treating the consumption

It's time for a consumerism fast around here.

A few times, for Lent, we've given up consumerism. We combined trips and used our bikes and the bus more. We remembered to conserve water, gas, and electricity. We watched less TV. We cooked at home and composted and recycled any waste. We donated items we don't need and found new uses for old objects. If we didn't need it, we didn't buy it. Period. Material needs are limited to nutritious food and gasoline to go to work and toilet paper and the like. We make a few mindful purchases, buying fair trade, recycled, organic, and local when we can. The rest, as my husband says, is all gonna burn in the end. We already have more than enough. By deflecting attention from keeping up with our consumerist culture, we have been able to turn our attention to what really matters.

Right now, we're adjusting to new schedules and still catching up from our trip. When we're stressed, easy fixes often overtake wiser, more mindful choices. So, like we do during Lent, we're hitting the reset button and returning attention to our core values.

Are we crazy consumers like some people out there? No. But do we use more than we need? Often. We're American, it's to be expected.

It might seem a little off-base that so many of the links and topics on Just Living concern products and shopping. This is supposed to be about living simply and changing the world in small ways! The fact is, we live in a consumerist culture. Most of us shop way too much, and so often, convenience wins the day, at the expense of justice for so many people. What we buy impacts neighborhoods, resources, health, safety, and dignity for so many people. I can't call myself a justice-minded person if I shop blindly. In a consumerist culture, money is king. Companies will listen to our spending more than they listen to our words. I really believe that if our culture shifts into one of gratitude for what we have instead of constant need to upgrade and acquire more, things will start to change.

While our little week of a consumerism fast may be small, it will impact:

-the environment, as we will produce less waste and manufacturing byproducts while consuming fewer resources; this in turn impacts people around the world
-worker's rights, as we avoid purchasing items made on the backs of exploited people
-our bank account, as we eliminate wasteful spending
-our thinking, as we remember to live with less and address inconveniences creatively
-our spirits, as we feel lighter and freer and have more to give to others

So, here we go again! Anyone care to join us? We'd love to hear your ideas.

And Happy Halloween!

Confessions

For all my planning, hoping, and writing, I'm not always so great at maintaining the balance I strive for. We're in transition right now, finally getting used to my having a full-time job with just one side gig (instead of multiple part-time jobs plus school). I'm still working out how to do my job well, care for our Russian kids, enjoy my husband and home life, and spend time with my friends and family. In that mix, I don't always take good care of myself. I've been to yoga about once a week, but I have yet to schedule that first massage. My chest is growing tight again . . . grrrrr. Always learning, right? So this week is about discipline, healthy boundaries, and prioritizing. Problem is, it's hard to prioritize when everything is important and inviting! That's why I need to make space for silence; it helps me find the truth and stay grounded. I hope to have scheduled my massage by the end of this week, and I plan to have the computer off (that means NO MORE working on cases or Russia stuff) by 10:00 every night this week. Will I do it? We'll find out . . . in the meantime, encouragement welcome! I'm looking at the blessings I have and seeking to live justly and generously even among the chaos. I am so thankful to surround this busy week with a great weekend with family (hospitable and gracious in-laws, super cute and cuddly nieces and nephews, and wonderful beyond words grandparents) and a fun get-together coming up this weekend. In between, I hope that all of us have space to be who we were made to be and eyes open to all ways we can brighten the world, big and small.

The Joys of Seasonal Eating

We have been LOVING our Green BEAN bin this fall. Squash of all kinds, beets, yams, and apples, all local and mostly organic. We've been revelling in the season! Roasted beets and butternut squash with cheesy polenta = comfort on a plate. Our last scrumptious creation was Roasted Pumpkin-Apple Soup.

We served it with toasted cheddar and arugula sandwiches on Scholar's Inn wheat. We used walnuts, because that's what we had, and added a splash of brandy. SO GOOD! Next fall comfort food: my famous (or should I say infamous?) veggie chili!

What do you love to make in the fall? I'm feeling adventurous, it's time for new fall recipe ideas!

VOTE!

A wise woman I know reminds the youth she works with that not everyone gets to vote. Yes, our process is flawed. Yes, our choices can be frustrating. But how do we expect anything to get any better by just sitting and complaining!



