It is no secret that Linda and I are long-time Apple aficionados and to continue the advertising-related vibe from last post I am writing here about the need to “Think Different,” as reflected in the award-winning campaign from Apple several years ago. It stated so eloquently:
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
While I don’t purport to place myself in the pantheon of notable people featured in the above campaign, I would like to think Linda and I are helping others (hopefully including you all) to see things differently regarding the relationship between life and stuff. And I must confess I have been called a rebel and troublemaker a time or two.
As a similar statement I came across suggests: “Blessed are the weird people. The artists, the writers, and the music makers. The dreamers and the outsiders. For they force us to see the world differently.” And I love this definition of a bohemian: “a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices. Also, one who lives a wandering or vagabond life.” As a writer and wanderer I guess I am guilty on both accounts.
And I got to reflecting upon several other phrases that succinctly summarize the ethos of thinking differently, including: Learn to think for yourself. Rethink your assumptions. Challenge the status quo. Color outside the lines. Think outside the box. Swim against the tide. Blaze a new trail. Question authority. Rewrite the rules.
Suffice it to say that opting out of our materialistic culture in favor of a more meaningful and minimalist lifestyle is unconventional, not to mention countercultural. Not everyone will understand your thinking and some may even call you crazy. But all you need to remember is that it is your life and you are not duty bound to do the bidding of others. So my friends, think different, lessen your load of stuff, and reap the rewards of a lighter life!