Haves and Have Nots

I'm all about responsible use of resources. We don't carry debt in our home (aside from mortgage and student loans, and we're diligent with those). We live below our means. If we couldn't pay cash for it, we do without. I'm grateful we've been able to make these choices.

That said, there are instances where people are stuck with 2 bad choices. Do you go into debt or do without the transportation that gets you to work? Do you go into debt or do without medicine that keeps you going?

This new proposed budget gives me a headache. I really, really value fiscal responsibility. But not as much as I value protecting vulnerable members of our society. What is more important to us, as a society?

How did we get to a place where certain people 'deserve' to be wealthy? The argument I hear over and over again is how hard they work for it. That drives me crazy. Why?

Guess who else works hard? Garbage collectors. Certified Nurses Assistants. Construction workers. Warehouse staff. Servers in restaurants. Maintenance workers. Teachers. People who work 3 icky jobs to cover their bills. While I'm at it, why not add social workers?

So that's why tax breaks for the top echelon of society give me a headache. You can find wealthy people who work harder than many average or low-income people. You can find plenty of low-income people who bust their tails every day while some wealthy people rely on other people's hard work to sit pretty. Comparing someone who was born into a wealthy family and inherited a position at a big firm to someone who was born into nothing, treated with little dignity, and worked her way into a $9.25/hr job at age 18, who do you think works harder?

There are all kinds of stories from all kinds of backgrounds, and they are all worthy of respect. The problem comes when society tells us the story of the wealthy person is more valuable than the story of the hard working single mom, or the lonely widow on a fixed low income.

There is disgusting behavior across the socio-economic spectrum. I often hear people decrying the ugliness of welfare fraud, and I agree. If you don't need food stamps, or if you can get by without pulling a big social security check, it would be nice to save those funds for people who truly need them to survive in this culture. We would save a lot of money that way. BUT, how many people in the top 10% income bracket need the luxuries and excess they can afford?

Maybe these painful cuts to programs like heating assistance for low-income citizens or community action programs for struggling neighborhoods wouldn't hurt so bad if I knew everyone was chipping in to keep our society strong. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to take if I knew we were cutting the fat in our enormous defense fund, or if I knew the only people receiving the assistance that remains were the people who truly needed it.

Maybe the cuts wouldn't be so bad if I saw the best of human behavior, across the socioeconomic spectrum. Maybe people struggling to survive can band together and support each other, although I certainly know that is easier said than done. Maybe people with large incomes who believe in charity over government assistance can fully engage themselves in giving--and not just in charity, but in true social change that unites our society instead of dividing us into haves and have nots. Maybe we can work together across economic lines to build a more just society.

Maybe. But for now, we're stuck with 2 bad choices: an unsustainable budget that tries to care for our struggling citizens, or a slightly more sustainable budget that leaves people even more vulnerable.

Maybe we can find a better way.

Daily Detox: Disinfection

As far as detox goes, a little chlorine bleach or anti-bacterial stuff isn't so bad. Most of it is considered a skin irritant, which we know from winters full of hand sanitizer or scrubbing the bathroom with bleach water. Our hands can dry out and peel like crazy! And of course, when using bleach we have to dilute it and ventilate the area, and it still stings our eyes and burns our lungs. But is that all? What's really at risk when using bleach or other disinfectants?

When looking at triclosan, a popular anti-microbial in many washes and creams, the ladies at No More Dirty Looks report there's no real health benefit to using it unless someone is at risk for certain infections. There's always talk of anti-germ agents creating super-bugs, when the germs adapt and survive anyway. It can disrupt your hormones via thyroid issues, too.

Clorox themselves report bleach as a corrosive, saying in certain concentrations it can damage skin, lungs, eyes, and heart. The generally agreed-upon limit is that bleach is safe for normal use. However, the Material Safety Data Sheet says very plainly that no exposure limit has been established. Meaning, scientifically, no one knows when bleach usage crosses from safe to unsafe. Don't forget, with everyone in your neighborhood using it, it goes into the water supply. Eek.

