In a world where everyone seems to be trying to gain clout by claiming ‘greenness’ one would think that the concepts which drove the founding of the first Earth Day 40 years ago must not only be in the forefront of our minds, but prevalent everywhere we look. While there does seem to be a growing number of individuals whose lives and work is towards the betterment of the planet, have we yet reached the tipping point that care for the planet and each other is a mainstream, fully-embraced concept? Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Earth Day, Mainstream
So I am creating a new blog to talk about the process of purging the pantry. There is a need to get through all the food that is in there. I’m not even sure how it ended up being so much in the first place. Well I guess I do know… I mean, so I’m a foodie. I love to eat. I love to try new things. I love to have different varieties of the same thing around for the subtle difference in flavor and also because what if I am craving green olives flavored with garlic and lemon and I only have pitted kalamata?! It would be a crisis. Or would it?
Tags: sustainable consumption
This year on my wish list for Christmas is for my loved ones to spend less money on me, since buying new gifts can be unnecessarily financially draining.
In order to receive this gift of less waste, I let my family know that used items in good condition would be happily accepted. I find it fascinating what can be found for free if you just ask. On the internet, Freecycle enables people to connect about items they have and need. Taking the initiative to be open with those you know about what your needs are could potentially turn up that perfect gift lightly or entirely unused and in storage.
I think it is great when my family can trade, barter, or find someone giving away what they otherwise would have to buy. This wish of mine also spurred me to look through my own belongings for lightly used items that I no longer or never have used.
Me, a long time ago
Other thoughts on a more sustainable and earth-friendly holiday.
Gift Wrap:
- Wrapping gifts in reusable bags which the recipient can either keep, give back or pass along to another person in need
- Opting to not wrap gifts at all (can be challenging if you don’t know the person well)
- Wrapping in old newspaper or paper bags and then coloring or painting on any additional decoration or adding a simple ribbon.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because:
- It is about being grateful.
- You spend the time with the people who are the most important to you whether they are family or friends.
- It is a celebration of the harvest, or the good things that have come to you in the previous year.
- I do love good food and wine!
Gratitude is something that I regularly practice. I say practice because it isn’t always easy to be grateful for a lost job, ending relationship, death of a loved one, et cetera. But with every situation in our lives no matter how challenging and difficult, there comes the opportunity for learning, success and growth. This is not always obvious and so often you can feel knocked down and that is the best time to practice remembering that like other ‘bad’ times this too will give birth to something better.
We don’t always know why things happen, but I have had many times in my past that I have felt hurt or resentful because of a given situation (not getting in to Colby for college, the lost of a good friend without reason.) Later in life I understood why those situations happened, some many times over, and was able to feel grateful for them because of what came next that would not have been possible otherwise.
Now in my life, I am grateful and open when something that seems challenging comes up. I realize that it may be quiting my job that allows for the space for my dream job to come into my life. I am more open to understanding that every situation has a silver lining or possibility attached to it.
Tags: Challenges, Gratitude, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving
Lights sparkle over the water, it’s rippling effect creating a light show that seems to dance across the harbor. A sailboat glides by to find its place at the docks.
I got here an hour and a half ago. Knowing I would need to wait for a colleague to arrive at the airport, I asked around to find a place to wait.
The first time I asked that question the answer was to turn left, go down the road and you’ll find a Starbucks. Since that wasn’t really the kind of thing that I wanted to end up doing, with my interest in supporting local businesses before big chains, I was a little disappointed.
On a whim, just before I left the car rental place, I asked for a second time where could I go? The answer this time around was different. The attendant at the exit guided me to go right to the harbor.
While on my drive towards towards Anthony’s, the fish place that the attendant had recommended, I not iced a sign on the left side of the road that advertised the entrance to a solar or wind company. Regardless of what they were selling the message was clear to me I was heading in the right direction.
As I walked down the sidewalk ‘I want to know what love is’ was broadcast from a radio mounted on a bike taxi.
Sitting on the outside deck of Anthony’s, looking in on the more formal diners, I knew that on the deck with a Corona and Fish Taquitos, I was in the best spot the place had. Combined with the music, the lights on the harbor, and the atmosphere, I felt reaffirmed in every moment the feeling I got driving in town. I was in the right place.
Tags: SVN conference
I wanted to write about what I cared about. My cat is one of those things. And she is my bed now crying. Sick. Hopefully able to get better but since she is 13 who knows if this is a virus or old age.
I spent last night and this morning at the vets trying to make her better. Hoping that she would be okay. Knowing that I may need to put her down and not wanting to make that decision.
I love her very much, even when she got underfoot or sat on my paperwork when I was on a deadline. Pets require attention and often beg for it right when we don’t have time. Or I don’t. So I give what I can and go on.
I enjoy her company and how she reflects my personality and mood when I am not around. I love the sound and feel of her purr when she lays next to me while I am working. I love her fiercely independent nature, which is so much like mine.
My eyes are gritty from a lack of sleep last night. Something. I hope will not be repeated tonight. I hope she feels better soon. This is hard to watch.
********
But after another sleepless night watching her slip away, in pain, I had to put Andromeda down.
While incredibly hard to make that very final decision I know she is no longer suffering.
Tags: Cat, Euthanasia, Pet