Since I am nowhere near the first person to swear off spending for a year, I read other blogs like the No Impact Man for inspiration and clues of how to stride gracefully over another hurdle. A woman in
The New York Times (dining section) had a piece recently about a guy in Brooklyn that only ate from his own backyard for one month. He spent 11 grand to do that and no one else was fed in his family; they wanted nothing to do with his stunt to get a book deal. He cheated too and changed the start date when he didn't have any food saved up, when his rabbits died because he didn't know what the hell he was doing (how unethical is that?) when his potato crop failed and made exceptions here and there and did I mention he spent 11 grand to do this? What a jackass making a gigantic footprint on mother earth.
I don’t cheat. (We sent a letter to cancel the satellite, but hey, it's France, it might take a long time for it to actually get shut off.) We make guidelines for our family as we go along. As we evolve as a family. Benji came to the realization himself that he doesnt want the tv thus soon it will be gone. (We might have to fight canal sat to get the contract annulled. A friend had to lie and say that she was moving to the states to get hers canceled. Its hard to do.) So we follow our own rules and we don't cheat, how else can I get to these personal plateaus? Each time I find out something new about myself by resisting the urge to consume, I can see the next level. Starting with gun-ho recycling (something I was never into before) which lead to not drinking from store bought plastic or glass bottles (sadly had to give up my addiction to Perrier), to reusing our bath water for the entire family and next up, making my own soap from wood ashes and collecting rainwater. It is a magnificent hike up a beautiful mountain that rewards you with more lush greenery, forest animals, and pink and purple sunrises more beautiful than the next at each peak.
5 Comments:
It is incomprehensible why someone would set a goal for themselves, and then just cheat all the time to "achieve" the goal. I understand sometimes things happen and exceptions need to be made, but the least those people can do is admit it as failure and start afresh. I admire what you are doing. I've been thinking on it a lot lately. I'm not ready yet to give up my consumerism, but you are making me think more and more about each purchase I make. Will it last? Do I see myself still using it in 5 years? Is it classically beautiful, or trendy? Did I leave the house with the intention of purchasing it, or is it an impulse buy?
Doing a slow year is not for everyone, but you have caused me to ask those important questions when I set foot in the store, and I really appreciate you opening my eyes in this way.
I agree with Monica: I'm not sure that I'm at the point yet where I could fully commit to something like the Slow Year you are working hard to follow, but I do fully admire all that you are doing and I find that you are a real inspiration! For all of us, to learn from you and others that there are ways to find so much joy and happiness from life in ways other than spending money. I fully admit that there are times that I get a new book or CD to cheer myself up when I'm feeling down, but then I also realize that when I make a nice meal with some simple ingredients I have at home or that I got at the local market, that these acts, these accomplishments make me feel just as good if not better.
I'm learning every day, and I'm hoping I can continue to grow as a person and learn to be less and less of a consumer, with time. Thank you so much for sharing this inspiration with us here!
Hope I didn't start something between you and Benji with the TV comment but I did notice Amaya turn her head to look....I have grandchildren and know how they react. The advertisers are clever and the volume goes up when the ads come on to get your attention. However, having said that, now that I live alone I watch TV without guilt but it's often just on in the background...I don't sit and watch it....I love news and current affairs and sport. But I don't have it on all the time when the grandkids are here.
Monica and Bloomer, it is hard to do and I couldnt do it without support of my friends like you guys.
Pearl-- not at all! I was glad to show him, look she did swing her head over to the tv. He hasnt turned in since. But he is going to watch rugby on saturday night, after she goes to bed. I can't keep her away from tv, but I can try to do my part as best I can.
My place of employ is pushing a "commuter challenge" to encourage employees to carpool or take mass transit to reduce the environemtal impact. The shining star they used as an example was an individual who just one time took his sailbota, kayak, and a bus to get to work. It took two days in one direction. I couldn't help thinking they missed the point.
As has the woman you mentioned.
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