Variety — The quality or state of being different or diverse; the absence of uniformity, sameness, or monotony.

Variety People — People who value, allow, seek and manage variety in their lives.

PLEASE NOTE — This site may transition to another platform. Read about it here. This site will stay up as a reference, so it’s possible some language here may refer to functionality that is on hold, disabled or in transition.

VarietyPeople.org — This site aims to encourage variety and help variety people manage the dance between variety and stability. It’s a largely user-generated place to connect and share experiences, resources, ideas, events, articles, questions and ways of managing variety. In the process, perhaps we can become happier, healthier and more sustainable. And we might get what you could call some sustainable variety.

Here’s the crazy thing: By embracing variety, you do a bunch of things simultaneously, at a number of different levels. Our bodies and minds and spirits respond to, and are engaged by, a variety of different things, ideas, experiences, activities and people. So we can become healthier and happier as we accept and engage variety. On another level, we know that variety and diversity are intimately connected to sustainability. Examples include the benefits of biodiversity, crop diversity, multiple energy sources, portfolio/investment diversification, variety in human teams, the multiple viewpoints allowed by democracy, pluralism, and forgiveness — each of these examples of variety and diversity enhance the sustainability of the people, systems and things they are connected to. So by embracing variety in our lives, our work, and our society, we also help our world become more sustainable.

Of course too much variety can be bad, and there is usually a tension between variety and stability. But our networked world probably allows more variety than we are taking advantage of. We may need a new awareness of these possibilities, and new approaches which leverage the possibilities of networks (more here). This site aims to encourage variety and help variety people manage that dance between variety and stability. It’s a largely user-generated place to connect and share experiences, resources, ideas, events, articles, questions and ways of managing variety. In the process, perhaps we can become happier, healthier and more sustainable. And we might get what you could call some sustainable variety.

Also, variety probably shouldn’t be the only goal. In other words, it may not be a great idea to do something only for the variety. Probably better to do things for a variety of reasons! Put another way, perhaps we shouldn’t pursue variety just for variety’s sake. But keeping variety in mind, and allowing some variety, may help you, and us, have better lives. Keeping variety in mind, and allowing some variety, may be one of the most simple and effective things you can do to achieve a number of different benefits.

One more thing. Don’t forget about having a variety of variety. In other words, mix it up a bit. This might sometimes mean embracing some monotony! Other times, it might mean trying more variety than you usually do! This brings to mind a wonderful quote by James Ogilvy: “All things in moderation, including moderation.”

Varietypeople was started by David Loughry. Hopefully, it will soon to be added to by you! Please see How to Post, and What to Post.

You can contact us here.

Thanks for your time, consideration, and participation!

Advertisement