S-L-O-W-i-n-g down....

So an interesting thing has been happening in life over the last few days. I have been in training and trying to prepare a teaching curriculum for my summer job, yet it has been interesting to see how it has effected me. I've learned quite a few things about myself, such as the fact that I work better when I have specifications on my role and what is expected for me to produce. However it has been interesting to note how much I feel that the "simplification" process of the last few months of my life has sort of changed how I approach work and daily life.

An interesting tidbit that I learned over the last few days (realize I've been working with lots of education and therapeutic types) is that recent brain studies have discovered that our brains are not developed enough to truly function within the environments that we have created. Our society is such a high stress, go-go-go place that is full of a variety of consistent demands. And fortunately or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) our brain development and functioning abilities have not changed much since our caveman days, when our primary needs were just securing food, companionship, and shelter on an as-needed basis. So all this research has shown that due to the everyday strains that are our societal norms, we basically are functioning mentally at a high-stress level all the time. You can then assume that since our mental processing controls often the majority of all other functions, we are then running at high stress level emotionally, physically, and whatever other categorical breakdowns you want to include. (Is it so strange then that people get sick often or feel that they have "no time" for a variety of health inducing activities, including spirituality?)

Another interesting fact is that people vary on the amount of stress that they can experience before some sort of breakdown occurs. Some people deal with the high level of constant stress yet are still capable handling additional stressful moments. You can imagine this as someone who has a stress cup that maintains constant stress at half full and therefore still has half a can to fill before spilling over or the can explodes (breakdown). Then from there you can imagine that others have a constant stress level due to daily stress that is maintained at 3/4 full and so they only have room to incorporate 1/4 additional stress before breakdown can occur. Additional stressors can also look different for different people based on personality and other life determinants. "Breakdown" itself can also look different: weight gain or loss, physical illness, depression, anxiety, insomnia, crying for no reason, and a variety of other things (although it's important to note that these typically are more psycho/physical reactions instead of true biological or chemical imbalance issues).

Okay so back to my point, in our current society where most jobs (and/or over commitments) take up so much of an individuals mental processing, it is easy to see how we begin to compensate by taking away time from other aspects of life that are extremely healthy. Part of the simplicity movement, generally is to weed things out of life that detract from healthy living. Some examples could be cutting back contracted work hours, moving to reduce commute time, reducing debt by changing our "needs", and generally otherwise looking for ways to free up time. Within our society we've all engaged in elements of multitasking, however in true simplicity form multitasking generally is frowned upon. Instead the focus is in downsizing areas of stress in our life by behavior patterns, in order to truly focus on individual tasks and to be able to re-incorporate elements of daily living that we need to be balanced (ex. time to go for a walk with a spouse, time to read a book, time to garden). Now not to be too new-age, but the desire is also to really truly be present in that individual moment and therefore be benefiting from and giving fully to our daily activities.

That ALL said: The simplicity movement has in some degrees really changed my life. In previous blogs I've written about cutting back in certain areas, but throughout the training I realized how different my life is than a lot of other people who were at the training with me. It has been a long time since I have really over committed myself time wise and I have pruned my interests and activities in order to really be present in whatever it is that I am doing (although I could argue that maybe I don't give as much as I should in some ways anymore). However, I feel that as a result of the simplicity movement I have really benefited. No longer (well currently, we'll see how I am while working in this high stress summer job or when I get back to the city and back to grad school) do I have constant stress knots in my back muscles. Last night I spent several hours curriculum planning, which I only was allowed the weekend to start and finish. However today I woke up feeling unmotivated to jump back into the details of work, instead I felt like I needed to do something to engage my senses and to meet my other daily needs before I can truly apply myself to my work. So I took time to pull weeds out of the flower beds and enjoy the dirt on my fingers, I sat and watched the birds in the backyard while drinking my morning tea, and I have engaged in a little email environmental discussion with a friend of mine. In order to meet my work demands I feel like I must meet some of my other needs to truly focus and then productively use my work time. Interesting concept and one that I might not have dealt with in previous years.

Now I realize in our society it's not easy and sometimes not completely possible to embrace a lifestyle of simplicity (nor do some people feel the desire to do so-there's also the debate about whether some people have become addicted to that high stress feeling). But I would love if everyone could at some point in their day engage in at least one feel good activity in which they were truly present, without worrying about all of life's other responsibilities. May you each receive some simple blessings through your daily walks of life!

Best Season of the Year

This is one of my favorite times of year because......it's baseball season! (A little side point: Yea Oregon Beavs for winning the college championships for the second year in a row!) And while I could probably rant and rave about things about major league sports (ie paychecks) and that I'm pretty sure they aren't using the most environmentally friendly products on their fields and that I'm sure a whole lot of not-good-for-YOU-and-the-environment food gets served at these events and a whole lot of waste happens due to each game, I still love baseball for a completely different set of principles. (And yes I know that was a massive run-on!)