I'm not a scientist, so this is obviously nowhere near rigorous. Count this as my personal preference. I'll use bleach to disinfect when there has been illness in my home, but that's about it. I use hand sanitizer after playing with some sickly children at work. Other than that, no thanks. It makes me feel weird, and that just doesn't seem good for me, my family, or the environment.

Alternatives? Vinegar! Seriously! It's an acid and it has disinfectant properties. Some people can't handle the smell, but when it dries, the smell is gone. I promise! Also, hydrogen peroxide. 1/2 cup of peroxide mixed with a gallon of water will take care of a household worth of cleaning needs. We love the resultes, and it feels good to know there are very few potentially harmful chemicals in our home.

Remember: BE CAREFUL when mixing any kind of cleaning chemical, natural or not. Make sure you're not making a toxic potion!

Here's my real question. It's pretty easy for me to find safety info on cosmetics. It's pretty easy to find natural cleaning solutions. What I can't seem to find is a solid database of safety info for cleaning products. I have learned not to trust labels or company claims, but where can I go to get unbiased info? Any thoughts?

Wednesday Wisdom

. . . a little bit late.

"It is very wrong for people to feel deeply sad when they lose some money, yet when they waste precious moments of their lives they do not have the slightest feeling of repentance."

--Dalai Lama

Here's to learning to use well and savor all of the moments we've been given.

Sleepies

Hello, blog world!

Considering the ice capades of the last week (even church was closed today!), you'd think I would have found some time to blog. But I didn't! No Daily Detox this week. I didn't even post a Wednesday quote!

I had the best of intentions, but we ended up with some winter hibernation. Sure, I worked from home most of the week, but I also took some major breaks. Reading. Husband time. Lots of quiet. I felt like a cat!

Anyone who knew me way-back-when knows in the past, I might have used the snow days differently. I might have gone on an organizational/cleaning binge, staying up odd hours until the job is done. I might have caught up on the to-do list, regardless of how exhausted it left me. I might have gone on a crazy midnight escapade. A college roommate recently reminded me of my habit of waking up at 4 AM after a fun night to finish my homework. And in high school, there were a few of us who wore our sleep deficits as badges.

No more! I have now determined sleep is more important than self-made obligations. If I had learned that when I was younger, perhaps I could have gotten my tasks done faster, and better. Sleep is not for the weak or lazy! Without sleep, we're slower, dumber, grouchy, even less moral. Sleep is not just rest for the brain; the brain is super-busy while we sleep, integrating data from our day. Some studies show that loss of one night's sleep equates to 30% decrease in cognitive function. Wish I could have told that to my 11th grade over-achieving self!

Of course, when we're young, we think we're invincible. I probably wouldn't have listened anyway. And there are times in life where sleep seems like the ultimate luxury. This is the first time since I was a kid that I can remember being fully rested, and I have to say, it's pretty stinkin awesome! Better enjoy it while I can.

What does this have to do with just living? There is a lot to be said for taking good care of ourselves so we can do our part for the world. Every day I make important decisions for the families I work with, based on morals and ethics. I owe it to them to be at my best. Plus, there's a lot to be said for enjoying the simple gifts in life.

For some interesting reading on the human brain, check out Brain Rules by John Medina.

Happy Sabbath!

Daily Detox: Fragrance

You were going to get a post about cosmetics or personal care, but I realized that is just too BIG to be a daily detox! That is a project that takes years, as I know from experience. If you care about finding products that are safe for you and your family, enhance the lives of the people who make them, AND work, that's a serious undertaking!

photo: beautorium.com

So, I'm starting with Fragrance. You'll see it on your ingredients list as "fragrance," "perfume," or "parfum," or some other version of that. It's in perfume, of course, shampoo, lotion, lip gloss, laundry detergent, candles, air freshener, you name it. In a nutshell, it's poison.

Ok, I'm being dramatic. It's not always poison, but it often is! Because of trade secret laws, it's ridiculously difficult to find out what's really in those chemical formulas. But most of us know from experience that some fragrances cause headaches. Some cause our eyes to itch and water, our throats to close, our breath to change. Nearly everyone knows someone who is highly sensitive to added fragrance--and there are reasons for that! Those poor souls get a tough rap, but they might just be ahead of the rest of us in caring for their health.

