>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jeff Owens) >Subject: [ecopath] Green Guilt (essay) >Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 09:50:56 -0700 > >Green Guilt > >Guilt is a motivator i want no part of. There are lots of >better ways to live that doesn't put one in a gloomy funk. >If we are working towards sustainability and worrying about >all the conflicts in our behavior it soon gets tiring. >So here is my way of approaching guilt: > > 1. Build the best model of an ideal lifestyle possible > and continuously improve on this model. Do not go > into denial or rationalize behavior. > 2. Accept that you can never reach a changing goal of > sustainability or move very far ahead of the > culture you are immersed in. > 3. Do something. Any small act helps one feel > good and cancels feelings of guilt. It can seem > insignificant but if it moves us forward that is > enough. > >It may be that a small act really isn't small. For example, >the act of adding a wind chime to our house does two things: > > 1. It reminds us of the natural world when we hear it. This > gives a small connected feeling that is probably too small > to measure most of the time. > 2. It adds a small pleasure to our life that replaces all the > messages which say consumption is fun. It competes with > all the passive entertainment which has fantasies about > wealth and other cultural values. > >This one act of adding a wind chime won't make much difference, >but a few hundred acts like this soon become difficult to ignore. >For this to work, we just keep on keeping on. > >Here are some other ideas to consider: > > * Add a scented plant to our living space. > * Add a flowering plant > * Fish tank > * Schedule a look at the next full moon > * Schedule a walk days in advance > * Add something to the house with a pattern in it > * Look for something colorful in nature to bring inside. > * Collect, share, trade, or plant some seeds. > * Look for activities in well lighted (sun) areas. > * Make a list of all the times you were at peace with > the world and ask why? > > ---------- >Jeff Owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Zone 7 > Underground house, solar energy, reduced consumption, no TV ___________________________________________________________________ Mulai langganan: "subscribe envorum" ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Stop langganan: "unsubscribe envorum" ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Arsip di http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] atau di http://www.egroups.com/list/envorum
