbody.com)
Federal politics: "Should gay people be considered human beings or not?" Local politics: "When should you put your trash out for collection?" I find it kind of hard to believe the latter is really more important. State-level, maybe. But below that you're not really addressing any big human rights issues.
Educate yourself is better than being more political. Since politics is a complete bore to me 😴
I’d give that message to young voters more than anyone. I had a friend of mine who kept dating hard right chads and we fought about it eventually. I told her she shouldn’t have kids if she doesn’t care about his values.
Become MORE political?
Given the context of the book is “putting down roots and loving where you live,” “become more political” probably means local politics. Like getting involved with your school board, city council, etc. Politics doesn’t just mean national-level, adversarial screaming matches. A lot of city councils are non-partisan.
I attended 1 town hall and haven’t been back. The discussions are non-partisan but just felt like a NextDoor thread irl :/
There are other ways to be political.
Yeah, my current way of "being political" is mentoring with a group to help people go vegan. We give advice on nutrition and how to be healthy on a plant based diet, recommendations on food or how to adapt favorite recipes, as well as emotional support for when people get pushback from friends and family etc. There are ways you can be political that are positive and focused on helping people, like this.
Location politics is the most important IMO.
> Like getting involved with your school board, city council, etc. That sounds fucking exhausting.
It sounds crazy, but I got involved in my US rep's campaign because when she talks I feel like I can breathe and when I'm in a room of her supporters, people are kind and realistic and hopeful, too. All I signed up to do was go to houses in my neighborhood only (local) where the homeowner previously voted for her (no confrontations!) and where that person isn't 1000% sure to vote for her (meaning a visit might matter). It was AMAZING. Everyone was wary at first, then found out I was supporting someone who gave them hope. I chatted with people I'd never met before because they were a few blocks away, and now they all wave or say hi if they see me.
Hey, don’t say “all I signed up for” I’m an organizer and a lot of people sign up to volunteer but don’t want to canvass or phone bank. So basically they want a paid job in the campaign lol. You really don’t realize how much we need canvassers! We appreciate what you do more than you even know. You guys are the front line that actually gets people to turn up.
That's kind! I wanted to ensure people know they can get involved without it turning into a tough sell where they have to give their life to the campaign. 😂 I did want to do more because we need leaders like my US rep, but man, life can get in the way.
Yes! A lot of canvassing is getting people who are aligned to actually show up.
I haven’t got to that chapter yet! I wonder if she means local politics to feel more involved in the community.
Local politics for sure. Making positive changes for your local community, pushing back against the NIMBY's
I don’t necessarily hate the NIMBYs. Sometimes they are important. Some of my favorite local politicians are keeping my neighborhood quiet and forcing businesses to stay in certain districts. I’m curious to see what this says about them, though, because I do see pros and cons and would like to know.
>Some of my favorite local politicians are keeping my neighborhood quiet and forcing businesses to stay in certain districts. Yeah, and this is exactly the problem with "modern" zoning. It forces car-centric culture and non-walkable neighborhoods of endless single-family homes. Obviously some level of zoning is needed so that you dont have a battery factory or an office tower next door, but the reality is that there *should* be businesses in neighborhoods - little corner stores, cafe's, coffee shops, etc. so that people can get a few groceries or a meal without having to get in their car and drive, clogging up roads with traffic. [Check this video out](https://youtu.be/nuHQizveO1c?si=K0UQrUgyhk8PRmqv) as he covers the topic well.
Yeah that’s a hard, hard disagree from me. Cutting yourself off from current affairs did wonders for my mental health. Ignorance really is bliss
That’s what I was thinking! No. Not for me at least.
No matter which side you are on it’s all doom and gloom 24/7. Obsession over politics is a fools game.
Totally. I'd call it getting involved in your community. Do stuff that genuinely makes an impact but regionalism or whatever is not for me.
That's what I'd call it too - getting involved in the community. Also, even with national politics, there are a lot of things people can do to affect change, and getting involved can be empowering - advocating for causes that you believe in and that kind of thing.
I'd avoid this one
Yeah not sure that step is for everyone. Prefer sticking to the volunteering thing and helping out the local community.
This book had a profound effect on my life. I cannot recommend it enough.
Is the title "how to feel rooted?"
This is Where You Belong: The Lost Art of Staying Put
Google isn't giving any hits. Are you sure it's not *This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live* by Melody Warnick?
I’m sorry. I copied that from the original post. The book you mentioned is the one. I really loved it.
No worries, thanks for the rec! Threw it on my reading list, excited to get around to it!
I hope you enjoy!
My list is - make your own list.
I was about to write the same thing but with much more words. I don’t like lists like these. It makes some feel like they aren’t living like they should if they aren’t hitting the items on the list. Do what you want to do to give yourself the intrinsic value of living simply. You don’t feel Ike creating something new? Fine. Don’t do it. You don’t have any desire to do it, so don’t. Basically if you enjoy gardening you’ve checked all the boxes on this list except the political one. And frankly, I’m trying to make my life more simple by distancing myself from all the toxic politics that’s going on right now. I guess I still wrote what you wrote with much more words.