Some fragrances contain neurotoxins. (Read: brain poison.) Some contain known allergens. Most contain materials we don't know enough about. Most contain pthalates, which mess with your hormones, can cause birth defects, or cause cancer. This stuff can also irritate the skin and make us look bad.

Of course, there are many conversations around the relatively low levels of these products in our self-care supplies. But I'm not interested in using them at all! Some of them accumulate in the body. All of them accumulate in the water supply. Think about it: millions of people using synthetically scented body wash, which goes down the drain, into the sewer system, and back into the water. And if you're thinking we can't absorb these items via skin, think again. We absorb birth control hormones, nicotine, and antibiotics transdermally. What's the difference?

So what can we do?

-Avoid the ingredients fragrance, perfume, or parfum. Be careful when you see a label that says unscented--sometimes fragrance is added to mask the scent of other ingredients. Check the label!

-If you like to use scents, try natural solutions. Use products scented with essential oils (though be careful--you may be sensistive to some of these.) Freshen your home by boiling citrus peels on the stove. Make natural febreeze-type spray out of 1:1 vodka-water mixture, plus a few drops of essential oils for fun. Be creative--you'll find tons of good stuff on the internet!

I am loving LAVANILA for fragrance and other personal care products. It's a bit of a splurge, but certainly less than your department store fragrances. They have all kinds of yummy products without all the yucky extras. Now if we can get them to clarify their sourcing, ensuring people are treated well across the supply chain, it would be just about perfect.

Aura Cacia is a good source for essential oils. They do a pretty good job with their sourcing, too.

What about you? How do you avoid pesky chemicals in fragrance?

Again, check out No More Dirty Looks for more info. Their book is my personal handbook and where I find lots of this stuff.

Wednesday Wisdom

Here's a good one. I first saw this at The Journey last year, and I was reminded when a fine gentleman quoted it this week.

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

-Howard Thurman

Daily Detox: Shabbat Shalom

Ben and I have been working toward a deeper understanding of rest, or Sabbath. Or, as our Jewish friends call it, Shabbat.

Our culture is SO busy. We're always moving, always striving, there's always something to accomplish or some information to learn. Even when we're sitting still, we're stuck to our screens for (sometimes false) connection to the outside world or stimulation. All of this commotion can leave us unconnected to who we are, to those we love, or to the divine.

Enter Sabbath--a truly un-American concept, at least in our times. I am still recovering from the notion that rest is selfish--and I know plenty of people who still hold that belief. But here's an interesting thought: Sabbath is the fourth commandment. Fourth! Before no killing, no adultery, and the like. Sounds like someone smarter than us knows what we need.

I'm not going to comment on the historical or doctrinal implications of Sabbath. That's not my expertise. But I know it is intended as a day of rest, a day to spend with the people we love, and a day to refocus on spiritual matters.

Selfish? I should hope not. How can we be our best selves and bring a light into the world if we are so weakened by busy-ness and blinded by self-importance? The world will go on spinning if we take a break. I promise. What good is our giving to people in our communities and around the world if we cannot even take the time to give to the people in our own families? How can we remain connected to our source and grow into who we are intended to be if we stay to busy to check in spiritually?

And so, a real day of rest and reflection is a necessary detox in our home. We've experimented with different ways to do this. We've stayed away from media (including computers, so you can see this is not today's approach). We've focused on friends and family. We've spent time in solitary reflection and chosen readings particular to the Sabbath. (Check out Abraham Heschel, for starts.) As it turns out, our best Sabbath comes with flow time--time with no schedule, where we can just be together, celebrate, and enjoy the simple things of life.

What about you? How do you rest, reset, detox day-to-day? However you do, we hope that everything is whole and complete, as it was intended to be. Shabbat Shalom!

Wednesday Wisdom

In high school, ages ago, I visited Mrs. Reed's office every single day. She was our acting and theater teacher, and I was lucky enough to have her for four straight years of theater study. She had this hanging on the wall, and I remember it to this day. Still great advice.

