Dan Ho on Simplifying Life
April 3, 2007 by Maricar
Filed under Cleaning, Home Decor, Home Making
Dan Ho, the lifestyle guru, preaches simplicity and stress-free style. His alternative to redecorating one’s home? Clean it:
Q If people could watch their show and then go on to make one immediate change in their environment, their life or their person, what would you say it might be?
A I would say clean it. The pressure is on for people to redecorate. The reason why I believe we’re so susceptible to that pressure is because we’ve lost a tactile relationship to the things that we own. If you clean your windows, wash your walls and floors, the stuff that you own and feel you’re bored with (again) starts to look great. Light hits it in a different way, it looks cleaner and it saves money. It costs nothing to wash your windows and do it yourself.
If you’re talking about your kitchen, go through your cabinets and get rid of the things that are one-trick ponies. By that I mean your garlic press. There’s no reason to use a garlic press if you’re already using a cutting board and knife. Get a relationship with that knife, you don’t need that garlic press, which doesn’t give you minced garlic, it gives you smashed garlic which is a different texture entirely.
You begin to see how running to these quick fix gadgets snowballs into a lot of stress, a lot of time and a lot of wasted energy. Asparagus steamers? Who needs an asparagus steamer?
We buy all these things, we need more kitchen cabinets, we spend money to expand the kitchen, we go to our jobs to pay for all of these things and we’re wondering why we’re stressed out.
Just keep it simple. Use your stuff. You can’t go out and buy style. You have what you need.
Something to think about.
Dan Ho has a show on the Discovery Channel. Check it out. It’s liberating.
via Toronto Star
Tags: Dan Ho, simplyfying life, stress-free, organization, housekeeping, homemaking
This is a really important posting! I love what he is saying, and I am in the thick of following his advice- but first:
The big give-away!
thanks!
I am a big fan but rearranging my room really isn’t helping…I am usually stressed out and lately it’s even worse! I’m 17 and I’m leaving for India in a couple of days to volunteer in the hospitals all ALONE. I am joining the Navy so as soon as I get my diploma I will be shipped off to boot camp. I’ve pretty much tried anything I’ve seemed interested in, and I never seem to stick to anything. Back to the Navy-I have to lose weight and muscle-up to pass the physical. I belong to a gym but I cant seem to find any time to go. I try to eat healthy but I give up and get lazy. Now I have to think about my weight all the time and it doesnt help. I also go to private school now and I’m afraid I’m losing the ability to talk to new people like I used to be able to when I went to public school. College is also on my mind because I HAVE to get a good education and I’m worried I wont be able to fit it in my life with joining the service. (I want to be a surgeon) So-far this summer I have done nothing but rush around and stress about things. Please help me and give me some advice!!
Greetings Dan!!!
Just relocated to SC from Chitown where Dan, we worked together for a very short time many moons ago at Home Court International, 10 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago. To this day, I’ve quoted your style of buying 10 dress shirts from Marshall Fields during lunchbreaks; return to the office excited about it ALL! WOW! Who knew where your lifestyle of simple living and living in the now would lead to . . .
Dan, I am thrilled to see you on my fave Discovery Fit TV. I recognized your face immediately… you haven’t aged, just better. Long do instead of the crew cut/clean cut. I congratulate you in all your endeavors. Can’t wait to read your book.
Here’s to living, laughing, and loving your dreams come true!!!
Hope to hear from you, too.
Hope to be Dan Ho infectious!
Nelinda (Chef Alix)
Miss your show! What is happening now?
Can’t seem to find what you are up to.
Dan, I love you. Finally….the answer. I’ve been poor-had nothing and owned nothing. There was a simplicity there that I can’t expain. Of course I was miserable and certainly don’t recommend being homeless. Then I go my business back and love it…but all so many things. And I keep adding things. And there’s never enough. And so I watched the show. And it all made so much sense. I could live on very little-I knew that. Now I know how to and I can use my money to do things..like travel, and study new subjects, and enjoy life.
Thanks Dan Ho.
GiGi
I think this guy is so boring and pretentious. I know someone who is an old friend of Dan’s and understand that he has failed at everything has tried before…his first magazine….his first show. He was married to a 600lb. woman but he gay. Go figure. This guy is not what he seems.