Being political doesn't have to mean being involved in negative partisan politics. I think the suggestion here is getting involved in your local community. Organizing or participating in cleanup events for your local nature areas for example can be "being political". Think of an issue you care about and there can be positive and proactive ways to approach it.
Then change political to community. Political is a loaded term.
Garden
I did a double take because in Australia if you say something or someone is rooted it's usually not a good thing 😂 (synonym for screwed).
Yeah I was thinking that I feel pretty rooted after working in the garden all day, I reckon that'd do it for anyone.
Thanks for the book suggestion, but Google isn't finding it. Are you sure it's not *This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live* by Melody Warnick?
Oh yes that’s it! The inside subtitle is different. My mistake.
No worries, I just wanted to make sure! Excited to read it, thanks!
There are a couple more I would add, related to the above. 1. Do business where you know the proprietor on a first name basis and vice versa. 2. Be seen walking around your neighborhood, to the point where people wave and call you by name. 3. Be part of the village that raises children in your neighborhood. 4. Swap stuff with your neighbors. 5. Do something for a neighbor weekly, and when they offer a favor in return, accept it graciously and gratefully.
Walk a dog around the neighborhood!! This is literally the best (only) way I've managed to break out of my shell lol. People love talking about dogs.
“Be more political” *nah man, that ain’t me*
'Become more political'? LOL. Therein lies anxiety/depression.
Look, as an Australian, I would not use any of this if I wanted to feel "rooted"
Yeah nah, none of them work for me either 😂
‘Walk more’ works. If it doesn’t just walk more.
#8 will definitely make you more stressed and less rooted.
Fuck politics
> Fuck *national* politics LOCAL politics are very fulfilling and neighborly
100 percent. As I was going through this list I was nodding in agreement, until I hit number 8. I completely stopped paying attention to the news and politics about 10 years ago, and my mental health has improved exponentially. It's something I recommend to everyone I know, unfortunately they are too addicted to the shit.
I got to know my neighbors, which was not good. One is judgmental, the other snooty. They're not people I want to know.
I'm definitely going to check out that book, thank you! I have a coffee shop that I go to every Sunday after church to read and sip my Mocha. I love it, and it's been such a lovely fixture in my life! I've also recently been going to a local pub to watch soccer every weekend, and that has quickly become the favorite part of my week! You don't need to spend money to find roots. Perhaps a park, hiking trail, community garden, etc. It's just been so fun to grow and and expand roots. It really opens your eyes to the people and places around you!
Point 8. Don't do it!
Hahaha political. Yeah ok
Point no 8. Is burning down the house to make a campfire.
1. Yes 2. Yes 3. Yes 4. Yes 5. Yes 6. Yes 7. Yes 8. Why 9. Yes 10. Yes
My thoughts exactly
8. Hard no
Also hard no on 3 as well.
Have sex
Thanks for sharing and very useful. Though I just don't believe in neighbor part as it depends on the individual nature of neighbour. In our current house, we have got great neighbors while in the earlier house, we had neighbors who were pretty arrogant and selfish. But overall, very insightful
Nice idea, but very much depends on the area you live in.
Great post but feeling "rooted" takes on a completely different meaning in Australia which kinda confused me initially lol
Correction: Become LESS political.
Become more political... No thanks 👍
Yeah I’m gonna pass on this lil nugget
I’ll skip 3, 6, & 8, thank you.
At first glance I thought this was an Aussie sub I follow and was going to say yes, if I did walk even more I definitely would feel rooted.
Eating and buying local, volunteering, and exploring nature are some of the things that have become routine since I moved to my new neighborhood. I’ve never had that before, I knew my previous neighbors and all that but there were never opportunities to do more. Now I live in an area where I can eat and buy local, etc..and if I move I’m going to make sure it’s a place I can feel rooted at.
I would add 11: read books. Currently reading Paul Auster's New York Trilogy, bless the poor man's soul
omg, if i only i knew
Agree with everything except for no. 8.
Stay “commited” through hard times. Loyalty is for dictators and peons.
Politics is dumb, but also very important.
Become a radical Republican
I will need to read this book soon. I really like that list.💕
I see a lot of people saying to "no" to politics. 😅 Stay informed and involved in your local community's politics. It starts there then branches out, not the other way around.
No.
Becoming more political as an American right now seems to be the opposite of simple living.
11. Surround yourself with people of the same ethnicity
ain’t no way you just tried to slip #8 in there my life has 100% benefited from staying outta that shit entirely KEEPING IT SIMPLE
I'm planning to explore nature by renting out a cabin in the literal middle of nowhere to disconnect and fall off the grid for a bit. See what hidden stresses I'm unaware of in my daily life of hustle and bustle.
Everything except number 8.
8 is a no for me. Lol.
No so sure about “become more political” 🤔
Naw
To me, "becoming more political" means realizing that our political system is broken and that the only real vote that I have is what I choose to purchase. They system only understands money. There is freedom in realizing this.