Lee Hamilton was on Diane Rehm today and reminded listeners that freedom brings responsibility. He also stated that a politician's job is to build consensus towards solutions, not to tear each other apart. I think voters should do the same thing! Let candidates know your thoughts. Weigh concerns, weigh options for solutions, listen to all sides, and make an informed, rational choice. VOTE! And after we vote, we should pitch in and get involved in our communities, making them stronger from the roots.

There are still two weeks to research candidates. For starters, Indiana voters can use the Indianapolis Star's handy voter guide to help us figure out who is running in our districts. But that's just a starting point--it's a great idea to do some research and see what the candidates are saying in their own words (and consider the source of other information). You can even vote early.

And be bold! Don't be afraid! Or as someone said last election cycle, vote your hopes and not your fears.

Here's my chance to sneak in a plug for a lovable little cartoon--a lighthearted look at what can happen when we vote in fear. And please, remember to Vote, Vote, Vote!

Sweat-free Shopping

Clothing is one of those American entitlements. Most of us have a disgusting amount of perfectly fine clothes, yet find reasons every year to buy more because we "need" certain items. I'm guilty of it. Our culture does an excellent job of convincing us we need certain pieces to look complete, put-together, professional--every woman "needs" pumps and a little black dress, for example.

I call BS. Most of my clients get by without any of the stuff many of us think we need. And buying all that junk contributes to waste in landfills, dangerous chemicals in our ground, air, and water, and exploitation of people at home and abroad. I'm sad to say that sweatshops and forced labor are alive and well.

Did you know there are more slaves alive today than there were when slavery was legal? How is this possible? Because demand for cheap crap outpaces demand for human dignity. People are making money off of it--OUR money.

Well, that's just one reason.

Among the super-important things we can do to stop slavery is to stop the demand for slave-produced goods. Clothing is a main culprit. While factories around the world can provide much-needed income for families, they can also destroy lives. We have to pay attention to what we buy. All the activism in the world won't change lives if we then turn around and use our hard-earned money to support the slavery we hate.

Buying second hand is a GREAT way to reduce demand for new slave-produced goods. The stuff already exists, is often of good quality, and looks better in a closet than it does in a landfull.

Buying fair trade is a great option as well. There are so many good places to buy fair trade gifts, all you have to do is google. For clothing, try Fair Indigo. It's not the most fashion-forward, but that's what vintage stores are for. Fair Indigo has great basic pieces with good cut and good quality. There's a HUGE sale right now--cashmere for $25! Sizes for ladies run a bit large, so keep that in mind.

To find out which manufacturers and retailers even care how their factories are run, check out Chain Store Reaction.
Better yet, send them a note and let them know you care. To find out what more you can do to end slavery in our time, visit Free the Slaves or Green America's Guide to Ending Sweatshops.

[Factory labor is just one type of modern slavery. To learn more about what you can do to end sex slavery in the US, visit Doma International.]

Squeaky Clean

When people talk about developing renewable energy, it's often about replacing oil-based fuel with something else. Most everyone can agree the oil spill this summer was not ok (understatement of the century), and most everyone would like to keep it from happening again. But it's not only gas that contributes to our need for oil! It's plastic, cleaning products, and even personal care products we use every day. What we purchase directly impacts demand for cheap oil, which directly impacts the length to which companies will go to get it.

Petroleum-based products are just part of the problem with cleaning products. These chemicals can contain harmful odors; some can make us sick if they touch our skin. I've always wondered what we'll come to learn about these products in the future--don't forget, Coca-Cola truly used to contain cocaine! Sometimes it takes awhile to understand the long-term effect of certain chemicals. For those reasons, and many others, we opt for natural cleaning products like the ones found at Ecos. There are all kinds of options out there! Our favorites are formulas we can make ourselves with ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda.

Be careful, though, as vinegar can corrode certain enamels (as we've sadly learned).

What natural cleaning solutions work well for you? What do you recommend to avoid?

Nostalgia

We had a great weekend. Big family party on Saturday--one of my little cousins got married. Sniff! She is so beautiful, and we are so happy for both of them!



I am blessed with a big, loving family. I'm the oldest of all of my 11 cousins (on my dad's side). We had a great time giggling at family quirks, laughing over family memories and making new ones. We FINALLY got a picture of all the cousins! Well, almost all. The new groom didn't make it into the picture, but he'll pay his dues in time. :) And another cousin was celebrating her anniversary, so she wasn't there. We missed her and her family. And today, I'm hanging out with my husband and my parents in honor of the other missing cousin, my little bro who should have been 28 today.



