14 Comments

I really like this one.

Funny, but I spent portions of my life quite poor, and am very frugal and environmentally conscious. They go hand in hand. I make a lot of my personal care products: shampoo, tooth paste, laundry soap. They work really well, and I know exactly what's in them, and don't miss all the plastic packaging. Second hand everything, but excellent, organically grown food.

It becomes almost an art to reuse, live frugally, appreciate what we have, limit the garbage we make...

It would be neat to see the elite get in on this. It could save the world, in fact.

What's good for our souls is good for the health of the planet and the rest of society too.

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Love this! I live in intentional poverty and have to say it's been far more liberating than being wealthy!

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Me too!! Great isn't it!!! xxxxx

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That sounds so lovely. It made me think of how much better it would be if we had co-housing sorts of things instead of each of us separated in our little families, and how conducive that would be to the way you are consuming.

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... and sharing of some resources. E.g. does each household really need its own wash machine, lawn mower, automobiles, etc?

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Almost an art? I suggest that reusing, living frugally, appreciating what we have, limiting the garbage we make..... and more (including loving every moment) IS an art. And that adds to the art of living well that can be shared with many as a way to create a wonderful world that uses conscious consideration (with a soupcon of discipline) as a base!!

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Thanks, Diane -- I'm flattered. I've been doing this for years so it feels more like a way of life than an art. It's really fun too.

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Exactly - me too - it's a way of life!! However, what fun it is, eh!! Turning a corner and spotting exactly what you need (and things like that). Have spent so many years being 'that crazy person' that - others live like it too now!! Wahaaay!!

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Ahhh I want to see your essay! The thing about writing for the contest is that I felt spoiled for choice: a million little ways to start. I landed on one but I like this as another one, starting a snowballing of bénéficient corporations, or a philanthropic competition like the one that built our libraries in the US. But whatever it is, the *what did you do* is crucial to me. Where is the thread that an ordinary person can pull to make a difference?

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A big question that I hope this energy field we have going now, with the essay contest, supplies some answers to!

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I remember former California Governor Jerry Brown, bringing up the concept of "enough-ness” years ago. It's so foreign to our standard mode of thinking, especially in this country.

People often think of its counterpoint term “greed” as a sin. Yet I’ve come to see it as not so much a moral failing but merely a symptom of people who don’t know what they truly need or want for a happy, fulfilling life. Then nothing can ever be enough.

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Thank you for the info re this book!!!

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I had to look up avarice 😅 And yes - but how to limit? Like requiring vaccines, making people do things creates unhelpful energy, while inviting people into action takes time and patience.

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Limit avarice by getting Nader's book widely read!

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