In searching for some good books to read over the summer, I came across a review (of another review) for Duane Elgin’s Voluntary Simiplicity that shared a quote on an issue that is at the core of a lot of the things we discuss here at SuperForest: consumption. We do it every day. Both you and I are consuming right now, and while it isn’t anything we can avoid as living beings, a very simple, yet profound, quote from this book tells us it is something we can definitely approach with greater consciousness.
“… you don’t have to overconsume in areas that aren’t important to your life.If you don’t watch television, don’t buy a television or have a cable box. If it’s nice outside, don’t run your air conditioner. If you’re not into clothing, wear clothing until it’s actually worn out — and then even consider mending it. In other words, if it’s not all that important to you, don’t consume [it].”
If you’re anything like me, you probably notice yourself simply doing things out of habit rather than necessity. And while the ideas displayed in the quote seem like a real no-brainer, it also seems that as of late, it’s been a concept that our society has had much difficulty grasping.
Luckily, on an individual level, it seems like a habit that should be relatively easy to fix (with a little bit of practice, of course.) Broken down, it’s all about recognition, acknowledgment, change in activity, and repetition. Next time you catch yourself staring into an open refrigerator looking for something sweet out of sheer boredom, stop and use that time to do something you really enjoy instead. Piece of cake, right? (No pun intended.)
Love,
C
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