Happy Earth Day, folks.
Here's where the fun begins. As of today, the rules apply. And the rules are as follows: for one year, we will refrain from buying or receiving anything new. This of course applies to non-essentials. We do need to eat. And drink wine. For the exceptions, see the sidebar.
This year-long commitment will be both a challenge and a sacrifice, but we hope to achieve a few things along the way.
Perhaps the most obvious aim of the project is to lessen our environmental footprint. One way to do this is to drastically cut back on the goods we consume. There are too many "things" in this world being manufactured, packaged, shipped and sold to consumers with little consideration for humanity and sustainability. We live on a planet with limited resources. By sharing, trading, foraging, salvaging, rescuing, and scavenging for used goods we will not only redirect these things from the landfill, but also cultivate a relationship and open a dialogue with our neighbours, friends, family, and members of our community. This is a huge step in the right direction.
DIY is also a big part of this project. Cutting off our access to consumer goods will motivate us to get creative, and learn how to do more things for ourselves. We will be learning how to sew, knit, embroider, can, and make our own cosmetics and home remedies from scratch. This is the survival instinct kicking in, and the recognition that we've lost valuable knowledge from our elders that is worth the effort to reclaim.
There is also the hope that through this experience we will undergo a spiritual transformation, or at the very least, an improvement. This project is about making a conscious effort to buy nothing. But maybe one day we will wake up and discover that it isn't a sacrifice at all. That it requires little to no effort. Still, these are habits we are working towards changing. Can we take it one step further? Can we really wake up and see that we have everything we need, and always have. Can the wanting and coveting be quelled? I can only imagine the stillness and peace of mind this can bring. Elusive as it is, it's a goal worth pursuing.
1 comment:
I'm excited to read about your venture! You will inspire many more than you already have :)
And I agree that we're an unconscious consumerist society that keeps buying, using, trashing, buying, using, trashing, etc. You're right - why do we 'need' so much stuff? And new stuff? I'm working slowly on reducing and reusing, not just recycling. So I'm gonna be looking to YOU, brave trio, for inspiration and ideas!
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