So here goes: I love baseball because:

A) It teaches teamwork while still allowing for individual potential to come into play. A person has the potential to improve their abilities on an individual level (such as batting average) while still enjoying and benefiting from team playing. People on a team have to learn to trust each other, have to learn to take ownership, how to cope together, and really how to function as a family. Baseball allows for a functioning family unit to form between players. Players also learn to interact and respect others based on their ability to contribute and not necessarily to see another player in terms of an "ism". There should be no ageism, sexism, racism, etc. AND players also learn to listen and respond to advice from coaches and managers. Plus there are no exceptions: the rules are the rules and you learn to play by them or you don't play. However tomorrow is another day, another shot at winning.

B) Baseball gets played (generally) outside, which gets kids and adults alike enjoying the elements of being out in nature. If one watches a game in the stands they are experiencing the sun, the breeze, possibly drizzle (although baseball gets cancelled because of rain or bad weather conditions unlike some other sports!), and they are being exposed to fresh air. Players also are out in the elements on a daily basis-running through the grass, touching the dirt, breathing in the air.

C) Baseball is active! I'm an endorsed health teacher, of course I love sports because they get people moving! Blood is pumping, oxygen is flowing, calories are burning, muscles are building, and stress is subsiding.

D) Baseball can be played almost anywhere. While our idea of baseball is a stadium with proper seating, all it really takes are some random objects to represent bases, a stick, and something that can be hit and fly. One of the most touching things I have ever seen was an episode of poverty stricken children playing catch with a crumpled and tied up plastic bag.

E) Baseball, while based on English sports, has been the "national past time" of the U.S. for over a century and a half. What's the saying? Baseball is as American as apple pie? It is representative of us as a nation, which however brings me to my final point and my favorite!

F) Baseball is (now) MULTICULTURAL! It is the one sport that I can turn on and am guaranteed to see a variety of ethnicities on every team. Asians, African Americans, Mexicans, Latinos, Caucasions, Native Americans-all playing together, all engaged in equality, and really all depending on each other. The fact that some players speak different languages isn't an issue when they are speaking the language of baseball. The fact that some players have different backgrounds and cultures isn't an issue either. The fact that some players come from poverty, while other players grew up in families of wealth also doesn't inhibit. (And generally a lot of members from baseball teams are highly known for giving out of their excess.) So while baseball was started in the United States, it has spread and has become a tool for cultural and societal acceptance within our country.

So with great pleasure and thanks to the great insight of Jack Norworth:

"Take me out to the ball game,Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game."

P.S. Baseball is also about hope and not giving up: anyone who is a Mariners fan can surely understand that! :-)

Pet Peeve: U.S. Tourists

So this is outside of my usual posting but I was struck by something I read in the news yesterday and so it's something that I feel is worthy commenting on.

One of my biggest pet peeves has always been some of the behaviors of a portion of U.S. tourists. And while I probably haven't always been on my best behavior at all times either while being in foreign countries, one of the most bothersome things is when people from our country travel to other countries and either a) do something that displays their ignorance of foreign affairs and/or b) spends the majority of their time indulging rather than trying to integrate and learn about the culture and country in which they are traveling.

Case in point: Cameron Diaz had to issue an apology to the Peruvian people after wearing a bag on her recent trip that contained an offensive message. In this case the message originally was from a separate country, however the dictator of Peru had ties to this other country and he was partly responsible for a government in which thousands of people were killed because of principles that were contradictory to the government. All over Latin America (and so many other areas of the world) similar eras occurred. In Argentina, this was called the "Era of Disappearances" as people were taken from their homes, tortured, jailed, and murdered for being subversives. We saw this happen in Cambodia and we see it happening in Darfur now, as well as in many other parts of the world. The saddest part to the whole ordeal was that Cameron was actually down in Peru to promote culture awareness, yet obviously her own awareness of the history of the country was lacking. How much better we, as citizens, of the U.S. would look and be if we actually researched the areas where we travel and tried to keep abreast of foreign issues. We might change some of the stigma toward our nation for being so nationally focused.

The second issue of U.S. citizens going to foreign countries and over indulging themselves also just floors me. I recognize that people travel to get away from their lives, to see and experience other countries, to witness other walks of life. I also recognize that citizens of other countries tend at times to enjoy a culture that is more open to indulgence (and in cases drunkenness). However I can't count the number of times I have seen drunk college students running around foreign towns or people spending WAY too much money on "things" with no regard whatsoever in either situation of how their behavior impacts those that are around them and the negative opinion that the behavior can form toward fellow citizens of our country. Sure have a good time but be respectful about it. Take into account your surroundings, the quality of life, the culture of where you are, and don't travel so that you have the freedom to do on vacation things you would never contemplate doing at home.

