Monday, January 08, 2007

Slowing Down

Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever.
Mahatma Gandhi

As a society we always seem to be in such a mad rush. We rush from one place to another to get the best sales. We rush in order to make enough money so that we can live in a large house or buy the stuff we think we need. We eat quickly, we cook quickly (if at all), we purchase clothing which was quickly manufactured, we purchase furniture and cabinets that we only need a screwdriver to put together (if even that). The commercials we see are fast paced and the music we listen to is fast. All of our senses seem to be inundated with this pace. No wonder so many of us are miserable.

This last week, Liz at Groovy Green posted an article about The Hidden Cost of Cashmere. The explosion of cheap cashmere sweaters at big box stores has had huge impacts on the environment. The goats which are used to create cashmere are now creating desertification. When we demand so much stuff at a cheap price there are multiple larger costs.

The new year always bring moments of reflection and new resolutions.

I hate to make a resolution this year. This last year brought so many changes and new awareness to my life. I don't know what the next year will bring. I hope to continue on my journey toward a sustainable lifestyle. I hope to continue writing about my journey and sharing ideas and inspiration.

One of the major things I want to do this year is slow down. I am currently knitting my first sweater. I realized that as I knit I am likely to take better care of this sweater. I will not be able to quickly or easily replace it. As I think about this, I realize how many other things I can do to slow down which make me appreciate what I have even more. Creating the edible garden is one of those journeys that are slow. The process in creating is important and can be appreciated. Slowing down will also help me reduce my environmental impact.

Is there any way that you can slow down?

Let me amend to state that I am not exclaiming that we should all make all of our clothes or that we shouldn't work and just stay at home and knit. Just that I think we appreciate them more when they are handmade (by us or others). I also am aware that many of us need to work and don't make much money. However, we can choose what to purchase and to make more prudent choices in our purchases. I would rather buy or make one handmade sweater and wear that every week than purchase 10 of lesser quality and know that my excess is creating damage. Just my own thoughts ... :)


Oh, I just started a yahoo group (Sustainable Urban Living - see hte link on the right). You are free to join. :)

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've got to think about this Emme. I don't feel like I'm rushing to and fro,even with 3 children still at home and 2 adult daughters with 4 children between them. I think along the way I've been learning to slow down.....to savor life in small bites. Gosh I wish I would have known some of these things at 26....I'll be 46 soon.
peace,
kim

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, in the US today, many families I see have a hectic pace literally in the process of making ends meet. Working a $7/hr. job means that you work overtime or suffer. Then everything else in your life gets crunched together in your remaining time.

But for those of us in middle America, there certainly is an issue of whether we are rushing simply because we have become accustomed to rushing. I worry about my friends who don't know how to turn off. One of my closest friends literally can't function without tv, internet, and her cell phone; she goes nuts without them. (She also lives in NYC.) She's had an ulcer before the age of 30. (She also does many wonderful things with her life and will probably be 'important' by many standards, but I do worry.)

One of the biggest ways I find to slow down is to make a meal mostly or entirely from scratch. As long as I start with a clean kitchen, and I set my ingredients and utensils out within my reach, I don't feel rushed or frustrated. I relax into making the food.

Sometimes I think about the limitations my and Dan's children will have . . . for example, on the number of extra-curricular activities they do. I tried to do too much as a kid, and I got to college burnt-out on achievement. I want my kids to learn to do several things with intense focus instead of doing everything (whether they manage to do everything sloppily or perfectly).

RAS said...

Thanks for creating the group, Emme. I just joined. I'll try to post some thoughts on slowing down later, but right now I'm 'slowing down' by going back to bed -I have bronchitis.

BurdockBoy said...

By trying to belly breathe more often I have found it helps me slow down and take in the moment. Even when I am doing something like shopping, breathing deeply helps me think clearly and rationally.

Anonymous said...

One of the ways I am slowing down is turning off the TV. This is leaving me more time to clean and declutter so I am more organized and less stressed. I cook more, use less electricity and am not so overstimulated. There are some shows I still like to watch but they are few. That is very eye-opening about cashmere, I will have to pass that information on.

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