I'm challenged again with the topic of consumerism and consumption. I have always wanted to be a radicalist in some form; Ghandi, Mother Thereasa, Aung San Suu Kyi - my favorite famous radicalists - mainly because all three were passive aggressive in their methods! ;-) Anyways, back to C&C; I guess I find it personally hard as I struggle to not be a hypcrite - but am always finding myself to be teetering back and forth. I'm not a huge shopper by any means - in fact often try to avoid it at all costs...though there are times (mainly travelling). I'm not really an impulse buyer either - usually takes me three days just to buy a t-shirt. I tend to shop for the best deals and carry the motto "Why pay more when you can pay less?" Yet, my weaknesses are strong: I love technology (though often galaxies behind), I've just recently overcome the incessent need to have the latest new razor (don't ask - haha).

Consumption again: I'm almost tempted to change my blog's description to 'what are you going to do about your consumption?'. I'm challenged again by consumption... Undoubtedly, this has arisen from the recent 'yard work' I've been doing. Every other day, I turn the compost in my backyard - frustrated at it's size and annoyed that I have to crawl 'in' to churn it. Grrrr. The size of our yard and it's maintenance has kept the bin full if not at times overflowing of leaves, grass clippings, weeds, food, etc.

My roomie has an environmental sensitivity that forced me in the beginning to recycle - literally being scorned when she'd pick my recyable items out of the garbage in front of me. So we begun the five bin recycling zone: 1) cardboard & paper 2) plastics 3) tin 4) plastic bottles 5) the worms (for food). Though it felt like I was being forced in the beginning I can say now that it has actually become a choice now for me.

The more I recycle the more I see I consume so much crap! I'm finding myself becoming more conscious of what I purchase and how it's packaged. I'm starting to ask the question 'Do I really need this or just 'want' this. Attempting to consume less goes against every grain of our societal norm. We are pressured from every which direction to buy more, purchase the latest new gadget (which is my weakness - love technology), try the 'new and improved' _____.

Men and women like Ghandi, Mother Thereasa, and Aung San Suu Kyi (the more famouse radicalists), inspire me in their liberation of consumerism. They were neither drawn or influenced by it, they understood the simplicity in minimalism and the freedom it therein allows.

I've begun a new journey to aspire and attain that same simplicity of life. Perhaps not to their degree - haha. I'm starting slow (recycling and resuing where I can), attempting to purchase needs only and being consciencious of my ecological footprint.

I recently read an article on a couple from Toronto - whoa - now there is some racalists in Canada. Her blog is equally, if not more interesting. It's inspired me even more so to cut down, to begin living a more frugal lifestyle. Not only does this benefit you financially but it's a social conscious deal too - good for you & good for the earth.

Baby steps... I remember the first day I moved in with my roomie - her constant nagging drove me crazy! Now I'm the one taking the food scraps out to the compost and harrassing her not to purchase fruit in those plastic baggies...argg.. those thin things drive me insane. I'm starting to carry my bag stocked with a mug, plastic container and shopping bags in the trunk!! I suppose I'm starting to be a conscious consumer really... attempting at less consumption in the process.

I love the below exerpt taken from the book "I Shop therefore I Am". Hope it makes you stop and think a bit too...

- From conspicuous consumption to conscious consumption.

- From brand-consciousness to background-consciousness.

- From synthetic to organic.

- From mass-produced to hand-crafted.

- From global to local.

- From short-term to sustainable.

- From fashionable to durable.

- From valuing things to valuing insights.

- From fitting in/ standing out to being.

- From buying more to buying less.

- From doing more to doing less.

- From multi-tasking to down-shifting.

- From buying to sharing/ exchanging.

- From owning to experiencing.

- From having to giving.