Wistful fall days bring lots of memories and lots of feelings. Today is a day for family; everything else can wait until tomorrow.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
--Dr. Seuss

Going Home

I deal with the hard stuff of life on a daily basis at work and in other commitments. As much as I want to continue to learn about what's going on in the world, I have found myself drawn more and more to lighthearted entertainment. I can only tolerate so much complete and total fluff, so I find myself drawn frequently to memoir. I love to read something lighthearted, honest, heartfelt, and meaningful that offers some perspective from someone else's view while not taking itself to seriously.

In Russia, I read Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home.
I haven't laughed that hard in ages! Weaved with the hard truths of her adult life, Rhoda Janzen reflects on the life she's left and the life she's chosen with grace and humor. Her perspective on faith is honest and, at least for me, relatable. And her family is hilarious! If you are a person of faith/classical musician and can make it through the Classical Loon section without laughing yourself into tears, I don't know what else to offer. This book is highly recommended!

Blood Chocolate

I am a big fan of chocolate--specifically 72%, high-quality dark. The sad, ugly truth about chocolate is that most of it--especially the cheap stuff--comes at a great expense. Child labor, forced slavery, kidnapping and human trafficking, dangerous working conditions, long hours, and extremely low wages are just part of what keeps our chocolate chips and candy bars affordable.

Photo from Green America

No one I know thinks it is OK to exploit children for a profit, and yet the chocolate industry is thriving on this model. Some big companies are responding to consumer pressure and are reworking their policies. Others have a long way to go.

So what can we do? We strive to buy only fair trade chocolate, which ensures safe and equitable working conditions through the supply chain. You can look for the fair trade label. Endangered Species chocolate is ethically sourced and donates a percentage back to nurture the environments where chocolate grows.

We can tell everyone we know the real story behind chocolate. We can tell bakeries, coffee shops, and grocery stores that we care about the people who provide chocolate for us, and that we will support businesses who do the same. Most importantly, we can continue to campaign the big chocolate companies that it's time to change. We can no longer support harmful pracitices for the sake of a little indulgence.

Fair trade isn't perfect, and these are small steps to solve a big problem, but it's a start. What do you think? What do we need to do to ensure our free market system is also ethical? How can we elevate human dignity over the demand for cheap goods?

Releasing and Accepting

I'm decently OK at releasing and accepting things that are beyond my control--like Terrell Pryor's apparent injury unfolding during this OSU game. Ugh. But my perfectionistic tendencies sometimes keep me holding tightly to goals and responsibilities that have really very little to do with my daily happiness or positive impact on the world.



I've been working on accepting adequate when adequate will do, with limited success. I can't tell you how many late nights my husband has endured because I want to try just one more thing or I don't quite like what I've done so far. It's a family trait, I think, and it comes from a good place. I really like doing good work! I really like learning the best way to do things and taking the time to do things right. I enjoy the process. But no one can do everything. There are times when my approach serves the common good and times when it causes more harm.

Example: I registered for a November half marathon. I've run 3 half marathons and I thought it was about time to do another. My strongest running trait is mental strength for distances, so it seems like I should be running distances. But, I don't really like running--at least, not enough to devote the hours required for half marathon training. Nonetheless, I returned from Russia determine to train for the half in just 6 weeks.

My husband patiently waited for me to realize that is pretty stupid.

I'm no super-athlete, but I enjoy staying in shape. I love yoga. I like kick-boxing. I like walks, I like the occasional short run. I like strength training, I like pilates. I have a really, really hard time gearing up for a long training run. I spend the whole time thinking of what else I could be doing, and I sacrifice my Saturday yoga to run. Not to mention the risk of overtraining injury, since it's been awhile since I've trained regularly.

So why the heck should I train so hard? I am going to run the 5k instead, and I am going to enjoy it. I am releasing my self-imposed obligation to the half-marathon and accepting that it's OK to be a casual runner.

Seems small, I know. But it's helping me enjoy the day-to-day and live in the moment, which makes me a better person for the people around me. And the same principle applies to bigger things, like my work with my clients or my kiddos in Russia. I can impact global injustice and individual healing, but so much of it is beyond my control. Releasing the burden and accepting my role frees me to love well without fear. I'm still learning, but I accept that. :)