To me the best travel is when you can meld into, truly observe/experience, and learn from your "foreign" surroundings, not when you disrupt the natural balance of them or call attention to yourself. And granted when you are in France standing in front of the Tower of Pisa, people are going to recognize that you are a tourist but at least you are doing so in awe of what their culture has to offer instead of disgracing it. Just a bit of ranting and raving, but let's just be respectful and educated travelers (or rather citizens of the world)-that's all I'm saying. Let's show people that we care about where they've come from and who they are.

Learning From Our Elders

I'd like to introduce you to my grandmother or as we all in the family call her, "Granny." I find it interesting in that a lot of the steps that I feel that I take toward living a better lifestyle are in fact elements that Granny has lived with for her 96 years. If you can see in the picture, Granny still plants tomatoes, squash, and bush beans every year, as well as tending her flowers. Back when Poppa was alive, they always had a large garden in their yard that had numerous fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Granny has been a queen of the reusing principle of the three Rs. Granny has always reused plastic containers, sandwich bags, bread bags, vases, bag twisties, aluminum foil, boxes, wrapping paper, decorative elements, and the list goes on. In their past house, she had what we called a "mouse room" in which she stockpiled many of the above listed items as well as a manner other things. In this room, she also had items which she would buy in bulk thereby reducing the number of trips she had to take to the store to buy those items.

My grandmother also has had numerous items for many years. We still use the bedding and towels that she has had for years. Her china and silverware has been in the family for years. The paintings on her walls have graced past family photos for as long as 60 years ago. The furniture is often the same and/or any changes have been taken to the beach house for use. She still wears a lot of the same clothing that she has had for decades. And anything that Granny has gotten rid of has gone to missions or the church rummage sale generally.

A lot of this I contribute to the fact that Granny lived through the Depression era and as a young girl grew up on a farm in the midwest. Many individuals from the Depression era realize the importance of reusing past items and to giving to others that have need.

Which brings me to another aspect of Granny's personality. Granny is one of the most giving people I have ever met. When she had more available flowers and produce she would deliver items to others that she knew. She has always treated all people with respect and as equals. She has given of her time to numerous organizations and gives financially as well. She has always had a kind word, a special card, or a variety of other ideas to brighten the lives of those she interacts with.

I think of all of the history and changes (yet she's always been open to change-she even recycles!) that my grandmother has lived through, and I find it ironic that many of the "changes" that we need to make as a society in order to help the environment, in order to be more giving and loving to others, in order to benefit our spirituality and health, are already elements that at one time graced the lives of many of the "elderly" of our society. After spending many days with Granny during the last week, I felt very fortunate indeed that I have had such a fabulous role model-someone who really embodies many of the traits and behaviors to which we need to return. May we all feel so blessed by the memory and lessons of our elders, and may we be able to take the best and healthiest of their past ideas and return them to our present and future!

Valley Awareness & Availability

Within my home community, I am impressed that we have a natural co-op and a health food store (besides Freddie's organic section). I have also noticed a slight increased awareness around my community toward sustainability. Recently there was an event discussing solar panels, on Weds there is a small community market, and across town there is even now a community garden. However, I have to say that at times nothing beats going to the valley where my product desires and philosophies are readily endorsed.

On my recent trip I was happy to finally be able to buy new face wash (which I haven't been able to find here, although I can find my natural shampoo and laundry detergent). And I also purchased a Diva Cup, something that only the females would need to know about and something that again is not readily available in stores down here. I happened to be in town up there when the weekly farmer's market commences which seems to be readily supported by the city government as they are willing to shut down several streets for its purpose. The valley also has U-Pick farms and my grandmother's local grocery store sells some produce that is locally grown. A restaurant that I frequent in the valley tends also to focus on locally grown food as well as utilize old buildings for their restaurant locations. And public transportation is readily available.

Oh the fruits of the valley are indeed immense! One morning I did frequent the local Starbucks in order to purchase my favorite Thursday New York Times (which I also cannot find on the coast and which had a great article on Freegans!). There weren't any open chairs and the sun was out so I decided to indulge in my paper and green tea while sitting on the sidewalk outside the establishment. (Which on a sad note, Starbucks doesn't recycle so I had to transport all of my recyclable elements with me in order to dispose of them properly.) However, through my location, I was happy to accidentally hear part of a conversation going on at a table behind me. The couple things that floated my way included local food, healthy diets, and using tote bags at the grocery store. Oh happy day, that people are so readily discussing these concepts! The green movement is on! However it did not pass over my awareness that these discussions were happening in the valley, which tends to be a little more into the whole environmental and health movements.

