LIVING WITHOUT - How Much is ENOUGH?

Do you feel like life is a constant game of catch-up? No matter how much you strive to get and do, you feel like you need to do more or have more?

We’re encouraged to seek out success, wealth, and material possessions, against which we measure our status, self-worth and happiness. We continually strive to achieve these things, but when we get them, we feel only a fleeting sense of happiness before setting our sights on the next thing. And this pursuit of 'stuff' often comes at the sacrifice of our physical, mental, and emotional health.

There’s no denying that money is an important part of our society and having a degree of financial stability increases our ability to enjoy life. But the reality is that most of us live in a world of overabundance. We need to realise that we have enough. We need to stop linking our self-worth and happiness to doing and having more. That’s a journey worth taking.

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Who is Reflections of Life? We are Justine and Michael (previously known as Green Renaissance). We use our passion for filmmaking and our love of storytelling, to remind our audience of one simple truth – that we are all human. The more that we understand and believe in this interconnectedness, the more we will treat ourselves, one another, and planet earth with a greater sense of compassion.

This film features the following people, and you can watch their full, individual films using the links below:

Filmed in South Africa, Saint Helena Island and New Zealand.

Equipment used - mix of Sony FS7 and Sony A7S

Far From The World - by Ben Winwood
Small Touch - by Rea Meir
Our Fading Memories - by Jon Gegelman
Those Nights We Lost - by Emanuele Errante
Pulse - by Jacob Pavek
Seasons - by Jacob Pavek

A huge thank you to these guys, who so generously gave of their to time to help with language translations:
Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) - by Pān Yung Chih
Croatian - by Davor Bobanac
Italian - by Vincenzo Mocerino
Portuguese - by Jonatha Koeller
Spanish - by Gorka Garcia and Seva
Vietnamese - by Tam Do

Sound mix by Tamryn Breakey

[dianethompson]

I lived for 33 years with my husband who chased the consumer dream for himself. Boats, yacht club, working all hours.Paying one credit card with another one. I on the other hand never wanted that lifestyle. i was content with my books, my friends and my dog. One day he came and said that I was not the kind of woman he wanted. He wanted someone like himself. He divorced me and married a woman who is like him. I do not know if he is happy, but I hope so. I moved from a custom home to a former crack den in a rough part of town. It was truly an awful place, run down and very dirty. My friends and I cleaned and painted it. We had parties on Sunday afternoons filled with good food and laughter. I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. All of my worldly possessions fit into the back of a mini van. I buy as little as possible and I know the real value lies in being kind, loving and helpful. I try to live lightly on the Earth, to me She is sacred. Blessed Be.

[alwayslearning]

"The richest man in the world is not the one who has the most, it's the one who needs the least"

[brianmcg]

Nobody on their death bed said “I wish I had spent more time at work”.

[txspacemom]

3 years later, I can say the simple life is for me! Before I divorced, my ex's family was very materialistic. They would make fun of me for not having a $3K purse or a new car (My Jeep is 12 years old.) My home was too small and my clothes are all second hand. I left all of that, gave away most of it. I drove away with what could fit in my Jeep, and that included 4 cats, a dog and a box of memories. Just gave the rest away and went and chased my passions in life. My divorce left me financially and spiritually broken but I am slowly smiling again. I am middle age and not afraid. Funny thing is, I make more money now than I ever did and I care share it with animal rescues, I make big family style meals for the people who I love and love me, unconditionally, and I can take trips to quiet places and take photographs. I just took a ceramics class, first time in 35 years and it brought me back to being a kid and playing in the mud. I need a good cup of coffee too, so I can slowly sip and mull over my day and smile. Someone recently gifted me some linen material. It has the most beautiful feel to it. I dyed it with some turmeric and now I have some sunny curtains, swaying in my kitchen. I owe no one. I rent a place and I have few bills. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

[nmj]

I really do believe that commercialism has taken over and blinded people to what really matters in life.

[antiv]

A roof over one’s head, a full stomach, and inner peace. That is all.

[dalenenaude]

It's true that we don't need fancy homes and expensive cars, but try living on the streets eating at the mercy of strangers, and you realize that money is important. The real miracle is not letting it consume you.

[naturalwitchery]

I was a single mom for 17 years with 2 kids. I chose to be a stay at home mom. No child support. I home schooled my kids and was an artist who also took odd jobs. Being with my kids, doing simple things, gardening, and playing with them was my priority.
NO REGRETS ❤

[frasersgirl]

I live on a corner lot in a small rural town. I’m married to my childhood sweetheart who I’m still madly in love have four dogs that love me, a son who calls everyday just to chat....I garden because it’s the dream of my life to garden....our house is small and we don’t owe anything on am living the life of my childhood dreams....I am truly blessed and I know it. Everyday has simple, glorious, gifts and I am grateful for them all.

[Fatma-mxcc]

I’m at the end of my life, with heart and kidney failure, and my illness started 3 1/2 years ago. When I realized I wasn’t going to live to long, I started to go through a lot of changes about how I see life. I spent so many years trying to collect stuff and make more money, now I see that what I was doing was taking me away from the real joy in life. I thought I was doing what I was suppose to do, that’s what I learned as an American. Now, the joy is in every small thing, my son, nature, the relief of loosing the feeling I need more, instead, I enjoy and feel greateful for what I have. I can’t look back now and think about what I didn’t do, that doesn’t help, but now I’m living more in the time I have left, then all the years I was chasing the dollar and stuff. I believe the disease of wanting more in America is what is killing it’s soul. I live in Egypt now, around a lot of poverty, and these people have taught me how to be greateful for every small thing I have, and still be happy. At first living around poverty put me in shock, and I use to think these people have nothing, yet they are always smiling, what’s wrong with them. Now I learned their secret, I went so far to learn this, and now there are not many people I connect with from my own country, they think I’m crazy, LOL

[denisfrancine]

Life is so uncomplicated when you keep it SIMPLE! Old house, old car, no cell phone, no money left over in the middle of the month. Food in my belly. Peace and quiet! THANK YOU CREATOR!

[DanielS-rvov]

"By the time one has money to burn the fire will have died out" !! Love it!

[ExLibris-Alys]

‘’Put the value of your heart before the value of money”. I love that.

[Inner_stillness]

“A memory bank instead of worrying about your bank account “, I love that statement.🙏🏻❤️

[skiyman]

“The truly successful person is the one who gets up everyday and does exactly what he wants to do.” Bob Dylan. I live by this and I will go with this.

[patriciagarrett]

Just food, a place to lay my head, friends and family and God...I need God in my life.

[stefips]

i almost stopped watching tv. The best contents you can find are here on YouTube

[azhyrbooth]

"Wealth is what you have in your heart and what you can share with others "❤❤❤

[elvirredzepovic]

Some people want expensive cars, exclusive clothes and big houses, others want a small home far away from these people. I am one of them. It warms the heart to see this film and those who contributed.

[qpvghou]

I truly believe if you have a roof over your head, some warm clothes and money for food. That is enough