The Gift of Quaker Simplicity

Twenty years ago, Jennifer Kavanagh went on a backpacking trip, spending time in developing countries around the world—and when she got back to London, she says, “I realized I simply didn’t need most of the stuff that I had. I thought, I’ve done without them for a year… why would I need them?” So she gave away or sold the bulk of her possessions, sold her flat, moved into a smaller place, and began to enjoy the freedom of a simpler lifestyle.

“I didn’t give up stuff because I thought I should,” Jennifer continues. “I gave up stuff because I couldn’t stand having it.” Streamlining her material conditions allowed Jennifer to simplify her emotional and spiritual life, bringing clarity to her relationships with God and with other Friends in her meeting.

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