I am sad to report that I did break down and BUY two new (albeit used) sweaters from Goodwill. I have been consistently wearing the same sweater multiple times per week though and thought it might be a good idea then to purchase another one similar to it. It took 4 hours to convince myself it was okay to even go look, and after it all to compensate I plan on getting rid of a couple other items of my own clothing to give to someone else who could benefit from them. I also was given several clothing items from my sister as we tend to swap clothing back and forth based on where we are size wise.

The entire trip over all really was very soul-fulfilling as I described before. I spent wonderful moments with family and a friend. I got to go on one of my most favorite hikes. I was in a community in which my ideals are readily available and supported. The drive was gorgeous along the coasts, winding along the rivers, and passing through the fields (if you have ever driven through Oregon you'll know what I mean). I stayed with my grandmother in her independent living location which is surrounded by wildlife and I was awakened to geese and ducks squawking every morning. I hiked around the lake there to check out the baby swans and was greeted by happy ambitious squirrels. Overall it was just lovely.

Over the next few days I want to focus on two individual aspects of my trip, but tonight I wanted to just touch base about how wonderful the valley is for its increased awareness and the availability of its resources. Hopefully eventually those elements will transcend to all locations across our globe! Have a wonderful evening and enjoy your surroundings regardless of where you are located!

Random Acts of Kindness

I've just gotten back from a very soul-fulfilling trip to the valley, which over the next few days I'll share with you some of the things that I learned. However first and foremost, one day while I was driving through downtown Salem I noticed a vehicle slowing to allow another driver over. As I got closer to the car slowing in front of me, I read from the sticker on the bumper "Practice Random Acts of Kindness." Almost immediately the grumpiness that I had been feeling lifted and I began to try to look for ways to be "friendly." How often is it that we tend to think of ourselves and our "needs"? It is something that I get caught up in continuously, yet on the opposite side of the coin, almost nothing makes me feel as good as I do when I am openly giving to someone else.

Over the course of the last few days, I have tried to make an attempt to smile at and politely greet strangers, watch for pedestrians trying to cross the road, remember to say "thank you" to people in customer service related employment, and a variety of other potential "kindness" opportunities. A funny thing seemed to happen: almost all of the people that I interacted in a positive manner responded positively and smiled back. I even believe that maybe my kindness was then passed on to the next person that they dealt with. (Funny however that my random kindnesses would have been considered proper manners sixty years ago).

I have been wondering to myself about what it is that has happened to allow us to lose sight of each other. Why do we allow ourselves to forget this element of human interaction? Why have we stopped looking out for others or when did we stop trying to put the needs of others before our own? And when did we begin to feel that some people were not "worthy" of our kindness?

I recognize that there are scary people out there in the big bad world, but I can't help but wonder if in some situations a little bit of kindness could shed some light even there. Wouldn't it be great if we could and would all validate the existence of and spread appreciation of each other? What a joy this world would be to live in so I must ask that you please would, in fact, Practice Some Random Acts of Kindness.

Putting thoughts into action

So I felt pretty good because yesterday I was able to start on several of my goals.

1) We put up the clothes line and I was able to hang three loads of laundry, although on rotations. It did take the majority of the day to dry the laundry, but I also felt like I was sleeping in a great big meadow after hanging my sheets out in the fresh air last evening. It felt and smelt great. A big plus to being outside so much yesterday was that I really felt like all of my senses were engaged. I was smelling the fresh air, feeling the breeze and sunshine, seeing all of the different colors, hearing the birds, and by the end of the day I felt immensely peaceful.

2) I also was able to tie back our peas as they fell over during Friday night, and attach strings for the extra beans I planted in the back.

3)I got started on my knitting. I am going to attempt to knit at least one scarf a month so that in the heart of winter I can donate them to my charity organization, Dinner & A Movie, which distributes items and attempts to support street youth in Portland. (More on them in a future posting.) If anyone cares to join me in this activity, I would be more than willing and appreciative to gather any scarves, hats, or gloves that you could create and take them to the donation center. (You can sometimes find good deals on yarn and/or fabric at thrift stores and garage sales.) Anyone interested?

4) I continued on in my Bible reading and should be able to meet my August goal. The books I read last evening included Nehemiah, Esther, Hebrews, and James. Esther was one that I don't think I had ever read before, and James has long been one of my favorites. Again reminding us that as members of faith, we are to be "walking our talk" as they always like to say. And in today's sermon we discussed Peter-how impulsive yet humbled he was, how willing he was to move to action at times while everyone else sat on the side lines, and how his love for the Lord eventually over rode his fears. (Although Peter did have massive faults and make some poor choices, but I suppose that makes him even more able for us to relate to him.)

