Sustainability

12 January 2019

Being the mental health counselor that I am, I most often think about sustainability in the therapy context of "is this behavior sustainable" or "are the interpersonal dynamics you are experiencing sustainable?" In other words, is it manageable in the long-term. With my Minimalist Purge of 2018, I am finding that the space which used to be taken up by material things (and by my worries about taking care of those things) is now available for me to think more about tasks involved in pursuing environmental sustainability--a long-term goal of mine for which I've never quite had the mental space or energy. But now with some of that space and energy freed up, I am doing things like opting to buy items with less packaging (and hopefully packaging that is more sustainable, like paper and cardboard as opposed to plastic), researching company practices and values before purchasing their goods, and simply buying less in general.

A result that I have observed from practicing sustainability of any type is the security it brings. It feels more secure to practice maintaining boundaries with my loved ones, to choose behaviors that are healthy and rewarding for me not just now but in the future, to be self-sustaining through making my own food or building my own furniture, and to know that I do what I can to avoid contributing a vast toxic impact to the world around me. It feels more secure to be reminded that I simply do not have as many needs in order to live a meaningful life and that having fewer needs helps it feels less overwhelming to try to meet those needs. It feels secure to think, if I live off-grid in my tiny house dream, when the metaphorical zombie apocalypse happens and necessarily changes the way we live our daily lives, I have already chosen to live in a way that I can sustain as independently as possible. (Obviously I do not actually live in isolation of support and resources from others, but you know what I mean...)

Clearly I do not act 100% in favor of the option that is most sustainable at all times; there is something about certain instant gratifications that I just cannot give up yet and let's be real, it can take some hefty financial commitments and research to make informed decisions. But every small thing I do contributes to the collective impact of everyone doing small things as they are able. It is a life-long process, and I am striving for more sustainability and efficiency primarily because it is in line with my values to do so. And the security it brings me is no small factor. I hope that security is something that you all will strive for too with regards to sustainability, whether it be in making more sustainable relationship decisions, spending money and time to support ethical companies, or simply recycling and limiting your purchases to items that won't sit buried in a corner somewhere wasting away.

Maintaining Focus: Things That Matter to Me

2 December 2018

I find myself somewhat bored as I'm trying to watch less TV and waste less of my time and attention multi-focusing on several activities all at once, not really enjoying or being engaged with any one thing I am doing. I'm trying not to split my attention like that anymore. At any given time, I'm listening to music or watching a YouTube video with my headphones on, eating, checking my emails and non-existent messages, trying to organize the house, mindlessly petting my kitty, and attempting to spend quality time with the person I love most—plus being impacted by anything else that is going on in the background environment.

I’m becoming more successful at minimizing the number of things I am doing, yet I find that I don't know what to do with that intentional space I’ve created. What is worth doing just that one thing, with nothing else diluting my attention? Not the things that I was doing—or at least not in the way I was doing them.

A moment ago, I lit a couple of candles, put a crackling fire on the TV (someday I'll have a real fire) and some music, and started dancing and playing with my cat, Minerva. Even all of this can be quite stimulating, but that is all I was doing. I'm over here playing with Minerva and dancing in this cozy environment, instead of lying down with my abdomen scrunched up, my neck pushed against the wall very uncomfortably at an angle, and my bloodshot eyes staring at the little screen that is always way too close to my face. What I am doing now feels good; it feels meaningful and intentional.

Being able to write about this process allows me to reflect on how it impacts me in the moment, as well as the lingering effects it has on my well-being. While I hope that someone else can find some inspiration and value in my tales about this beautiful life I am creating for myself, I know that at least I find value in writing and sharing my story regardless of how many people are following my journey. Nonetheless, I do wish to share my appreciation for those of you who take time out of your day to peruse my blog. By doing so, you help me live more intentionally and feel connected to empowered people who are on their own path to living meaningfully.