"There is only one you for all time. Fearlessly be yourself."

--Anthony Rapp

Super Bowl and Child Slavery

The Super Bowl is coming! While my team is sadly out, I am still a football fan. I'll be watching through the playoffs (and hoping the Bears ride it out), partying and eating and all that good stuff. And as a football fan, I believe it is my responsibility to chime in on the issue of human trafficking, as described by Change.org:

Every year, children as young as 11 are trafficked involuntarily to Super Bowl cities. There, football fans – usually men, often inebriated – will pay traffickers to have sex with them.
The Texas Attorney General estimates these kids have a life expectancy of just seven years from the time they're first trafficked.

This year, the Super Bowl Host Committee is charged "to engage in responsible planning . . . to ensure the readiness of North Texas to host the first Super Bowl in the Cowboys’ new stadium."

Local anti-trafficking groups have repeatedly offered to help the Committee use its influence to educate fans and the public about the dangers of child trafficking -- which could help to prevent thousands of rapes and abuses at America's biggest sporting event.

But the Host Committee has refused to take meaningful action. And thousands of children will pay the price.

Tell the 2011 Super Bowl Host Committee to take a stand against child trafficking.

In Dallas, a terrific local organization called Traffick911 has created the "I'm Not Buying It" campaign. They've offered the Host Committee free PSAs, posters, banners and informational cards to educate the public and protect children from being abused and raped.

But the Host Committee refuses to display the information.

The Committee is working hard right now to generate good publicity for North Texas and the game, so public pressure at this moment will be especially powerful.

Tell the Super Bowl Host Committee that they have a responsibility to protect the children who'll be trafficked to Texas for the Super Bowl:

http://change.org/petitions/view/ask_the_super_bowl_host_committee_to_stand_up_and_protect_children

After you sign, please forward this information to friends and family to let them know about this crisis, and how they can help. And, click here to share this campaign on Facebook.

This is a simple but important way to let the Super Bowl committees know that fans are watching, and we care about the safety of our children! None of these officials want to see children abused and exploited during the Super Bowl, but we have to help them see that their silence is dangerous and they have the power to make a change. If these prone-to-drink men know the risk, or their friends know what to watch for, they can make choices that keep children safe. Further, this is a chance to bring an understanding the horrors of human trafficking to a whole new audience--to more people who can make a change. Awareness is key!

Should the 2012 season come to be, our city is hosting the Super Bowl. We can get started fighting against this abuse now, let Texas know that Indiana is watching, and do our part to keep children safe. Please sign the petition and spread the word!

Daily Detox: Plastic

We've been cutting down on plastic for years at home, for lots of reasons. Making plastic produces tons of harmful byproducts (and often consumes fossil fuels). Plastic sits in landfills for a looooong time, taking up space and leaching harmful chemicals. Many plastics leach BPA, pthalates, dioxin, and other harmful chemicals into their contents. So, when we're trying to be healthy but using water bottles that emit BPA into their contents, we're hydrating with water that can disrupt our hormones or cause cancer.

For more details about how plastics impact your life, do a quick google search or visit one of my favorites, Green America. Until then, here are some quick tips of how to decrease plastic in your life.

-"4,5,1, and 2. All the rest are bad for you!" When shopping for plastic products or anything sold in plastic, flip the container over an check the number on the bottom. Stick to the numbers listed. Watch out, because favorites (such as yogurt) often come in 6 or 7. Some companies, like Stonyfield Farm, are developing safer packaging.

-Think twice before you buy. Do you really need it? Do you have something at home that could work just as well?

-Use reusable canvas shopping bags instead of plastic bags from the store. Bring your own cloth bags for bulk purchases or produce. You can find cute ones at Etsy and Fair Indigo.

-In the kitchen, try glass or ceramic instead of plastic as often as possible. Don't use plastic in the microwave!

-Recycle the plastic you do have! Your disposable food savers could become a picnic table or sports equipment.