So while this posting may not be the usual information packed one that I usually write, it is due to the fact that I have spent the majority of the weekend trying to put my philosophies and words into action. And I will leave you for now with the above pictures and a quote.

"There are two ways of living: a man may be casual and simply exist, or constructively and deliberately try to do something with his life. The constructive idea implies constructiveness not only about one's own life, but about that of society, and the future possibilities of mankind."

-Julian Huxley

Creating Our Own

Recently there was an article in the newspaper discussing the popularity of "Victory Gardens" during the time of WWII. During that time folks grew produce and other items in their backyards (and as during the depression, they also knew other ways to be thrifty) due to food rations and in an attempt to support the war effort.

I am fortunate to know many individuals (including at least half my family) that also embrace the idea of creating food and materials by their own efforts. When we grow our own food, we are able to get our hands dirty and to understand the joys of our labor. Eating a carrot that we planted, cared for, and dug up is much more satisfying than eating a carrot that we "harvested" from the market. Through gardening, we are also connected to nature and have a better understanding of its needs.

Another book I read as of late (Helen & Scott Nearing Living the Simple Life) described in detail their move from the city to remote Vermont and how they basically produced and constructed the majority of what they needed to survive. They built their own home and outbuildings, they cut their own wood for fuel, and they produced their own food through gardening. Their food lasted the duration of a Vermont winter through their use of storage cellars, so that in turn they could have "fresh" produce throughout all seasons. Now I know we look at that and think, hmmm, pretty extreme right? Well sometimes I ask myself if that isn't the way to which we should return.

This morning upon reading the headlines, I noticed that again there is another potential toxin scare of an item we all typically use: toothpaste. How often does it seem that we read about similiar scenes? Mad cow, Ecoli in restaurants, ecoli in spinach, tainted animal foods, tainted toothpaste, tainted peanut butter. And these are all just the ones that have to be recalled or come to the attention of the media. Think of all the products that sneak past due to the fact that the level of toxicity is one which won't greatly injure the majority of people. If you really investigate most of the products that we use and (if not organic) eat, we are consistently bombarding are bodies with exposure to many carcinogenic materials. Look at plastic, some of our food additives, pesticides, treated wood, many furnishings, paints, and the list goes on.

Now by this time I'm sure a lot of you are shaking your heads at my opinion, but sometimes as consumers I think we tend to turn a blind eye to the things we purchase and the effects they could potentially have on our long term health. Thus maybe Helen and Scott Nearing weren't too far off when they decided to live sustainability and from their own means. It seems that if we chose to return to creating some of our own products from scratch, not only would our individual creativity soar benefiting our emotional, mental, and spiritual health, but we also would know exactly what went into our products. Thus when the recalls came through the media, we wouldn't have to wonder about whether or not we bought that product.

By the way did I tell you that Helen and Scott were in their 50s when they moved to Vermont and began this life, and continued to do so for 40-50 years? INCREDIBLE!

Problems of Educators

Today I have been reading the book Living Cheaply With Style by Ernest Callenbach. It is quite the entertaining book-full of interesting ideas and insights (not all are practical and I don't know that all are quite legal either). I have only read about 2/3 of it but there were a few interesting things that got me thinking. To start with, in his introduction he talks about The Green Triangle which is composed of environment, health, and money. He argues that if you make a beneficial change to one area you will then in turn positively impact the other two areas. It made me feel validated in my thought from my first blog posting that to me the environment, health, personal finances, education, and spirituality are all interconnected. SO I suppose that in my book instead of a green triangle, it would be a green pentagon. But if you think about it, generally if you do change one aspect of your life, it will influence all the other realms of your life as well. Which gets me into my primary topic.

Later on in his book, he also discussed the fact that so much of our educational system is about abstract thought taught in impractical manners instead of through integrated subjects or hands-on material. As an educator, I would have to agree that our educational system does not do as well as it should and could, however I also feel that it does the best that it can under the given policies, regulations, and budgets that it has currently. Within educational contexts, there are a variety of opinions about what the school system should be teaching children and it depends on who is running the government as to which applications we focus on. Personally, I also believe that the dissolution of the family subsystem has created catastrophic issues that educators have to deal with on a daily basis. Students come from a variety of families that hold a diverse array of philosophies. Therefore different parents will become involved, both positively and negatively, for different reasons. Some parents complain about minute issues, while other parents feel that their children should have a variety of freedoms. It becomes a constant battle within the classroom and school administrators are pressured on multiple sides.

