An electronic magazine promoting a fulfilling lifestyle which enhances personal satisfaction and reduces environmental impacts.

The basic philosophy of Living Gently. I define Living Gently as a voluntary manner of living which pursues a positive, satisfying life that is considerate, noble and easily managed and that seeks to produce as small an impact on the environment as possible. It is a lifestyle chosen not only for personal satisfaction, but also for the good of our fellow inhabitants of Planet Earth: animals, humans and plants. It involves frugality but goes beyond.

What do the frugal use of money and living a life with minimal impact on the environment have in common? Quite a lot in fact, for there is a strong connection between living with a minimal environmental impact and living a sound economic life. It is no coincidence that economy and ecology have the same root – eco which denotes home.

A look at the origin of the Natural Step concept as created by Dr Karl-Henrik Robèrt, one of Sweden's leading cancer researchers and former head of the nation's top cancer institute.

Environmental philosophies have evolve as the humans moved from hunter/gatherer into producer/consumer. Once it was apparent that ignoring environmental degradation could not continue, the first age of pollution regulation, the Age of Ignorance waned. Searching for solutions, we entered into the Age of Dilution. It soon became apparent that the growth of human populations, continued industrial and agricultural growth, and the production of exotic chemicals would force the Age of Dilution to be a short one. The birth of the Age of Exclusion has been a traumatic one as we have realize that we may have little time to affect change.

In 1997, I sat down with Robert Bateman, renowned wildlife artist and conservationist, to talk about the state of the world as we saw it then. A decade later, his words remain very relevant.

I have often used the technique of cropping a picture to focus on the central point or theme of the photograph, to eliminate the extraneous and distracting elements. I had no idea that the technique could be applied to one's possessions with similar success.

Did you ever feel, by winter's end, that the walls are closing in on you? That your rooms seem more claustrophobic? Perhaps what you are feeling is not a symptom of cabin fever, but a call for spring cleaning. More precisely it can be an internal call for decluttering your home of unneeded stuff.

Time is an elusive entity. Some even say that there is no such thing as time except as perceived by the flow of events. Our perception of the passage of time can change with the blink of an eye. Time stands still; time flies. Time drags on. Where did the time go? I just need a little more time! We had a great time! If only I had the time.

Where do you go when the burdens of daily life seem overwhelming? Do you have a sanctuary for retreat and renewal?

I have often said, "When times are tough, go back to the basics." For me, the basics of financial peace of mind are best summarized in David Chilton's book, The Wealthy Barber and Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin's book Your Money or Your Life.

Stress, we all have it. Some of us have it more than others. Stress can drain the body of energy, depress the immune system, create states of disease and rob the mind of focus.Too much stress is definitely not a good thing. So, in this stress-filled world, how can we best find relief? It may sound funny but laughter is the number one prescription for stress relief.

I believe that increasing our knowledge and wisdom through lifelong learning enhances the quality and comfort of life. Lessons can come from formal education or can come from nature.

FOOD: one of the three essential elements for life, the giver of energy, the gift of the heavens. The story of food is the story of humankind. Its many chapters are as varied as the individuals that populate the planet.

We all face many decisions daily. Most are easy choices, a few require long and thoughtful contemplation. Then there are the nagging decisions which defy quick resolution but are really not worth more than a few minute's contemplation. Here is one way to make those nagging decisions.

Some time back, I was featured in an article in the local newspaper that looked at my changed lifestyle to one of simpler pleasures -- a change to a more personally fulfilling life despite a reduction in annual income and spending. In the interview I had said my goal was to reduce annual expenses. Here are some thoughts about the process.

Living meagerly, knowing that it's a choice that need not last forever, can be an exciting and rewarding challenge. It provides the opportunity to develop empathy, gratitude and creativity.

For nearly 14 years of my working life, I was a long-distance commuter, making the daily journey of 100 kilometres (60 miles) each way. During this time, I developed two insights about the practice from two different perspectives.

Have you ever dreamed of living to be 100? Have those dreams been tempered by a belief that the majority of those years will be spent in ill health and reduced capacity, eventually ending in a nursing home waiting for death to finally come?