Tweet
Train Yourself to Give Things Away
Recycle this article!Your Daily Footstep
By Chris Baskind
Tuesday, 04 September 2007
Ever wonder why people naturally recoil at the thought of celebrities who advocate green change?
That's because the celebrity lifestyle is generally one of conspicuous consumption and excess -- and most folks naturally sense tension between consumerism and genuine concern for the environment.
From the moment we're old enough to sit in front of the television and be bombarded with ads for sugary cereals and plastic toys, we are taught that things are the route to happiness. It's no wonder that as adults, we burden our landfills with the cast-off waste of an acquisitive society. But you can teach yourself to break the cycle by establishing a habit of giving things away.
The power of simplicity
In her 1997 book, The Simple Living Guide, Janet Luhrs tells the story of Michael Freeman, who enjoyed considerable success in the business world before realizing that the fruits of his labors -- money and consumer goods -- weren't bringing him happiness. So Freeman did something radical: he dropped out of the rat race and moved to the woods.
This isn't something most of are going to do, but it taught Freeman a lot about how "stuff" tends to define our self-image. You needn't book yourself into a monastery to experience this yourself. Just loosen your grip on material things -- and their hold on you -- by deciding what's really necessary for your life and jettisoning the rest.
Out with the old
Maybe it's that closet full of boxes that haven't seen the light of day for years; the boat you spend more time cleaning and insuring than sailing; or the treasures of some long-ago abandoned hobby. Out it goes.
Getting into the practice of unburdening can be more like athletic training than mere symbolism. The human mind is conditioned through experience. We spend much of our lives teaching it that affluence equals satisfaction. Consciously doing the opposite can help to guide future actions and ultimately reduce your environmental footstep.
Productive giving
Looking for a place to send your stuff? Check out Lighter Footstep's article on How to Give Something Away. And here's wishing you a happy spring cleaning -- all year long.
Recycle this article!Your Daily Footstep
By Chris Baskind
Tuesday, 04 September 2007
Ever wonder why people naturally recoil at the thought of celebrities who advocate green change?
That's because the celebrity lifestyle is generally one of conspicuous consumption and excess -- and most folks naturally sense tension between consumerism and genuine concern for the environment.
From the moment we're old enough to sit in front of the television and be bombarded with ads for sugary cereals and plastic toys, we are taught that things are the route to happiness. It's no wonder that as adults, we burden our landfills with the cast-off waste of an acquisitive society. But you can teach yourself to break the cycle by establishing a habit of giving things away.
The power of simplicity
In her 1997 book, The Simple Living Guide, Janet Luhrs tells the story of Michael Freeman, who enjoyed considerable success in the business world before realizing that the fruits of his labors -- money and consumer goods -- weren't bringing him happiness. So Freeman did something radical: he dropped out of the rat race and moved to the woods.
This isn't something most of are going to do, but it taught Freeman a lot about how "stuff" tends to define our self-image. You needn't book yourself into a monastery to experience this yourself. Just loosen your grip on material things -- and their hold on you -- by deciding what's really necessary for your life and jettisoning the rest.
Out with the old
Maybe it's that closet full of boxes that haven't seen the light of day for years; the boat you spend more time cleaning and insuring than sailing; or the treasures of some long-ago abandoned hobby. Out it goes.
Getting into the practice of unburdening can be more like athletic training than mere symbolism. The human mind is conditioned through experience. We spend much of our lives teaching it that affluence equals satisfaction. Consciously doing the opposite can help to guide future actions and ultimately reduce your environmental footstep.
Productive giving
Looking for a place to send your stuff? Check out Lighter Footstep's article on How to Give Something Away. And here's wishing you a happy spring cleaning -- all year long.
Comment