I have also noticed that students (at least within the high schools were I have worked) have almost no sense of delayed gratification. I don't quite understand why this is but educators are forever dealing with issues that ten years ago were never a problem. If I never saw another MP3 player or cellphone in the hands of a teenager I think I might be very happy. In a society in which we are constantly bombarding our youth and children with fast paced entertainment, students (and parents alike) have begun to expect the same out of teachers and lessons. Sigh....just some thoughts on the state of teens, our education system, and the lack of discipline, accountability, and sustainability of the family subsystem.

I don't think there are any easy answers to our current societal problems, but hopefully we're all willing to work on solutions. Otherwise what are we living for? Such a dour note to end on this evening! But there is always bright light at the end of the tunnel!

Small Changes

A recurring thought for me is that many people in one's past only remember an individual for the way that they used to be. I find this is common when I get together with old friends, coworkers, or people from my past who have not seen me or overly been involved with my daily living for a period of time. It is ironic to me that we tend not to want others to change, so we automatically characterize them for the traits that they used to hold regardless of whether or not they are still the same person. I point the finger at myself for doing this to people that I know as well.

Sometimes I have also found that it is difficult to combine different opposing aspects of one's self into a compromise on the issue. An example of this in my life is that a few years back I got really interested in fashion. One of my favorite shows has been What Not to Wear and I own quite a few of the books (although bought used!). Yet, how can I be into fashion and at the same time be into environmental sustainability? I contemplated getting rid of the books in an attempt to truly support my newly re-embraced values. Then a light bulb went off in my mind and I realized that it is still possible for me to care about fashion AND do so in a more environmentally sustainable way. Anyone who knows me should also know that at least half of my current wardrobe comes from thrift stores or Goodwill, yet the way that I tend to put my clothes together still allows for me to look presentable and up to par often with the current "fashion" elements of society. Another thought that came to me is that fortunately and unfortunately in our society, to really convey to others that you are a professional to be taken seriously, one must also look the part. How wonderful then that I can engage in what could be seen as two contradictory elements of lifestyle.

You might be wondering what are some other additional changes that I have made in my life in an attempt to live a life moving more toward sustainability, spirituality, economic stability, and simplicity of life style? Here are some examples:

• downsized my possessions such as linens, clothing, shoes, books, CDs, beauty products, etc (gave all the items to Goodwill or other parties)
• since Dec, have only bought 3 items of clothing and 1 pair of shoes (weak moment in Feb)
• frequently utilize my library card
• switched to Seven Generation laundry degeterant and only do laundry once a week
• use recyclable and made from recycled products razors and toothbrushes (Preserve)
• use natural hair products, face and body soaps
• am growing my hair out (the only renewable, reusable product on my person) for Locks of Love
• instead of using the 3 available lights for my bathroom, I only use 1 at any time now
• when washing my face or brushing my teeth, I turn the water off when not in direct use
• reuse my tea mug, cereal bowl, and water glass for the duration before we run the dishwasher (something that is difficult for me due to germs)
• unplugged all the electronics that I do not use routinely, including my laptop at night
• continued in my Bible reading plan
• drive my car only 1-2 times per day if that
• gather and take to Salem with me the additional recyclables that we can't recycle down here
• opted out of junk mail (again!)
• enrolled for online bank statements and mailings
• cancelled my magazine subscriptions, one because I no longer agreed with their message and the other because it seems that I can get the information elsewhere
• attempt to work out a couple of times a week
• eat a generally vegan diet
• wash and reuse plastic baggies and left over containers
• email my reps and senators on important legislative issues

As a family, we each have made changes:

• Dad rides his bike or walks virtually everywhere
• Mom has begun to buy recycled products, ex TP
• We generally eat a vegetarian diet
• We use cloth grocery bags
• We ALL recycle more than we used to the locally accepted products
• We don't travel long distances as much as we used to
• We have planted in various flower beds: green beans, peas, squash, brocoli, onions, a tomato plant, and multiple herbs
• We keep and eat left overs

There are still lots of changes to be made and for those of you who are interested there are several suggestions available on the blog for Crunchy Chicken and for Simple Living. Crunchy Chicken recently issued a Low Impact Week Challenge and the Challenge on the Simple Living blog is to reduce carbon emissions by 90%. I continue to try to add in more changes and will continue to add to our list.
Have a wonderful day!

The Human Connection (Community)

I know independence is an element that has been of primary focus within our nation and society for a long time (how about since its beginning?!). However it has come to my attention just how individualized we have become and how infrequently we tend to truly ponder how our actions will effect others. We also seem to have an inability to ask for help. In my thoughts (maybe it's just all the movies I've watched) I envision a past era of our history in which neighbors knew each other and asked to borrow a cup of sugar instead of driving to the store to finish baking cookies. When did we stop relying upon each other and solely relied upon ourselves?