We love Preserve plastics. Everything is recycled--and they will take your #5 yogurt cups that are hard to recycle elsewhere. The plastics are BPA and pthalate free. Plus, the colors are great and the products are cute! It's much more fun to store my leftover soup in an apple green, screw-top food saver that I know is safe for me and had a minimal impact on the environment.

What does your family do to minimize plastic use at home?

Wednesday Wisdom

In keeping with the theme of celebrating enough, my mom sent me this one. Loss is a part of life. It happens, and it can wreck your world. But even among devastating loss, there is much to be thankful for.

In the Voyage of the Dawn Treader movie (can't recall from the book, will have to read again!), King Caspian says "I've spent too long wanting what was taken from me and not what I as given."

Anyone who's experienced a major loss can likely relate. I can. I can also relate to the joy that comes with accepting and celebrating all that I have been given.

Cheers!

Daily Detox: Coffee

This is not one of those caffeine or no-caffeine discussions. That's up to you. My husband and I have debated this endlessly to no avail.

Instead, I suggest switching to Fair Trade, Organic Coffee only.

Bigwig coffee companies, like Nestle, Kraft, and Proctor & Gamble, get to set the prices they pay the farmers. If they are paying farmers disgustingly low prices, farmers don't make enough to pay their workers well or support their families. While farmers in Vietnam are selling for 60% of production costs, or a woman in Tanzania made $15 for a year's crop, I'm sure CEOs of big companies are making plenty. Not to mention the slavery and child labor happening in coffee plantations around the world.

For more information on the plight of coffee workers, check out Everyday Justice or Green America.

With coffee workers receiving 1-6% of what we actually pay for coffee, our cheap coffee has a global impact. Coffee is a luxury; human dignity is not.

I wouldn't work for pennies unless I was desperate. Why should the people who grow my food?

Fair trade isn't perfect, but it seeks to make sure the workers to bring the coffee to our tables are treated well and paid a fair wage for their hard work. Organic coffee is better for the environment and workers, and organic coffee is often shade-grown, which is better for our forests.

It's getting easier to find fair trade, and the the quality is superior to Maxwell House and Folger's. Trader Joe's has a lot of fair trade options, but look carefully--some are fair, some are not. Your typical grocery store is starting to carry some, too. If you don't find them in the coffee aisle, check the natural foods section. Green Mountain and Equal Exchange are among the more popular fair trade companies. There are more, though--look for the fair trade label. Even Starbucks has gotten on the ethical coffee bandwagon. While their products aren't certified, they claim to be sourcing their coffee in ethical ways.

This is a simple way to make the world a better place! When you pay a bit more for a quality cup of Joe, know you are helping a family send their child to school, or keep their farm, or simply eat. I hope someday we don't even have to discuss this, and that all of the products we purchase are sold with human dignity first in mind.

Daily Detox

A new year means a return to blogging. Yay!

An old friend (well, a young friend from waaaay back) asked about simple ways to detox her life. I'm no expert, but I have been thinking along these lines for years now. She's inspired me! The start of 2011 will feature Daily Detox posts--not info posted daily, but info about how to detox our lives every day.

It got me thinking . . . detox from what, exactly?

The obvious, detox from substances that harm our bodies and our physical health, is always important. There are far too many of these in our modern world!

Then there's the mental detox: taking the clutter our of our minds and allowing more space for the good stuff.

I'm including detox of the negative impact our day-to-day lives can have on others, as well. I've written about it plenty before, but there are simple ways to ensure our day-to-day life has as much positive impact as possible.

Then there's the spiritual detox: removing the poison that accumulates during both good and bad times, and living as who we were made to be.

I'm excited! I can really use this! What did I forget? What should I include?

Wednesday Wisdom

In the season of resolutions, we notice when there is too much or not enough . . . too much junk food, not enough time with friends and family, too much clutter, not enough discipline, etc.

I often notice when there is too much injustice and not enough happiness for the world.

But what if this year, we celebrate that there is simply enough?

There is enough food to keep us healthy, enough love to go around. You get it.

There's debate over who said it first, whether Ma Ingalls or Mary Poppins or Buddha or someone else, but here's what I'm celebrating in 2011:

"Enough is a feast."

Cheers,