In my example of yesterday, my sister-in-law's coworker went out of his way to help my brother and his wife with their fridge problem. However it seems that he was more than willing to do so and to help was his own idea. In a recent conversation with a friend I described how difficult it is for me to ask my friends to help me with life's difficult moments, yet I tend to also resent that they do not automatically help me when I do finally get around to asking them. Yet, when I rarely ask then how are they to know that I truly need them in my life. I apply this same thought to my neighbors. In my neighborhood, we have had several families transition in and out of the neighborhood over the course of the ten years. However the majority of the current neighbors have been in our neighborhood for at least two years now, and I wouldn't be able to tell you much of anything about them. I also would not ever expect them to ask to borrow a shovel or for me to ask to borrow a book.

Is it any wonder then that we sometimes find it difficult to remember to imagine what it would be like to walk in another person's shoes? When we are no longer truly connected to our neighbors, families, coworkers, and friends, then how can we expect to be connected to the random person we pass on the street? Yet we ARE all connected. We are all humans, struggling in this walk of life, hopefully trying to improve the quality of life on this planet. When I talk to my students, I often see how hard it is for them to accept people that are "different" from them. In trying to bridge the gaps they have created, I often try to have them imagine being in that individual's circumstances. This is something that I do in my own life to increase my empathy and patience for others. For example, I might imagine myself in the shoes of an immigrant, a welfare mother, a drug addicted street youth, a politician. By putting myself in someone else's shoes, even if only mentally, I feel that I am much more able to understand why some individuals make the choices that they do. And I sometimes wonder if sometimes individuals are driven to make poor choices, do to the lack of a support system in their lives.

From a spiritual and emotional stand point, we need to connect with others to solidify our faith and to create relationships in our lives that support us. We need to engage in giving AND receiving. And from an environmental and economic standpoint, just imagine what it would be like if we were able to share or borrow/loan items that we do not use on a regular basis. A group of neighbors could share a grill, a vacuum, or lawn items. Maybe neighbors could even engage in yardwork or house projects together.

I think it is of utmost importance though for us to restore the human connection, to reinstitute empathy for all others, and to reach out in giving and receiving to others. My challenge for everyone (myself included!) this week is to truly engage in community. Get to know your neighbors, before judging someone different than you-imagine yourself in his/her possible situation, sit down and truly connect with important people in your life, be able to ask for help from others and trust that people will help you solve the problem however large or small it is, and talk to others who you might otherwise not. If all of us improved the human connection on this planet, think of how much easier it would be to solve the problems that plague us individually, locally, nationally, and globally. Best of luck!

Dump Vs. Charity/Reuse

This morning while Dad and I were out changing my headlight (which thankfully on newer cars you only have to change the bulb rather than the entire lightbox!), I watched our neighbor from across the street begin to load the back of his F350 truck with a bunch of stuff from the side of his house. Included in the load were items such as: plastic children's toys (kitchens and such), a non-broken full length mirror, pieces of usable lumber, a folding chair, etc. Amongst that he did have "junk": odds and ends of scraps, etc (although even junk can be reused). Usually I would have bitten my tongue and just spent the day with negative thoughts ruminating in my brain about how much people waste. However I developed the courage to ask him, "Are you taking all of that to the dump?". His response was to the affirmative, which therefore promoted me to ask, "Why don't you take it to Goodwill instead?". And of course his response was that it was ALL junk! Sigh.

Now I had several options at this point. One of which could have included me going into a tirade and trying to pursade him into believing that he was contributing to a very negative problem of our society. However this is a gentleman who at one time had a "Sierra Club Sucks" sticker on the back of his truck window and I did not believe that anything I tried to say would sway him anyway. The point is that it still disheartens me to again see how often in our society we are a "one time use" society. We buy something and when we are done with it or a piece breaks, we throw the whole thing away. I understand at the same time that so many of our electronics and other items are difficult to fix or just as expensive to fix one part than to buy a new item. A perfect example of this occured within my own family within the last few days.

My brother called my father about two days ago and reported that his fridge was on the fritz. Dad was going to drive up to Salem to help him with replacing the fridge, but a wonderful thing happened. My sister-in-law was discussing the issue with someone at her work and a gentleman who works there was able to help them load the fridge and take it to a repair/recycle shop. The shop then told my brother that for only $30 they would take a look at the fridge and diagnose the problem before disposing of it. However they thought it might take a few days. So my brother and his wife headed for the beach house to spend an evening away and to get an extra mini-fridge we have in storage there, so they could keep some goods cold before possibly having a new or fixed fridge. On their way to the coast, they received a call. The original fridge was fixed and ready for pick up, and the cost of the repair was $54. How fabulous that instead of immediately buying a new item, this gentleman from my sister-in-law's work was able instead to help them with having it fixed! A huge financial savings for them AND a huge savings for the environment!

There is a current advertisement on the TV that just irks me and it relates to this concept of use and discard. I can't remember who the commercial is by (maybe Home Depot or something) but it shows a woman humorously demonstrating to her husband that they "need" a new fridge. However their "need" is all because she wants a water dispenser in the door of the fridge and not because the fridge actually needs to be replaced. Just another example of how current marketing practices encourage the habitat of buying for our wants, not because of our needs AND of our disposing of goods that still have use instead of really using an item for its entire lifetime before discarding it.

I hope that at some point with all of our high-tech knowledge, we can develop a manner in which to recycle all components of our items (including stoves, fridges, clocks, etc). One would think that we should be able to re-use or recycle about 75% or more of all of these items, even to produce new items for consumption. If we could take old items (which have no more use) and turn them into new items, the landfills would greatly benefit and I suppose even marketing would benefit as well. The improvement needs to come from consumer awareness and from consumers pushing for increased changes within the consumption, reduction, and recycling realms. My fear though, and one that I see every day through my interactions with the majority of my community members where I currently live, is that many individuals just do not care. As someone who overly cares, I just cannot fathom how people cannot care about the future of the environment, the future of their children, and even the potential health impacts that many of our products and gadgets have upon ourselves. Is it possible to change people into caring individuals? That I suppose is my question of the day.

May you each have a fabulous day and enjoyment of your weekend!

The Beginning

I suppose I could say that this whole part of my life started six months ago, but then I know that wouldn't be quite true either. Even as a young child I remember moments of being enthralled with nature and having what one of my undergraduate college professor's called "sacred moments" in which one recognizes and is taken in by the beauty and spirituality of being one with nature. I remember, too, moments of recycling and my environmental science courses while a middle school student in Eugene. At one point, we developed a worm farm and an advanced school recycling program-something I have yet to see replicated in another educational institution. It was during that class that we also went door-to-door in an attempt to educate community members and persuade them into trading in their old shower heads for water-reduction shower heads. What a change it was then to move from liberal Eugene to a more conserative community on the coast, where "tree hugger" and "recycling" were thought to be bad words. Thus began a period of attempting to keep my liberal ideals to myself and trying my hardest to be a closet environmentalist, although I don't know how well I actually did at trying to disguise all of my ideals.

Now a bit older, I have begun again to demonstrate and advocate for issues such as social justice, sustainability, health, education, and spirituality. However the most profound of my individual changes began approximately six months ago, and slowly I am trying to incorporate more avenues into my life in which to make my individual foot print smaller from a consumer impact. What was this change you might ask? Well those that know me well already know that it initially stemmed from watching the movie Blood Diamond. Now how could Blood Diamond completely alter someone's life you might ask? Well let me tell you! It was through that movie that I again was faced with how lucky I have it living in the United States, where (although I may complain about choices of those who govern us) I am generally free and can live without the fears that face so many of those who share this planet with us. I have shelter, clothing, transporation, food, employment, and I also realized how MUCH of all of that I had. How could I have SO much when others had so little? That began to be the question that wormed through my mind and has remained settled on it throughout the past months. Directly following that movie, my mother and I went through our linen and coat closets and donated a trunk load of items to the local gospel mission. And from that time on, I have embarked on a mission to lessen my load and to try to live a life that is more friendly toward others and the planet.

To me, all of these subjects correspond with one another. When we are acting in a way that is best for the Earth then we are looking out for the welfare of all who inhabit it. When we are looking out for the welfare of others, then we are encouraging the health and vitality of those that inhabit the Earth. When we remember that the Earth is a gift and embrace it, we are again embracing our spiritual connection to each other and to God. All of these concepts, as well as all of these life changes can positively alter all areas of our lives.

You will find attached to my blog several links to other blogs from individuals that are reducing their impact upon the Earth, as well as links to other resources. Among the blog community, there are many who making huge changes (such as trying to reduce their carbon footprint by 90%) and others that are making small changes on a gradual continum to decrease the negative impact we as humans can leave on the planet. Wouldn't it be great if we only left our positive impacts on the world?

Through writing here, I am not trying to impose my beliefs on others-only to create awareness. I do truly hope that every person is engaged in some aspect and care of improving our relationship to each other, to our environment, and to our spirituality. Our recent Sunday sermon inspired me through it's call to "live distinctly" thus through my blog I hope to increase awareness of issues, share a variety of "Elizabeth" thoughts, and to hold myself accountable to live in a "simply authentic" nature.

May you all have a wonderful rest of the week!